The linked article completely ignores the most common use of the Combo disks -- households with children and a mixture of HD and SD equipment. It's almost as if the author wasn't aware that people with different needs and situations than himself exist. "If I don't need it, no one does" could well be the title of the article.
The Engadget blurb seems to also make a mistake. The current combo format (one format on either side) is NOT the same as the recently-approved dual-layer combo format, which has both formats on ONE side and is presumably no extra cost. And certainly no confusion, since all Toshiba players (or at least A2 and later) have a setting for which layer they play if they encounter such. Since the DVD Forum approved it, one has to believe that normal DVD players also play their version automatically.
The idea of the combo format is a good one, hobbled by the extra cost and the two-side confusion. If you eliminate those issues, what's not to like? Yet another thing HD can do and BD cannot.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kevin Murphy @ Sep 22nd 2007 11:47AM
The linked article completely ignores the most common use of the Combo disks -- households with children and a mixture of HD and SD equipment. It's almost as if the author wasn't aware that people with different needs and situations than himself exist. "If I don't need it, no one does" could well be the title of the article.
The Engadget blurb seems to also make a mistake. The current combo format (one format on either side) is NOT the same as the recently-approved dual-layer combo format, which has both formats on ONE side and is presumably no extra cost. And certainly no confusion, since all Toshiba players (or at least A2 and later) have a setting for which layer they play if they encounter such. Since the DVD Forum approved it, one has to believe that normal DVD players also play their version automatically.
The idea of the combo format is a good one, hobbled by the extra cost and the two-side confusion. If you eliminate those issues, what's not to like? Yet another thing HD can do and BD cannot.