Pioneer to release Dual format HD-DVD / Blu-Ray Writer

01 Sep 06 14:49 by Quakester2000 in category Uncategorized To news archive

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Pioneer will soon be
following up its current next generation Blu-ray writer with a model that
supports Dual Layer Blu-Ray media the BDR-102. While this may excite some
users the most exciting announcement is that they plan to release new
drives sometime next year that can also handle the competing HD-DVD
format. "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The first new drive that
Pioneer will release is the BDR-102 which will add support for the CD-R/RW
format which their current drives lack. The BDR-102 will ship sometime next year
and may be released in two types one that supports IDE and the other that
supports SATA. The writing speeds have not been released and its not known how
fast it will write to single or dual layer Blu-Ray discs.

But the most
exciting piece of hardware is probably the BDR-103 which will
integrate support for both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD formats into one drive. No
specifications have been released and its not known if it will still support
CDR/RW and what speeds will be available. size=2>

src="http://www.cdfreaks.com/contentimages/newsimages/1157786832" align=right border=0>Pioneer
will follow up the release of its… er… pioneering Blu-ray Disc
recorder with an updated model that supports dual-layer media, it has
emerged. And the company said it is planning to offer a version that can
also handle HD DVD.

The first new drive, the BDR-102 will also support
CD-R/RW discs, another disc format missing from the company’s current
product, the BDR-101. The BDR-102 is due to ship early next year, possibly
in two versions, one with an IDE interface, the other with a SATA
connector. It’s not clear at what speeds the BDR-102 will write single-
and dual-layer, 25GB and 50GB BD-R and BD-RE discs.

size=2>Further out, the BDR-103 will bring on board support for HD
DVD, presumably recordable and rewriteable versions of the format as well
as pre-recorded discs.

It looks like Dual format
drives are going to be the mainstream just like we have +R and -R, and I
wouldn’t be surprised if it isn’t long before Dual format players start
appearing either. So really the format war that is meant to be looming may not
be a difficult choice for consumers after all especially if devices support both
formats. It may end up like the +R / ‘“R war irrelevant unless you have bought
first generation hardware.

Source: The Register

16 Comments

ivid: Posts: 502; Posted on: 01 Sep 06 14:56

I'll buy that !

jef195: Posts: 445; Posted on: 01 Sep 06 15:03

...For a Dollar!

Crabbyappleton: Posts: 5757; Posted on: 01 Sep 06 15:08

At least a hybrid player would allow one to get all the content that is going to be available. Each side would get the royalty for their format as well. Probably this is best for the consumer to have both formats if hybrid players/recorders come along, as it will drive competition. Each format will try to out do the other and also it may help drive prices down faster on media. The hybrid recorder/players coupled with a low enough price on blank media, could make blue laser practical for archiving/transporting information. Time will tell. But, there is always a flip side. Who would buy a blue laser player or recorder right now, until they had more information on these hybrids?
[edited by Crabbyappleton on 01.09.2006 15:12]

Ozb: Posts: 1; Posted on: 01 Sep 06 15:08

I guess it's the way to go...but this whole "WAR" is still completely annoying though...

Dr. Who: Posts: 4765; Posted on: 01 Sep 06 15:21

You couldn't say it any better.:g

JamesL: Posts: 113; Posted on: 01 Sep 06 15:28

The war is over! With this announcement the floodgates will open...dual drives from LG, Liteon, Samsung and probably many others. And from there dual format will flood into the CE market. This is great development!

JamesL: Posts: 113; Posted on: 01 Sep 06 15:57

>>>> Who would buy a blue laser player or recorder right now, until they had more information on these hybrids?

SamuriHL: Posts: 2889; Posted on: 01 Sep 06 17:44

This will actually hurt Sony in the end, not help them. Why? Because the PS3 will be bluray only.

They're placing all their faith in the concept that they can win the "war" and get everyone to release their content on one format...theirs. However, if hybrid devices become the norm, there is less pressure on studios to back one or the other format. Great for the consumer and studios, bad for anyone who thinks the war should be won.

El_Mariachi_X: Posts: 1059; Posted on: 01 Sep 06 19:52

yay like the -r vs +r era!

I Have Piles: Posts: 586; Posted on: 02 Sep 06 00:30

it will be mainstream if anyone can be arsed to buy them, people still object to the price of dual layer DVD media and look how old that is.

zebra: Posts: 576; Posted on: 02 Sep 06 05:17

Odd.... Pioneer are strenuously denying the validity and factual nature of this article. I wonder why?

valnar: Posts: 219; Posted on: 02 Sep 06 18:23

Good for Pioneer, bad for us. I don't want something that supports both formats. Well, not really. I want an undisputed winner between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. It was nice when VHS won out over beta - at least the confusion was gone.

Burningas: Posts: 20; Posted on: 03 Sep 06 01:57

this is the sorta thing we dont want to see!!!!!! THIS SOCULD RESULT IN A WAR WHERE NO PARTY IS A DISTINCT WINNER, THE MARKET WILL BE SHIT IN THIS SITUATION. IT WILL COST MORE THAN JUST HAVING ON FORMAT SUCH AS DVD. MONEY WILL BE SPENT ON ADVERTISING EACH FORMAT. MONEY RIGHT OUTTA UR POKECTS WITH YOU BUY RELATED PRODUCTS! WE WANT A CLEAR WINNER NOT WASHY SHIT LIKE THIS! damn!

JamesL: Posts: 113; Posted on: 03 Sep 06 09:12

Disagree with both the above posts - a hybrid drive is ideal for the consumer. It's all very well saying there should just be one format...nobody denies the existance of this format war is very annoying. However we are now in the situation where we have TWO formats. If one fails now some consumers will lose. Furthermore both have/will have made good inroads into the market so you are now talking about significant numbers of people losing out. A dual format drive - and in due course players - solves this. Both formats can co-exist and we can cherry pick the best features/performance from each format.

zebra: Posts: 576; Posted on: 03 Sep 06 10:44

...I'd not worry too much. This story came initially from theregister and was proven a hoax/mis-information by the folks at Pioneer. Please don't attach any kudos to this rubbish.

JamesL: Posts: 113; Posted on: 03 Sep 06 11:39

>>>> This story came initially from theregister and was proven a hoax/mis-information by the folks at Pioneer

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