Sony and Nichia Develop New Smaller Blu-ray Disc Laser Unit

[malware]

Sony and Nichia Corporation have jointly developed new Blu-ray laser technology that should lead to thinner and smaller notebook drives. The new blue-violet laser measures 14 x 7.4 x 3mm and is expected to be built into slimline Blu-ray drives that can be fitted into ultra-portable laptops, in-car entertainment systems, handheld disc players and maybe a new version of the PS3 console. The module can read and write dual-layer Blu-ray Discs as well as read the newer organic media. Both companies anticipate mass production of drives using the extra-compact laser towards the end of the year.



Source: Electronista, Reg Hardware

[broke]

Yay! 100GB backup disks for the world!!!

[Ravenas]

This means this price of Blu-ray players will drop, which also means the price of the PS3 will drop as well!

[BvB123]

No.

[Ravenas]

Originally Posted by BvB123

No.

Trolling is bad for you. And yes, that's exactly what it means.

[mkg]

I did not read anywhere that the price was geting cheaper. So prices will stay the same or be higher for a smaller device (ps2 slim stayed the same price but was smaller)

[broke]

Originally Posted by mkg

I did not read anywhere that the price was geting cheaper. So prices will stay the same or be higher for a smaller device (ps2 slim stayed the same price but was smaller)

mabe cheaper for sony to produce but as usual the savings don't make it to the consumers right away. but these drives will be super popular if the blank bluray disks become cheap.

[Ravenas]

Lol, the cost of production determines how much Sony pays to produce it. At that point, Sony drops the price to stay competitive and move more units. It's that simple.

[Ravenas]

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/26/sm...duction-costs/

[broke]

yeah sony sure needs any competitive edge that they can get in the console market. but in my earlier comment I had laptop and pc bluray drives in mind. I don't see those getting significantly cheaper any time soon, they can and will charge what they want for what is essentially the slimmest and most advanced commercial drive out there

[effmaster]

Originally Posted by malware

The module can read and write dual-layer Blu-ray Discs as well as read the newer organic media.

Do I smell another compatibility issue for older Blu Ray players?

[spacejunky]

Originally Posted by effmaster

Do I smell another compatibility issue for older Blu Ray players?

just another way for Sony to make you keep upgrading.


Ravenas,
You have got to be kidding. Maybe you didn't read the post but this is Sony we're talking about.

[1c3d0g]

EGGcellent. I want to see a Blu-Ray option in every new notebook, and this latest development certainly makes that possible.

[effmaster]

Originally Posted by Ravenas

Lol, the cost of production determines how much Sony pays to produce it. At that point, Sony drops the price to stay competitive and move more units. It's that simple.

Thats not true.

Economics states that while lowering prices may cause a greater adoption rate. If the company can still make more money with the original price then they are not going to drop the price. That is the current case with the 360. Although that could be changing now that Microsoft has actually made a profit on all xbox console overall now. Sony still wont be making a profit until this Fall at the earliest from what the news headlines have said.

[Ravenas]

If it cost less for them to put the same, but smaller, blu-ray laser in their product they will lower the price of the PS3. By lowering the price more units would move, which is what Sony wants. It's logic, not economics. By dong this they would be closer to making a profit, and even closer to their sells goals.

[effmaster]

Originally Posted by Ravenas

If it cost less for them to put the same, but smaller, blu-ray laser in their product they will lower the price of the PS3. By lowering the price more units would move, which is what Sony wants. It's logic, not economics. By dong this they would be closer to making a profit, and even closer to their sells goals.

Sometimes giving themselves more money from the lower costs outweighs the effect that a price drop would. They will choose whichever one is more profiit for them this is economics at its best. Im not saying your wrong. What I am saying though is that it is wrong to automatically assume that a price drop is imminent each time a company finds a way to lower their costs on a product.

The whole thing is alot more technical than just saying that with lower costs there is a lower price, sadly this is not always the case.

[hacker111]

Excellemt! Can it become available for notebooks and desktops? All of them?

[WarEagleAU]

Effmaster is right, but so is Ravenas. We wont immediately see a price impact by this. From what they are talking, they didnt mention home dvd players (bluray) or desktop drives. This could be a form of trickle down economics. I suspect with the new mass production, Sony will wait a tad before lowering the price. I mean, it took several months for desktop BR burners to get below $800 USD and you still see them at around $1000.