Blu Ray vs. HD-DVD

A new format battle!

DVDs have great picture quality, but the resolution of DVD video is less than the resolution of HDTVs. Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are two new types of discs that solve this problem: they look and work like DVDs, but have HD-quality video.

DVDs have great picture quality, but the resolution of DVD video is less than the resolution of HDTVs. Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are two new types of discs that solve this problem: they look and work like DVDs, but have HD-quality video.

Sony has been partially or completely responsible for many successful standards, including the CD (with Philips) and the 3.5" floppy disk. But nobody likes when Sony tries to force their formats into an already crowded space. Sony ignored this and created Blu-Ray. It holds more data than HD-DVD, but is more expensive and complex, and can't offer combination-DVD discs. And they confusingly call the rewritable discs "BD-RE" instead of "BD-RW".
Most people don't care about the resolution of their video signals in the first place - they just want big TVs.

With Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, the disadvantages are far greater than the advantages
Why?, well.

You need to buy an expensive player, repurchase your movies, and give up cheap recording, computer playback, car playback, portable playback, and most of your Fair Use abilities.

Sony even prohibits dual-format players in the Blu-Ray license, so unless they magically change their minds to boost their competitor, you can never buy a player that works with both formats.
Most people still don't have HDTVs. HDTV programming and coverage is still incomplete and immature.

HD-DVD----Toshiba and Samsung
Blu Ray----Sony

http://www.marco.org/193