Blu-ray and HD-DVD: What You Need to Know

A number of readers have piped up recently asking what exactly to make of the high-definition DVD hubbub. Blu-ray and HD-DVD... what are they? How are they different? And should you invest in these technologies? Here's everything you need to know in a language you can understand.

What is High-Definition DVD? High-definition DVD is a generic term for the next generation of DVD technology, which can burn more information onto the same size disc as your current CDs and DVDs. Like a DVD, it can be used for either video or computer data. But you'll need new hardware to play a hi-def disc on either your TV or your PC.

Why should you care? Because the quality of a hi-def DVD movie greatly outpaces that of a standard DVD, displaying images in real HDTV resolution. Users report that the picture is stunning, though the quality increase may be lost on those who aren't videophiles.

Similarly, the ability to put more data on a single optical disc is good for computer users. Backups can be burned to fewer discs, requiring fewer disc swaps and generally being less of a headache to use. However, since DVD is only now becoming popular for program distribution, hi-def probably has a decade or more to go before finding a use for commercial software.

There are two competing formats of hi-def DVD: Blu-ray and HD-DVD. Much like VHS and BetaMax, they are incompatible, and eventually only one standard is likely to "win," although both should theoretically output video at the same quality and resolution. The jury's out on which will be the victor: Momentum swings from one side to the other every couple of months. Some observers feel that neither may end up winning: That hi-def DVD may soon go the way of laserdisc. Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, here's what you need to know about the two competing formats.
Blu-ray. Note that it's not written "Blu-Ray" Blu-ray was pioneered by Sony and has support from Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Sharp, Apple, and other big vendors. A basic Blu-ray disc holds 25GB of data (vs. 4.7GB on a single-layer DVD). A dual-layer disc could hold 50GB, but some reports have noted that multi-layer Blu-ray discs have not yet been mastered. Still, it seems that 50GB Blu-ray discs are likely to arrive sometime.

Now the bad news: Blu-ray is still a ways off. While a Blu-ray drive for the PC is now available, the first players (for movie usage) won't arrive until June at the earliest. What's more, these players will cost $1,000 and up, which may be cost prohibitive. Sony's player is currently on pre-order for August delivery. The long-awaited PlayStation 3 (arriving in November) will also play Blu-ray discs, and many suspect that it will double as a movie player for many users.

Since Blu-ray drives haven't arrived yet, there are no real reviews or opinions to be found on them. How will it compare to DVD and HD-DVD? No one really knows.

HD-DVD. Toshiba is the big gun behind HD-DVD, and it has already released the first HD-DVD player on the American market. At just $500, the Toshiba HD-A1 is already half the price of a Blu-ray player, however early reviews have not been overly kind. Still, this is first generation technology-ugly, bulky, and slow-and many hope that a sleek and speedy $200 HD-DVD player could arrive within a year.

HD-DVD is a somewhat less capacious format: 15GB per layer, though Toshiba has claimed it can put three layers on a disc, for a theoretical total of 45GB. Fewer big companies are supporting HD-DVD, with names like Hitachi, NEC, and Sanyo supporting the format, far fewer than have signed on for Blu-ray. On the other hand, a handful of HD-DVD movies are already available for sale.  Microsoft is also backing HD-DVD and has said it will release an HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 later this year.

What to expect. The Christmas season will be high-definition's big test. Will the expensive PS3 be a hit? Will consumers care about higher-resolution movies? Will the muscle of Sony outclass its scrappier competition, even though it was first on the scene? No one knows the answers yet, and for my part, I'm waiting at least until 2007 to make a decision. It's possible that multi-format players may become available, too. Or both of them could disappear, leaving you with a pricey piece of junk. Ultimately the power lies with you, the consumer, to decide who "wins" this war.