LG's GGW-H10N HD DVD / Blu-ray combo drive previewed

We can't deny feeling a little rush of excitement when we first learned that LG would be releasing an optical drive that could handle both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs -- like many fence-sitters, we see these combo units as an end run around the format war -- so obviously we were quite stoked to read ExtremeTech's initial thoughts on one of these devices (provided by HP in what was likely an upcoming Media Center). Bearing in mind that neither the review unit nor the drivers were finalized versions, it sounds like the GGW-H10N does indeed live up to its promise of reading nearly every disc format available as well as burning and Lightscribing Blu-ray media, DVDs, and CDs; however, Blu-ray write speeds were well below the claimed 2x in testing, and the lack of HD DVD-R/RW read support could prove to be a rather frequent annoyance unless it's rectified through a firmware update (or HD DVD pulls a Betamax). Bottom line: if you just can't wait any longer to jump into the game, this LG drive will give you most of the capabilities you're looking for -- but with a likely pricetag of $1,000 and more full-featured models probably right down the road, it would seem to pay off if you can just keep on waitin'...

[Frankenstein Black @ May 8th 2007 11:47AM]

$599.00 would be the sweet spot for this puppy ;^)...

-------
Frank Black a.k.a LDM
Water-bending Master
http://www.eternal-champions.com/images/ldm_master_builder!.jpg

[Fatima @ May 8th 2007 12:08PM]

Ugh, all LG is doing is prolonging the format war, let HD-DVD die out already gosh!

[tekdroid @ May 8th 2007 12:14PM]

i can't wait to be 'future-proof'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDCP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Access_Content_System

[Aron Trimble @ May 8th 2007 12:34PM]

BD-R speeds be-damned! Anything that lets me use a /certain/ number to rip my HD DVDs and burn them to Blu-ray is all right by me!

[Frankenstein Black @ May 8th 2007 12:46PM]

What a difference a PS3 makes!
http://www.dvdempire.com/Content/Features/hidef_wars.asp

[wyatt.smith @ May 8th 2007 2:51PM]

I guess this differs depending on what you are trying to do, but I imagine that for most PC users, lack of HD-DVD R/RW is not going to be a big deal. The superior storage space of a Blu-ray should easily be more attractive than HD-DVD for those that are looking for mass storage or video burning. There may be an annoyance factor depending on price differences for blank media (for example, if blank Blu-rays are more expensive than HD-DVDs and you only want to copy a smaller amount of data - it may seem like a waste), but other than that, no big deal.

I'll admit, at the moment I'm just speculating. I can't picture myself backing up loads of information or DVDs on Blu-ray when I can pick up a massive external HD for less. But I'm sure there are plenty out there that have specific uses and desires for these burners.

[paul irwin @ May 8th 2007 1:15PM]

all drives should be like this. screw having one or the other. having DVD-RW and DVD+RW drives in one proved to be great for the format war... both sides now have access to sell their media to more consumers. and it dumbed down the "DVD+R has error blah blah blah" versus "DVD-R plays in 99.999% of players blah blah blah" argument.

[Wellinformed @ May 8th 2007 1:36PM]

I don't want a lesser delivery system...period. That lesser delivery system is HD DVD.

I'm glad Blu-ray outsold HD DVD by 500,000 discs in the first quarter of this year (no...Neilsen Videoscan numbers does not count free discs). At that rate, the disc sales gap should be 1.5 million in favor of Blu-ray by the end of the year.

[Garry @ May 8th 2007 5:16PM]

@ (not-so-) Wellinformed:

As to HD-DVD being the "inferior" format:
1) HD-DVD is region free. Blu-Ray is not.
2) HD-DVD mandates the use of *at least* one next-gen audio (Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD, DTS HD Master Audio) format on every disc. Blu-Ray? Nope.
3) Blu-Ray uses AACS's HDCP, as does HD-DVD. But Blu-Ray adds an entirely new layer of DRM to every disc.

These are the primary reasons that I hope Blu-Ray dies a horrid, gruesome, bloody death. I'm not from Troy, and I don't like wooden horses.

Storage space (and inclusion in the PS3) does not a next-gen video format make. And in case you disagree, HD-DVD currently holds the storage capacity lead with its multi-layer (soon to be 4) discs.

And finally, 500,000 a quarter is NOT 1.5 million per year. One quarter= 3 months= 4 quarters in a year= 2 million units. But all of the "sales" numbers being spewed by both sides are probably 25% overstated on a good day, so who am I to split hairs?

[pigfister @ May 8th 2007 1:57PM]

oh great we all love drm and this drive comes witth the standard blu-ray BD+ SPDC that can disable a player remotely over the net by the serial number disabling a single unit or whole line of blu-ray players permanently if the media companies wish it. i think i'll pass!

[andy @ May 8th 2007 1:45PM]

What took so long? It's been a long time since Engadget has had a good ole format war flame fest. I was kind of missing them. I thought Engadget was starting to shun them or something.

[Matt B @ May 8th 2007 1:51PM]

I seem to remember people saying this about DVD vs VHS awhile back. There are too many advantages to list going forward with BR. Major one's being larger storage(obvious), and BR discs don't scratch. I think in 5 years we will all be glad for this.

[W!ll @ May 8th 2007 2:31PM]

I can get a BD drive AND an HD DVD drive for a total of as low as 500$.
Without HD burning capabiities, though, but BD-RE media are expensive as hell anway.
Combo drives are great, but not for that price.

[h0mi @ May 8th 2007 2:42PM]

Lose the bluray burner, and this would be a lot cheaper and more desirable for HTPCs.

[h0mi @ May 8th 2007 2:42PM]

(clarification) that is, make it a BDROM and HDDVDROM drive.

[Brandon @ May 8th 2007 4:37PM]

Too many storage alternatives to spend the money at this point. You can get 9 500gig HD including shipping for that price. When the HD movies are 19.99 and the players are $250 thats when I'll invest more into this. Oh yeah I already have with my PS3 that I have watched 1 HD movie.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2949364&Sku=THD-500A2

[trainwrecka @ May 8th 2007 4:44PM]

now i can watch "Coming to America" on HD>DVD!

[KC @ May 8th 2007 4:47PM]

If they had an external version, I would buy it for the backup of my AVCHD videos. With more and more notebooks being sold now, I can't see why they are so slow to release an external BD writable drive.

[DaveTehWave @ May 8th 2007 6:17PM]

I could rip The Matrix Trilogy/LoTR/Star Wars from DVD and put it on ONE BD disc using this...

[Ken Allen @ May 9th 2007 5:30PM]

It's because both formats use 405nm laser diodes to burn to disc.