By Robin Harris
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100 GB triple-layer Blu-ray is a notable technical achievement. Only one question: who cares?
Sharp’s announcement of new 100 GB Blu-ray players and recorders shows there’s life in the Blu-ray market. Or that vendors are gluttons for punishment.
The new player, due in Japan at the end of this month, is reasonably priced at $58. Recorders not so much: starting at $2300.
The 100 GB 3-layer format is a BDXL standard, so other vendors will announce new players soon.



Who?
Sharp expects that consumers will buy TV series on BDXL: up to 11 shows on a single disk with no degradation in quality. That’s an advantage over the 5 or so you can get today on Blu-ray. Or the 3 or so on lower quality DVD.
Maybe 3D will drive adoption - if and when 3D proves it has a popular market. If it comes, BDXL will be ready.
Blu-ray adoption
Blu-ray is popular on big-budget, effects-laden Hollywood movies like Iron Man or Dark Knight. But not so much on smaller character-driven flicks.
I saw this up close when my local video store liquidated. DVDs at $1.00 were flying out the door, but Blu-ray dramas at $2.50 weren’t. All the Blu-ray blockbusters were snapped up at $10 while the rest languished.
People have the Blu-ray players, but not the desire to buy most movies in the format. They must not see the value.


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