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DVD allowing them to provide better sound and video quality through bigger file sizes. This theoretically gives them one advantage in terms of convenience over standard DVD in that they can hold on one disc a whole television series, unlike DVDs who require multiple disc box sets. But, HD DVD has its work cut out if it wants to win the format war. Blu-Ray has been backed by seven of the eight major film studios in the U.S., and Sony will release the Playstation 3 with Blu-Ray compatibility. On the technical side, Blu-Ray also looks the better option with a higher capacity (50 gigabytes on a dual layer disc, compared to 30 gigabytes on the HD DVDs) and higher data transfer and video bit rates (theoretically meaning it will produce better sound and picture).

However, it wasn't quality that made VHS the winner over Betamax and this battle is far from won. HD DVD, having been released earlier, already has its place in the market and it only needs to gain more admirers to change the minds of the studios not backing it. HD DVD has more titles on the market and will beat Blu-Ray for both the price of the discs themselves but more importantly the players as well. Analysts who have compared the actual output of the players are favoring HD DVD in terms of quality even though Blu-Ray is technically better.

But will it even matter? The two new high-definition formats will continue to battle until one concedes defeat, and while they rage their war, DVD will continue to prosper. The mainstream market shouldn't be too concerned as DVD will be the product of choice until at least 2010 and probably beyond. That is until we start seeing our first $30 HD or Blu-Ray players and it took DVD a good six years to get that far.

Learn more about this author, Daniel Stephens.
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