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For those who remember the good old days of the floppy disc, the timeliness in which media becomes obsolete is absolutely staggering. In a future where technology grows at a rate far outpacing that with which it can be produced and distributed, we haven't seen anything like this since VHS beat out Betamax.

This eternal power struggle is rearing it's ugly head as the next generation of media storage devices vie for your dollar. As high definition media has become more common, the standard DVD has proven incapable of managing the high resolutions required.

Now, two new offspring have emerged, each determined to quash the other and assume their rightful role as predecessor - Toshiba's HD DVD and Sony's Blu-ray discs. The big corporations are preparing for war. But what's the difference?

Both discs are - for all intensive purposes - indistinguishable from each other and older DVDs. Both are read by a blue-violet laser of the same wavelength. However, Blu-ray discs have a tighter pitch - that's the outward spiral of data on the disc. In addition, both discs have a protective covering, but the Blu-ray's is almost half that of the HD DVD, enabling the laser to better read the information beneath.

What this means to the consumer? Blue-ray is more expensive to produce and therefore to purchase, but holds more data and has the potential to function better.

While some have taken sides from the beginning, a large number of major productions companies are playing it safe and backing both formats. Blu-ray appeared to be the frontrunner, and has since seen the release of the compatible Playstation 3. HD DVD is unofficially supported by Microsoft and will make for a gentler transition for current DVD users - their aim is to be the next stepping stone, not to revolutionize the market.

Peace-talks between factions have long since ceased, and the ensuing battle has the potential to wreak havoc on the electronics and entertainment markets. While Toshiba had a two month head start, it is speculated that it will be years before we see a clear winner, and consumers will suffer in the process.

As we speak, devices for both parties are being shipped to stores near you, and still more are expected to be released this summer. What's the verdict? Hold out on purchasing or favoring either system. There's still a long road ahead, and, however it turns out, the good news is that both sets of hardware will be compatible with your favorite, if not outdated, DVDs.

Learn more about this author, Delen Kitchen.
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