Cebit 07: Toshiba HD-DVD matches Blu-ray capacity

Toshiba has a developed a prototype triple-layer HD-DVD system that can store 51Gbytes per disk, according to one of its optical-storage experts.

This would put it on a par with a dual-layer disk using the rival Blu-ray technology, which can store 50Gbytes a disk.

James Armour, optical disk specialist at Toshiba’s storage device division, dismissed Sony claims that it has developed a 200Gbyte Blu-ray disk.

He said: “They may have done it in the labs but have they put it into production? No. And anyway who needs a 200Gbyte disk?”

Armour admitted that Blu-ray was ahead on movie sales in the US, which he put down to the drive on Sony’s Playstation 3 games console. But he said HD-DVD movie sales were ahead in Europe - though the PS3 has yet to launch here.

HD-DVD disks can made using existing DVD plants, whereas Blu-ray disk manufacture requires massive investment. Armour said media makers had told him that an HD-DVD disk cost only 5 percent more to make than a DVD, and he claimed the extra cost of Blu-ray media was reflected in the cost of movies in that format.

“I’ve checked the shops in Germany and on average a Blu-ray costs $2 more than an HD-DVD.”