HP to offer Blu-ray/HD DVD hybrid

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 08 May 2007 11:35

Your IT - Home IT

Hewlett-Packard is expected to announce this week an optional dual-format Blu-ray/HD DVD drive for some of its PC models.

HP has a foot in both camps of the high-def war, currently offering an HD DVD-ROM as a second optical drive on PCs such as the Pavilion Media Center m8000y, despite having announced its support for Blu-ray back in 2005.

The dual format drive is reportedly the LG Super Multi Blue, which will allow users to play both types of hi-def content on the one device. It can record on Blu-ray, DVD and CD media, but not HD DVD.

Some commentators regard such combo drives and players as a bad thing, as they only delay the general adoption of one or other of the competing formats. Others feel they provide owners with access to the broadest range of content until either Blu-ray or HD DVD gains sufficient momentum to relegate the other the the ranks of Laserdisc, Beta and 8-track.

In related news, Pioneer has announced the BDC-2202, a low-cost ($US299) DVD burner that is also capable of reading - but not writing - Blu-ray discs. Shipping in June, the price includes software for playing Blu-ray movies.