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Beware: Format war brews over DVD
players |
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Toshiba is leading HD DVD format group and has Microsoft,
Intel and NEC in its side -- but only three movie studios so far.
The battle between these two formats could be decided
early -- depending on the specific films that are released at the
outset.
If HD DVD debuts with big-name popular titles, and
if they can pack a variety of extras in, somehow, it might get an
early lead that can't be overtaken even by the larger capacity format.
Anyone who builds a sizable film library on one format is going
to be reluctant to switch.
But if the quality and name recognition is not there,
or if Blu-ray manufacturers minimize or eliminate the price differential,
HD DVD could become the Betamax of the new century.
So what's a home entertainment junkie to do?
This is the time for patience.
By Christmas 2006, a check of your local video rental
store should decide matters. If the shelves are packed with movies
in one particular high-definition format, then that will point to
the machine to buy.
Of course, we can always hope that the industry comes
to its senses and offers machines that can play either format.
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| PRODUCT COMPARISON |
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| HD - DVD |
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Manufacturers:
Toshiba, Panasonic, Dell |
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Price:
$499.00 HD-A1 $799 HD-XA1 |
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Availability:
April 2006 |
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Storage:
15 gigabytes single, 30 gigabytes double |
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Supporters:
Microsoft, Intel, NEC |
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| BLU-RAY |
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Manufacturers:
Samsung, Sony |
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Price:
$1,000 BDP-1000a |
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Availability:
July 2006 |
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Storage:
25 gigabytes single, 50 gigabytes double |
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Supporters:
Major Hollywood
studios |
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Terry Jackson is the home technology columnist for The Miami Herald.
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