Playability comparison....scratch resistance

Just curious, now that it appears that I will be going the Blu-ray route in the future instead of my well liked HD-DVD. How did the formats compare when using the torture test that is the Netflix shipping and rental handling? Does the the special coating used for Blu-ray work well for preventing scratches? Or is it a wash in that if either format gets dirty, ie. fingerprints, smudges, and such that they both struggle to play perfectly? Or maybe is it too soon to tell how well Blu-rays hold up with their data so very close to the surface?

To be honest, I dont know. It seems like it should help. It does take some getting used to while handling, it feels idk wierd. Anyway, I do know it helps with smudges.

I don't own Blu-Ray but most people who do on this board say the results have been very good.

It has been quite a challenge for me to get perfectly playing discs thru Netflix. I had even written them suggesting a change needed to be made in the quality of their tyvek sleeves due to the extra precise playability demands needed by HD discs. Do Blu-ray renters also struggle with this?

Well, I have not had any problems with any of my HD-DVD rentals from Netflix. So IDK if that BD feature was a real need and advantage or just a gimmick to get consumer and investor's support.

I doubt it was a gimmick from what I read because of their data being so close to the outside edge of the substrate, they either needed to come up with a protective coating or go the way of using a protective caddy...... we all know how that would have turned out! And due to this additional step, among other things, contributes to the general consensus that it costs more to make blu-ray discs, i guess. But, if it truely does it's job and helps maintain playability through normal wear and tear than it will be worth it.

You recent members have missed much discussion regarding this subject over the past year. Oh well.

FYI > TDK's DURABIS (Protective Coating Info) - also Sony and Panasonic have disc replication plants, and use their own form of premium protective coatings. DVD and HD-DVDs lack this coating and are much more prone to playback problems, due to scratches/scuffings/smudges etc.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

Do you have a link proving that HD DVD's suffer more playback problems due to scratching? Blu-ray MUST have that special coating (which costs money, BTW), because the data layer is six times closer to the surface. So, although HD DVD scratches more easily, at least it can withstand scratches and still play. Any scratch which penetrates the BD coating will render it unplayable.

Bruce... as discussed here previously, I stated my opinion based on my own long-time regular rental history of DVDs (10 years), HD-DVDs (since June 2006), and Blu-rays (since July 2007), from both local stores and online outlets.

To date, I've never had a Blu-ray rental disc that failed to play due to scratches/smudges etc (in my PS3). Yet I've had around 11-12 rental HD-DVDs in the last 18 months or so that due to a badly scratched surface would NOT play properly, usually either freezing up, or the video going into a pixelated/slow-motion movement, or a bonus feature extra would not work or play right. Removing the disc and examining it revealed the poor condition of the surface.

And for the last 10 years, I have had to get rental replacements for several dozen DVD discs that would not play properly. And I've owned several DVD players, in addition to my Toshiba HD-DVD player.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

Thats very good info.... thanks. Of course from what I have read, your PS3 drive is by far the best when it comes to playing BD. I wonder how the other stand alone BD drives and manufacturers do on "worn" discs.

I agree with LH. When I still had my HD-DVD A35 (Pre Jan 4th, 2008), I rented 3 movies on HD-DVD from Netflix. One was unplayable. After I got a PS3 I have rented at least 15-20 Blu Ray discs and never once had there been any problems with any of them (Except Blood Diamond was a crappy movie).

Deano86...

I get Blu-Ray discs from Netflix all the time and I haven't found one with a scratch on it yet... After joining Netflix I began to appreciate this one feature of Blu-Ray more than any other perceived advantage they brought to the table.

In short, you movies probably won't ever require the use of repair machines to play.

Well I just bought one of those fancy cleaning machines because I like to play frizbee with my discs.

It says right on the box do not use this with blu-ray. What I understand the coating works well but if you strach it then its over charlie.

Coating I bet is the one thing the movie industry does not like blu-ray. less need to buy replacement discs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5jEbZt6AIQ&feature=related

Here is some of the damage that blu ray disc can take....

> DIRECT LINK to that YouTube video

Notice how that TV has a serious 'banding' issue?

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

not that it matters anymore but ....

I've said on here before that I have rented HDs from Netflix since they made them available and have never had a playback problem. I'm using the xbox add-on, perhaps it handles the scratches better.