Sony announced Blu-ray HDTV recorder BDZ-S77 for Japanese consumer market.


News Release (Japanese):
http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200303/03-0303/

Product Information (Japanese):
http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/BD/index.html

Available: Apr. 10. 2003.
Suggested retail price: 450,000JPY (3,750USD)
Recording format: MPEG2-TS/AAC 5.1ch audio upto 36Mbps
Recording modes:
[DTV] DR (Direct Recording) mode; 1080i/720p(2Hrs/24Mbps), 480p(4Hrs/12Mbps)/i(4.4Hrs/11Mbps)
[NTSC] HR(3Hrs/16Mbps)/SR(6Hrs/8Mbps)/LR(12Hrs/4Mbps)
Recording Media: BF23G(3,500JPY) 23GB Single sided/Single layer Blu-ray Optical Disk

Does anyone know if this will integrate seamlessly with JVC's stuff?

The cost is around $4000 USD for the recorder and blank disks are around $40 USD. It's out of most peoples price range, but should drop soon. The big drawback now is the poor tracking ability in comparison to red laser recorders and until wider adoption most people can't play it back.

I had read someplace that blu-ray was actually going to handle tracking better than red laser and that it wouldn't be as sensitive to tilt/warp as red.

Yesterday I read through the posting on this topic at Slashdot (http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/03/03/1740239). One of them contained a link to a report on the lasers and the problems they have with tracking. Sorry I couldn’t find the exact link again, but it's there somewhere. I think it is too early to tell what problems or issues may arise.

<<<-- Originally posted by Jeff Donald : The cost is around $4000 USD for the recorder and blank disks are around $40 USD. It's out of most peoples price range, but should drop soon. The big drawback now is the poor tracking ability in comparison to red laser recorders and until wider adoption most people can't play it back. -->>>

There will be much lower cost systems incorporated into pro and prosumer blu-ray camcorders -- starting at NAB.

Today, Sony Japan has hold pre-NAB press conference in Tokyo.
Here are some pics.
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20030305/sony.htm

The Sony DVCAM/IMX blue laser disc has similar characteristics and appearance to blu-ray, but it's a different standard from blu-ray.
Sony modified it to dual pick-ups mechanism for faster transfer rate (50Mbps).

Pretty interesting, but one thing to think about. The amount of time it takes
to first write to backup and also to copy from it. During burning, you do NOT
have use of your computer.

So, IMO, a firewire drive is a much better and far cheaper way (right now)
than this new technology. In addition, the discs do cost something and
they also pile up. A plus; you have a dated/individual record with each burn.

I have a G4 powerbook with an internal DVD burner,
and it is really cool, but this is my
experience when using it for burning back ups.

I would personally wait until the blue ray comes WAY down in price.