Gateway Launches First Dual HD DVD/Blu-ray PCs

Is the high-def optical format war over? If you've already invested in HD DVD technology or media, you may not be relishing the inexorable move to Blu-ray. Good news, then: Gateway has a computer for you. Its GM5664 desktop PC will be its first to include a hybrid optical drive capable of playing both HD DVD and Blu-ray DVDs.

The new system includes a Hybrid-SuperMulti drive that can only play high-def formats; it won't write to either format. (It can of course still burn standard DVDs and CDs.) Other features on the system include an AMD Phenom CPU, 3GB of RAM, TV tuner, ATI Radeon HD 2400XT graphics card, and a full one-terabyte hard drive. The system runs just $1,150. It is available immediately.

Machines like the GM5664 (a few other manufacturers have similar computers for sale) are refreshing in that they offer the hundreds of thousands of people who've already taken a stand in the high-def war to hedge their bet no matter which way the format battle is ultimately decided, without adding a lot to the overall price of the machine.

If you just want to upgrade your PC with a dual-format HD DVD and Blu-ray drive, check out LG's GGC-H20L optical drive, which you can sub in for your existing optical drive for about $250.