LG and Hitachi Prepare a Blu-ray HD DVD Drive

Since the beginning of the High Definition format wars the battles have been carried out on multiple fronts, starting with the codecs and video file formats, continuing with the High-Definition Multimedia Interface, LCD TVs with staggering resolutions and ended up even in the storage medium market for this enchanting new technology.

While progress isn't always in a case of being a slow process, Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS) chose a more neutral attitude, instead of doing battle on the fronts; they created a optical drive which can record Blu-ray disks (BD) and read HD DVDs. The model is known as the GGW-H10N "Super Multi Blue" and has an approximate price tag of about 1200$.

This drive is able to read, write and re-write normal CDs and DVDs (10x speed for DVD1R, 8x for DVD1RW, 6x/8x for DVD1R DL), read and write single or double-layered Blu-ray disks (4x or 3.5x speed) and playback HD DVDs. It comes with a Serial ATA interface and by using the 4x recording speed it can write a full single layer BD-R in 23-24 minutes.

The GGW-H10N is expected to be released in May, just at the same time as Sharp Corporation's new laser technology for Blu-ray and HD DVD drives will appear, or better said appeal on/to the market. This new technology uses a 210mW blue-violet laser diode, which should yield recording speeds of up to 6x the speed, compared to 2x or even some models, like the one presented in this article, at 4x.

Nichia Corporation has also announced undergoing development for a blue-violet laser technology, which instead uses 320mW and is expected to reach 10x speeds. Sharp's GH04P21A2G is touted of having a service life of 10.000 hours. And beginning with May, some of the samples will be available, with a mass production of 250.000 units per month scheduled for June this year.