Home audio & video forum: Poll: If you had one choice, which format would you pick?

A new version of ST-TOS with new computer graphics and new-recorded sound will be released in November on HD DVD. It's more redone than the new U.S. tv version...

Kjell Eriksson, Uppsala, Sweden

I'm glad I'm in no rush to get either one. I'm even in no rush to get a 1080p LCD. My older Toshiba HDTV (480p, 1080i), with a Pioneer up-converting DVD player, suits me just fine. I won't lie, because I'm already impressed with 480p up-converted standard DVDs, I am tempted to go completely 1080p HD.

But with all things considering, ie. not very many HD channels available, prices (although dropping, and will drop still by the time I decide to go full HD) are still alot for me, and this HD DVD vs Blu-Ray thing, too much headache to deal with now. I'm on the fence on this one. Actually, I'm at home, enjoying my current set-up, with a drink in hand, and getting a back rub from my girl. And strolling every so often to the fence to see what's going on. Then back to my home.

I like how the HD-DVD camp down plays the PS3 sales as though they should not count in the battle of the formats. I use my PS3 as a dvd/blu-ray player more than gaming. Stand alone players are great but why not get the PS3 instead and get a total media player? The $100 above and beyond a stand alone blu-ray player is a no brainer IMO. HD-DVD is fine but I think Sony will finally win a format war. I mean the Red Sox finally won a world series so why not Sony??

I do own Sony products. I have a DVD Players and a 55" Projection HD TV. I have a XBOX 360 and when the price of the HD-DVD player was lowered i bought one. So If I wanted to have a Blue-ray player it would be cheaper to buy a PS3 and thats not going to happen. If and when a combonation hd-dvd/blue ray player is at a normal price maybe I will get it. If you haven't learned from your past mistakes you will be doomed to repeat them again, I guess SONY is behind the learning curve.

I like Blu-Ray discs because they have a higher capacity than HD DVD. Given Sony's track record with format wars (BETAMAX v VHS), things look grim.

Much better format, longer movie on a single disc, quality vs quantity, etc...
As well, the best studios are backing BD, Master & Commander, Day after Tomorrow, Castaway & on & on.. come on the release of the HDDVD (Bockbuster?) "Blades of Glory" gives you an idea of those 'other'studios'idea of a movie...give me a break Ha! Ha! Ha!

...
a) I hate Sony; 'high' cost seller

The main advantage to HD DVD is that it is currently cheaper to make. But that advantage will go away blu-ray discs are mass produced. Meanwhile, blu-ray has two long-lasting advantages:

1) It stores more data, and

2) It has a cooler name.

I am really getting tired of acronyms. They're fine here and there, but when I shopped for a surround system a few years ago, I laughed as I listened to myself rattle off "TLAs" (Three Letter Acronyms): DVD, HDTV, MP3, VHS VCR (HQ), CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, JPEG, USB, and on and on. HC! (That's "Holy Cow!")

"Blu-ray" is a lot more pleasant to say, and it's catchier. Kind of like "Firewire" instead of "IEEE-1394", and "Beta" instead of "VHS".

Simple consumer power, simply view Ebay (movies) and you'll see Blu-Ray has double the market than HD-DVD. I've had my Blu-ray player about a month and purcheased 10 movies so far and even bought a high def camcorder which records in Blu-ray also and absolutly love them !! to stop something good is a stupid move,sorry but I love what I have,I researched both formats for weeks before buying,this poll is the first time I've seen any leading support for HD-DVD.

The main reason I chose HD DVD was because it is cheaper. BLU-Ray might have more storage capacity, but personally I don't care. I rarely view the "extras" that HD DVD has to offer so why would I need more storage capacity?

Equal picture and audio, better price, soon to have a better catalogue(?).

As far as storage...you'll never need 50 gigs of storage. If/When you see how many extras and interactive options they can pile into a 30 gig disk, you'll be exhausted. I still haven't gotten through all of the extras on my '300' HD DVD.

At the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Vegas porn reps were going with Blu-Ray same with Japanese Porn!!! Maybe it will be you silver bullet and not Blu-Rays!! These are good links not fringe news outlet Washington Post and Mac World which is the same as PC World.

http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/05/02/pornhd/index.php?lsrc=mwrss

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9028619

For me it's all about the better product. In that arena it's clearly Blu-Ray. Are most of the players more expensive? Yes, but the cost will come down soon, just as it did with HD DVD.

But let's look at the real debate. HD DVD capacity is 15GB for a single layer disc, Blu-Ray is 25GB! That's a huge difference. Add to that the fact that Blu-Ray has gone as deep as 4 layers on a single disc. That means that Blu-Ray technology has the ability to go 100GB on a single disc! The best HD DVD can get is 30GB on a dual layer disc.

Now let's look at the bigger picture. The real battleground...the PC (or Mac). Computers will be the biggest factor in this battle. I don't have the numbers to back it up, but I would venture to say that there are more sales of DVD players/burners for the computer market than there are for the home theater market. Just ask yourself, do I own a DVD burner for my computer? Do I own a DVD player for my home theater? The answer is probably yes on both accounts. Now ask yourself how many computers there are in the business world? How many of them have DVD burners. Are you starting to see the bigger picture?

It's all about convergence, people are used to being able to play their DVD's at home and on the road, but just as importantly, they like being able to use DVD's to make their own movies, slide shows, etc on a PC and then using them on their player at home. All of which can be done on DVD. Now let's look at Blu-Ray vs HD DVD on the computer front.

HD DVD players have made their way into PC's, but the Blu-Ray drives for PC's have the ability to burn data onto those 25-50GB discs! That is a tremendous boon for the Blu-Ray camp.

Let's see, do I buy am PC with an HD DVD player or a PC that can burn CD's DVD's and Blu-Ray discs with storage capacity of up to 50GB? It seems like a no-brainer to me. Sure HD DVD drives with burning capabilities are on their way, but let's face it, the PC crowd is a VERY demanding group. The philosophy is always "bigger (or faster) is better" and in this arena, Blu-Ray stomps HD DVD, hands down, no contest, not just because you can get it now and not just because you can buy recordable Blu-Ray discs now, but because you can get another 20GB of storage per disc. Oh, and remember how Blu-Ray has proven that they can go 4 layers deep. Hmmmmm, show me a PC nut who isn't drooling over the prospect of cramming 100GB onto a single disc!

My personal preference aside, I predict no winner in the Blu-Ray/HD DVD battle. In the end it's more like PC vs Mac. So long as companies like LG are willing to push out dual format players and movie studios are willing to crank out discs with both formats of the movie in one package, we will see both formats with one, eventually dominating but neither format will go away.

I agree with you. I will make my choice based on the following:
1. Compatibility: Must play my current DVD Collection
2. Price: PCs and VHS are cheaper than Macs and Betas which made it more affordable for everyone. If everyone has the cheaper machine that is the format will win out. Not everybody has blue ray money.
3. Bullying: People tend to stay away from companies that try to corner the market and not share. Example: IBM and their PS/2 with MicroChannel
4. Medium: How much will the storage medium cost and how much would it cost me to make my own disk. Right now we are just talking about players. I am also looking at writing devices and there cost which also includes maintainence.