These questions and answers represent both the concerns of readers who have taken the trouble to write me and represent a summary of news from the format war.  Many of your questions overlap.  Some were related to but were not germane to the format war.  Some were specific to owned pieces of equipment.  I’ve tried to put together a collection of queries that are fairly universal and directly related to HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.  Feel free to write me if you’d like me to update this Mini-FAQ with additional questions and answers (or if you find an error); I’ll be glad to make additions and corrections. 


What’s the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc?

From the point of view of the buyer, with one notable exception there is very little.  The video and audio CODECs (compression and decompression mechanisms) are essentially the same.  Advanced CODECS will be implemented by both formats, promising better quality (even in the absence of higher definition source material).  Both formats have reduced the optical disc’s pit size by implementing a blue laser (closer to violet, actually) that has a shorter wavelength than the red laser used for DVD.  Blu-ray Disc has a slightly smaller pit size that facilitates greater storage capacity, 50 GB on a dual layer disc versus HD DVD’s 30 GB.  There is a slight possibility that Blu-ray Disc may be a bit less durable since the protective layer is very much thinner than HD DVD’s.  It’s the storage capacity that represents the most significant difference and the notable exception between the two formats.  As a consequence, Blu-ray Disc's greater space and high bit rate results in less compression, which provides higher quality.

How much better is HD on disc going to be than DVD?

The DVD format measured in pixels is 720 wide by 480 high; that’s 345,600 pixels.  HD discs will be presented in one of two high-definition formats: 720p or 1080i/p (with the possible exception of 3-D, the latter should be used for film).  The 720 format is 1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels high; that’s a total of 921,600 pixels, or 2.67 times the resolution of DVD.  The 1080 format measures 1920 by 1080 pixels; that total is an impressive 2,073,600 pixels, or six times the resolution of DVD.  If you have a display capable of showing the improvement, it’s very striking indeed.  As I’ve written many times, HD is to DVD as DVD is to VHS.

The audio promises to improve almost as dramatically.  All DVD digital audio formats are lossy; that is, audio data is thrown away.  Dolby and DTS play with the auditory phenomenon of masking, tricking the ear into believing that all the sound is there when, in fact, it’s not.  But there is so much room on HD discs that uncompressed PCM and lossless compression audio will be offered.  Lossless simply means that no data is thrown away in the process of compression.  Decompression restores every bit found in the studio master, so fidelity should be greatly improved.

Will I have to worry about anamorphic and non-anamorphic transfers and how will that affect the films’ original aspect ratios?

DVD is a transitional product that links standard resolution technology to the high-resolution technology.  Non-anamorphic transfers simply maintained the legacy 1.33:1 aspect ratio and letterboxed widescreen films threw away lines of resolution.  Anamorphic transfers that squeeze the displayed aspect ratio into a 16:9 aspect ratio and produce pictures in the progressive (rather than interlaced) mode, can be thought of as 480p60, one of the ATSC broadcast standard’s digital formats.  High definition has a native aspect ratio of 16:9 or 1.78:1; all program material will be formatted to fit within that aspect ratio.  Non-anamorphic transfers will be a thing of the past.  Any source images with an aspect ratio of less than 1.78:1 (for example, Academy Format motion pictures in 1.37:1 or Kubrick’s 1.66:1 films) will be window-paned.  And just as widescreen films with aspect ratios greater than 1.78:1 are letterboxed within DVD’s anamorphic transfers, so too will such films be letterboxed in high definition.  I would be quite surprised if the industry panned & scanned a 2.35:1 film into the 1.78:1 format.

Will I be able to watch HD discs on my HD-ready display if it only has component video inputs?

The analog hole has the potential for being plugged.  The AACS standard now calls for the mandatory implementation of an image constraint flag within the audio/video bitstream.  But it will be left up to the studios whether or not to set the flag; it's optional.  My understanding is that some studios are against image constraint; some are for.  I was doubly surprised to learn that Fox is against image constraint and Warner is for.  New films will likely be constrained by specific studios, but even those studios may not constrain catalog titles.  Some studios may simply allow analog at full resolution.  Each keepcase is expected to specify whether the title will be image constrained over an analog connection.  As of this writing, the studios have opted to allow high definition images to be passed over analog connections.

What happens to the images on discs that are constrained?

Those titles that are constrained will be available over an analog connection with 960x540 resolution (alternate pixels both horizontally and vertically are discarded); that's 1.5 times the resolution of DVD.  I assume those images will then be up-converted to 1080i or 720p (user’s choice) for display.  So even with analog inputs, constrained images will have better resolution.

