Mitsubishi's 30GB dual-layer HD DVD-R media ready in July

So you're thinking of picking up Toshiba's new RD-A1 HD DVD / HDD recorder when it's released on the 14th of July? Nice, only thing is, if you're planning on burning to those supported 30GB HD DVD discs you'll need some media first. Fortunately, Mitsubishi also announced the first dual-layer HD DVD-R discs this morn' set to drop in Japan at the "end of July" for an estimated ¥4,500 (or about $39); hot on the heels of that ¥2,000 (or about $17) single-layer disc's July 5th drop date. Yeah, that's not quite up the 50GB capacity of dual-layer BD, but hey, you've got a 1TB drive in that beast so quit complaining.

[Via Impress]

[Hans Gruber @ Jun 22nd 2006 9:14AM]

"Hello I would like to buy a Aitch-Dee Dee-Vee-Dee-Argghh Dee-Ell disc please"

That's going to be fun...

[Mike @ Jun 22nd 2006 9:41AM]

"...that's not quite up the 50GB capacity of dual-layer BD..."

50gig BD's aren't even close to reality. Right now, the 50gig disc is a carrot on a stick.

[Gil @ Jun 22nd 2006 10:06AM]

Hans: English is a b**ch with acronyms. Almost all other languages have easier pronounciacion of acronyms.

[Wonderboy @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:30AM]

Carrot on a stick? You mean like the 30 GB HD-DVD discs were up until now? It's not a carrot on a stick when hardware exists the use it, and it's scheduled for release this year. You might consider 8 layers to be the carrot on the stick since it's still in development, but even then, it's a pretty big carrot... a 200 GB carrot.

[David @ Jun 22nd 2006 12:10PM]

hum, wonderboy, correct me if i'm wrong (in a polite way, please), but I believe some HD DVDs movies are already in dual layer.

[GhostDoggy @ Jun 22nd 2006 12:25PM]

This will go great with that standalone $3400 HD-DVD recorder. I have yet to see an HD-DVD writer for the PC.

[blackfeather @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:13PM]

The packaging gives me a headache though...

[Wonderboy @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:40PM]

David, that's not the point... Mike seems to be claiming that anything that's not for public sale yet is a "carrot on a stick", i was merely clarifying. Release dates are technicalities, the point is it's planned, it's announced. By mike's logic the Blu-ray drive in the PS3 is a carrot on a stick just because it's not for sale yet so who knows if it's really going to happen.

[Ferny @ Jun 22nd 2006 4:18PM]

oh yeah that is the way to sell to advertise a pink disk...

[bigshynepo @ Jun 22nd 2006 6:58PM]

*Slaps mike with this link*
http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/10/tdk-begins-shipping-25gb-blu-ray-media/
TADA. Prices and everything. That means there is at least one of them laying around in a lab somewhere. Christ.