Why High-Definition DVD Won’t Make It

I'm normally deeply skeptical of opinion columns with titles like "Why the World Doesn't Need Hi-Def DVDs." They're usually written by old men with vinyl record and 8-track tape collections who're just upset they have to buy their media—again—in another format. You got a lot of this during the rise of DVD ("VHS is fine! We don't need DVDs!"), but today no one would question the vast superiority of the DVD over crummy old videotape.

The New York Times' David Pogue, however, makes a very strong case against upgrading to HD-DVD, the new high-definition optical disc format that is just now arriving on the market. It's not just theoretical complaints. He watched six HD-DVD movies and lived with the equipment personally. And while he admits you can't argue with the superiority of the HD-DVD's picture quality, actually getting your system to produce that level of detail might be a different matter altogether.

Read the story for Pogue's full impression of HD-DVD. My favorite complaint: The first-generation Toshiba player takes over a minute to actually turn on, and 45 more seconds for a DVD to reach the FBI warning. That's worse than a PC.

There's also the issue of Blu-Ray, Sony's competing technology that should arrive this fall, and which isn't compatible with HD-DVD. Vendors are split down the middle over who they support, and a VHS vs. Betamax redux is clearly getting started. However this is a war that may have no winner. As for me, I'm sticking with good old DVD. Call me old fashioned, but this is one battle I'm happy to sit out. At least for now.

Anyone out there in Yahoo!land planning to make the great leap to HD-DVD? Spill your guts in the comments.