Will I be able to watch HD discs on my HD-ready display if it only has a DVI input?

If your display's DVI input is HDCP-compliant, a simple adaptor allows connection of the HDMI signals to the DVI input from either an HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc player. 

Will the new HD disc players be backward compatible with existing DVDs?

Yes, as a minimum both HD DVD players and Blu-ray Disc players are both compatible with conventional DVD.  Many will be compatible with other optical discs, like CD and various forms of writable DVD-ROM and CD-ROM.

Will I be forced to make a connection to the Internet to watch HD on disc?

No connection to the Internet will be required to play either HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc.  However, some supplements will be distributed via the Internet and some will be on the disc.

How will the dreaded AACS copy protection system affect me?  Will I be able to make copies of HD discs?
 
The draconian copy protection measures of AACS (enhanced by BD+ on Blu-ray Disc) will be in place.  That should restrict the ability to copy illegally.  In reality, there is no reason for standalone copies to be made.  The failure rate of optical discs is so low that the cost of making backup copies far exceeds the cost of replacing that very rare failed disc.  I can only assume that a standalone copy means one thing: illegal distribution of intellectual content.  Managed copy to servers for whole-home distribution over a local area network will be implemented on both formats; it's not clear if that feature will be available for all titles or if it will function on the initial players. 

Will the interactive layer work on the initial players?

Yes.
 
Will I have to buy a new audio decoder to take advantage of the new lossless audio formats?

HD disc players have internal lossless compression audio decoders, so consumers should be able to enjoy the better sound quality using the players' analog audio outputs.  The bad news is that the analog audio connections will be 5.1, not 6.1.  So internal Dolby EX or DTS ES decoding will not be available.  Those who own decoders that will dematrix the center surround from analog inputs are all set.  Those who own decoders that will not can try my Pseudo-EX decoding technique using an old, spare analog decoder by connecting the disc player's rear channels to the front left and front right inputs of the spare decoder and driving the center surround with the front center output of that spare analofg decoder.  Legacy lossy digital audio will be available over coaxial or optical connections to your existing decoder if included on the disc.

Which studios are supporting which formats?

Supporting Blu-ray Disc exclusively: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, and Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

Supporting HD DVD exclusively: Universal Studios Home Entertainment and The Weinstein Company Home Entertainment.

Supporting both formats: Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video, New Line Home Entertainment, and HBO Home Entertainment.

How much will the discs cost?

For single disc editions, it seems that HD DVD will carry an SRP of $30 or lower, while Blu-ray Disc will likely carry an SRP of $40 for new films and perhaps $30 for back catalog films.  But the discs are being discounted so street prices vary.  Just as occurred with DVD, with the cost savings of scale and after the initial investments are amortized, I fully expect your out-of-pocket cost per disc to drop over time.

Will I be able to play HD discs on a computer?

Yes.  ROM drives for both formats suitable for existing and new desktop machines are available from several manufacturers, and several computers featuring HD ROM drives and software are currently available.  But for full resolution on an existing desktop PC, display restrictions will apply.  You will have to buy and install a new display with an HDCP-compliant HDMI input, a new graphics card, a new HD ROM drive (two if you want both formats), and suitable software (device drivers and playback application).

Will game systems support HD discs?

The Microsoft Xbox 360 will support HD DVD when an optional external drive.  As you might expect, Sony’s PlayStation 3 will support Blu-ray Disc; that will be an internal player. 

I have a huge investment in DVD and I’m reluctant to buy into yet another format; why should I bother?

As the senses of sight and sound are stimulated with more detail, the emotional involvement in a good film is enhanced.  Consider your motion picture theater experiences.  Have you ever compared the experience of viewing a film in an exceptional theater equipped with a vast screen, a terrific projector, and superior multi-channel sound system with the experience of a little multiplex screen, dimly illuminated, and accompanied by a distorted sound system?  Which was more satisfying?  Did the better theater more effectively draw you into the film’s storyline?  Were you so distracted by the small theater’s deficient presentation that the film actually annoyed?  I’ve had both experiences, and my particular obsession is to reproduce a good motion picture theater experience in the home.  HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc afford that opportunity.  Am I annoyed that I will have to replace nearly fourteen hundred DVDs?  You bet.  But I console myself with the knowledge that this is very likely the very last time.