Maxit Mag

"Dubbed 'Total HD' or 'THD' [...], the discs had been scheduled to arrive in the second half of this year but with Q2 just a few days away the Hollywood giant has been forced to admit it won't make this timeframe. Instead Warner is now quoting an 'early 2008' release date and maintains there is a role for a format which may only service to further confuse an already befuddled public.

Given that you haven't asked for it, here's my opinion: there's no need for Total HD. It works by making users flip the disc onto the right side for their player format (like old school vinyl records) and is likely to cause chaos as technophobes try buying and flipping opposing formats and doing all sorts of damage. It also means there is no 'safe side' to put the disc down..."

THD discs measure the same as other DVDs and are formed simply by two 0.6 mm discs bonded together. Each THD disc can contain both single layer and dual layers: 15 or 30 GB on the HD DVD side, and 25 or 50 GB on the Blu Ray side.

Does Warner only want to save money on the manufacturing process? Probably. Does this system have it's cons? Sure. Do the pros outweight those premises? You decide. But if the price is the same, I will always prefer a disc that works in two readers rather than on one alone. Compatible Blu Ray / HD DVD ROMs will become standar, so I see THD as having a back-up on the other sice of the disc.

Link: TrustedReviews.