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Blu-ray hybrid discs have not yet arrived to the market at the time of this report but
they will hopefully be introduced soon as a dual side format, with the Blu-ray version
in one side, and the DVD version on the other side.
Although scarce in quantity and variety, the hybrid disc feature is viewed by some as
a competitive edge of HD DVD.
The new Total disc introduced by Warner, implements a similar dual side hybrid
feature, but to store the two competing blue-laser formats, one on each side of the
disc.
My opinion about this is similar to the introduction of universal players. Discs and
players would have to cost more to the consumer to offer duality, because the
industry could not make up their mind and went to a war of incompatible formats.
Why should the consumer have to pay extra for universal features on any product for
other reasons that backward compatibility?
Partial Implementation of Features
Both formats were initially introduced without all of the features each format can
offer, which could certainly make them fully competitive if implemented.
Some of those missing features are the lack of 1080p outputs, the lack of HDMI 1.3
for outputting hi-bit audio codec streams for external decoding (especially if the
player lacks the decoder for that format), True HD in two channel mode only, none
or limited Internet connectivity/functionality, no full implementation of interactive
menu features, an included 1080p output but not at 24fps, a 1080p signal output
obtained with work-around methods, such as not extracting and outputting directly
the 24fps content stored in the disc, etc.
A full format comparison should be made when both formats have implemented all
the features of hardware and software.
In the mean time, it seems both formats are expecting that the first batch of early
adopters invest in players and discs with partially implemented features, quite an
investment in the case of Blu-ray players above the $1000 threshold.
Perhaps manufacturers expect that those consumers would reinvest again six
months later another $1000 to get some missing features on the next generation of
players, some not upgradeable via firmware.
On a positive note, the players are finally here, and we should be grateful that Hi-Def
ROM pre-recorded movies are now available, and that they make good use of the
1080p/24fps format of film sources.
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