Potential for HD DVD firmware/hardware upgrades - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

esc · 01-12-2008, 08:23 PM

I was wondering just how difficult and inconceivable it would be for an HD DVD player to be turned into a Blu Ray player or dual format player with a firmware update or a hardware update, like a new drive being put in ?

One of the biggest problems I would have with getting some Blu discs is that I'll have to dump hundreds into a new player, then find room for it on my rack. But if there were a software solution for sale for $50 or $100 that would allow me to keep my current player, I'd jump on it.

I'd even jump through hoops like having to put in a Blu boot up disc or an HD boot up disc for the player depending on what format I wanted to watch.

oops... throw into the hardware section ?

dugpa · 01-12-2008, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esc

I was wondering just how difficult and inconceivable it would be for an HD DVD player to be turned into a Blu Ray player or dual format player with a firmware update or a hardware update, like a new drive being put in ?

Next to impossible.

Ruined · 01-12-2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esc

I was wondering just how difficult and inconceivable it would be for an HD DVD player to be turned into a Blu Ray player or dual format player with a firmware update or a hardware update, like a new drive being put in ?

One of the biggest problems I would have with getting some Blu discs is that I'll have to dump hundreds into a new player, then find room for it on my rack. But if there were a software solution for sale for $50 or $100 that would allow me to keep my current player, I'd jump on it.

I'd even jump through hoops like having to put in a Blu boot up disc or an HD boot up disc for the player depending on what format I wanted to watch.

oops... throw into the hardware section ?

It would be impossible. To switch an HD DVD player to a BD player the blue laser's 65nm lens needs to be swapped out for a 85nm one. Hardware limitation.

esc · 01-12-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruined

It would be impossible. To switch an HD DVD player to a BD player the blue laser's 65nm lens needs to be swapped out for a 85nm one. Hardware limitation.

thats why I mentioned drive replacement. the HD DVD rom drive just slides out like a computer's DVD Rom drive.

then it should be a matter of a software update, no?

Ruined · 01-12-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esc

thats why I mentioned drive replacement. the HD DVD rom drive just slides out like a computer's DVD Rom drive.

then it should be a matter of a software update, no?

No, you still have issues like BD+, Rom-Mark, BD-Java, etc. Who knows if the NEC chipset in the Toshiba players can do these things?

MooglePorn · 01-13-2008, 03:13 AM

Why would you even expect this? Why would a company go to great measures to help you abandon their product? Not only that, but is there any precedent for this... ever? Did Nintendo offer a way to play Playstation games on the N64 when it became obvious they failed miserably that generation?

This is complete fantasy, no offense.

brian · 01-13-2008, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

Why would you even expect this? Why would a company go to great measures to help you abandon their product? Not only that, but is there any precedent for this... ever? Did Nintendo offer a way to play Playstation games on the N64 when it became obvious they failed miserably that generation?

This is complete fantasy, no offense.

I think there's quite a bit of difference when comparing the n64 and PSX to HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Regardless, Coleco offered an Atari 2600 adapter for their Colecovision, so it's not complete fantasy and there is precedent.

MooglePorn · 01-13-2008, 03:28 AM

I know nothing about Coleco, so I'll trust you on that one... either way, it's still a pipe dream and a silly thing to expect or even desire.

ganthc · 01-13-2008, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

I know nothing about Coleco, so I'll trust you on that one... either way, it's still a pipe dream and a silly thing to expect or even desire.

Actually, it wouldn't be so silly a thing if the war had gone the other way. It would be a lot easier to convert blu-ray players to hd-dvd players if the need came.

brian · 01-13-2008, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

... and a silly thing to expect or even desire.

Yes, it's silly to want the most for your money.

dugpa · 01-13-2008, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian

Regardless, Coleco offered an Atari 2600 adapter for their Colecovision, so it's not complete fantasy and there is precedent.

You're talking about two things completely different in their complexity. There's a lot more involved in current formats then in 20 year old video games.
To make a hd-dvd player player blu-ray or vice versa, you'd have to completely change the drive, change the entire software the machine uses (not as simple as just a firmware update - there's only so much firmware controls - there's other internal software), change the persistent memory drive as the requirements for both formats are different (128mb for hd-dvd, 256 for blu-ray currently), and a bunch of other little small hardware changes you'd have to make that would add up. For as much work as it'd take, you'd probably end up spending almost as much as you would to buy a new blu-ray player, as you essentially would end up rebuilding the entire unit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian

Yes, it's silly to want the most for your money.

Yeah, I demand that my hd-dvd player play my old laserdiscs as well, I'm not getting my money's worth till it does. Seems reasonable.

brian · 01-13-2008, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugpa

Yeah, I demand that my hd-dvd player play my old laserdiscs as well, I'm not getting my money's worth till it does. Seems reasonable.

I never said anything about it being completely feasible or absolutely reasonable. Moogle said his desire was silly. That simply makes no sense.

dugpa · 01-13-2008, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian

I never said anything about it being completely feasible or absolutely reasonable. Moogle said his desire was silly. That simply makes no sense.

Point taken I guess. The expectation is silly, but I guess it's never really silly to desire something.

bembol · 01-13-2008, 05:30 AM

This is what, the Third Stage of Grief? Is this Bargaining?

MooglePorn · 01-13-2008, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian

I never said anything about it being completely feasible or absolutely reasonable. Moogle said his desire was silly. That simply makes no sense.

It's pretty silly to desire things that have a 0% chance of happening, in my opinion.

brian · 01-13-2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

It's pretty silly to desire things that have a 0% chance of happening, in my opinion.

Like world peace. Heh.

Anyways, a person judges those chances by asking questions and using logic and reason. Hence this thread.

No6PackJoe · 01-14-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bembol

This is what, the Third Stage of Grief? Is this Bargaining?

Yes it is, followed by acceptance, it just takes some people longer.

01-12-2008, 08:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
esc Stay behind my aura! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: camrose, alberta, canada	Potential for HD DVD firmware/hardware upgrades I was wondering just how difficult and inconceivable it would be for an HD DVD player to be turned into a Blu Ray player or dual format player with a firmware update or a hardware update, like a new drive being put in ? One of the biggest problems I would have with getting some Blu discs is that I'll have to dump hundreds into a new player, then find room for it on my rack. But if there were a software solution for sale for $50 or $100 that would allow me to keep my current player, I'd jump on it. I'd even jump through hoops like having to put in a Blu boot up disc or an HD boot up disc for the player depending on what format I wanted to watch. oops... throw into the hardware section ? __________________ "I guess I'm just not used to being chased around a mall in the middle of the night by killer robots." -Linda, Chopping Mall

01-13-2008, 05:30 AM	#14 (permalink)
bembol Actor Join Date: May 2002 Location: gta\|brampton	This is what, the Third Stage of Grief? Is this Bargaining? __________________ Shaolin's Finest

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-13-2008, 03:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
MooglePorn Actor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA	Why would you even expect this? Why would a company go to great measures to help you abandon their product? Not only that, but is there any precedent for this... ever? Did Nintendo offer a way to play Playstation games on the N64 when it became obvious they failed miserably that generation? This is complete fantasy, no offense.

01-13-2008, 03:28 AM	#8 (permalink)
MooglePorn Actor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA	I know nothing about Coleco, so I'll trust you on that one... either way, it's still a pipe dream and a silly thing to expect or even desire.