HD DVD vs Blue-Ray: What to choose
A format war is being waged by competing interests in what format your next DVD player is going to use. While the two formats have similar goals and aspirations, if history tells us anything one of the two formats is going to win and it may not be the best technology. Remember when there was VHS and Betamax? VHS won even though it was the weakest technology.
So which of these two formats is going to win? If you believe Blockbuster (Blockbuster chooses Blu-ray; Should you?) then you might as well go out and buy yourself a Blue-Ray player to add to the arcenal of players you have in your home theater. If you believe what is happening in Europe (HD Format War Limps On: HD DVD Up in Europe) then you might find yourself a good HD DVD player.
However, the best path of all, just in case one gets up and beats the other one is to buy a player that plays both formats (see Blue Ray Vs HD DVD – The Format War).
There are a couple of alternatives out there worth looking at. LG and Samsung have produced a universal player which plays both formats.
However, adorning your home theater with one of the universal players might not be the thing to do right now. The price on these players is at a premium. Later on when a second version of these players becomes available you will find prices to be at a far more bearable level. BUT if you just have to go and get one to make your home theater the place to be with new DVD releases, then by all means go and buy a universal player and stay away from either the HD DVD or Blue Ray Players. Better to be safe than have to pay out another large amount when you find the opposite format to the player you installed actually wins.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Are you nuts! Or just arithmetically challenged? The sell prices of the dual mode players have been well over $1000. HD-DVD players can be had from $299, and Blue-Ray players from $499 if you shop well. Buy one of each if you must. You’ll still save enough to more than cover the HDMI switch that you might need to accommodate adding the extra input to your TV.
It’s also very likely that by the holiday selling season we’ll see HD-DVD players for $199. Toshiba recently released their 3rd generation of players, not even waiting for the holiday push.