DVD and the future of Laserdisc

The fact so many films are being reissued in exclusive Laserdisc special editions proves the quality home cinema market is exploding, and of course they last forever. The importing problems are not insurmountable, and any keen videophile is able to get the NTSC titles they're after. Laserdisc is also currently the only domestic format which can carry the new digital cinema sound formats. All the above has ensured Laserdisc's small, but solid current market share, but what does the future hold?

The video, audio, and in particular computer industries are currently very excited about a forthcoming format that should serve them all for a long time to come. DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs) are the same physical size as ordinary CDs, but have a finer track and smaller pits, read by a shorter wavelength laser. A DVD disc can be single or double sided, and each side can feature two layers. Each layer is capable of storing over seven times more than a conventional CD. All in all, it's enough to store 135 minutes of MPEG-2 compressed digital video with a choice of audio tracks and subtitles - a whole film in decent quality digital video on a single side. The audio tracks could include commentary and the possibility of one of the digital cinema sound formats.

But it won't be any better than Laserdisc, and in some respects it will be worse. It is expected to have a low software price on its side, but the technology is unproven, NTSC titles are unlikely to play back on UK players, and why should the mass market, at which it is aimed, bother? They are already satisfied with their re-recordable video tape machines, and see no need for buying a Ł500 playback-only box.

My advice is this: if you want the highest quality format today that will stand up way into the future, with access to over 9000 titles including exclusive collectors' editions and unrated NTSC versions, then the Laserdisc will serve you for many years to come. My only regret is that I didn't buy one sooner.

Gordon Laing writes for Personal Computer World.