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Buyers Guide to the Best High-Definition DVD Products

High-definition DVD represents the next generation of DVD players. It is based on advanced blue-laser technology that allows huge amounts of data to be stored on a disc, with the result that images can be displayed on a compatible television set at a resolution far higher than is possible with existing equipment.

Unfortunately, two competing high-definition DVD formats have been developed, and buyers must choose between them. It is generally assumed within the industry that eventually one of the formats will “vanquish” the other – just as VHS-format video beat out the Betamax format – but this may take some years.

The two formats are Blu-ray and HD DVD. Each has its “backers,” and so it seems likely that – initially at least – certain movie titles will be available only on one or other of the formats.

A standard HD DVD disc has a single-layer capacity of 15 gigabytes (compared to around 5 GB for existing DVDs) and a dual-layer capacity of 30 GB. For Blu-ray the figures are 25 GB and 50 GB.

HD DVD backers include Toshiba, NEC, Paramount, Universal Pictures and Warner Home Video. Blu-ray backers include Sony, Apple, Dell, Hitachi, Matsushita, Samsung and Twentieth Century Fox.

Toshiba - in the HD DVD camp - was first to market, and has continually worked to introduce new models and bring down prices. Samsung and Sony have been leaders among the Blu-ray companies.

Both formats have generally been judged to be of excellent quality, and a clear leap forward in DVD technology. Nevertheless, most experts have advised caution in rushing to buy, as prices are expected to fall - possibly quite sharply - and one of the formats will likely fall by the wayside.

However, in February 2007 an Associated Press writer commented:

It's tougher to say which player to get. I liked the HD DVD player, and the discs had a more consistent image quality, probably because they use a more sophisticated mathematical formula, or codec, to pack the movie into the disc.

Some Blu-ray movies showed slight smearing of colors in darker scenes, and "The Fifth Element," an early disc, was overall not as crisp as it should have been. But the image quality of recent Blu-ray discs was a clear improvement, and the format has more support from Hollywood studios. Also, the PlayStation 3 is the most common HD player out there, so Blu-ray discs are selling faster than HD DVDs, according to Nielsen VideoScan.

Blu-ray appears to have the edge, but it's still up in the air. What if the format you buy into turns out to be the Betamax of the matchup?

For one thing, you can minimize your risk by renting, not buying, discs. Netflix has every HD DVD and Blu-ray disc that's out.

Secondly, consider this: In two years' time, when you realize you've bet on the wrong horse, a player for the dominant format is going to cost maybe $200. Buy one, and keep your first player to play the "wrong" format discs you've bought.

See? There's no reason to fear the format fight.

In order to watch high-definition DVDs, you will need not only the player but also a compatible television set and cables.

Most high-definition DVD players are “backward compatible,” meaning that they will play your existing DVDs. However, it is important that you confirm this at the time of purchase.

Further Information

Amazon.com has prepared an excellent (though a little dated) HD DVD Buying Guide and a Blu-ray Buying Guide, with basic information for prospective users. Amazon.com also has lists of HD DVD movie titles and Blu-ray titles.

One of the best sources of information is DVD Town, with links to news reports and a forum. Another forum is at High Def Forum. An excellent FAQ is at Digital Digest.

The HD DVD Promotion Group has its own website, with considerable detail about this format. The Blu-ray Disc Association also has a website. Blu-ray.com is an independent website, also with a lot of information.

An interesting article, “Daggers Drawn Over DVDs: How Sony gained an edge in its fierce battle with Microsoft over video formats,” was published by Business Week in October 2005.

Updated: March 12th, 2007