What's better, Blu-Ray or HD-DVD?

What do you think will succeed, Blu-Ray Disc or HD-DVD? Remeber the Beta-Max, VHS race back in the 70's? Which one would you pick?

First, this is not the same as the VHS/Beta race. There could never be a VCR that could play both formats with the same mechanism. But this is possible with Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. There are already some manufacturers working on it. So in fact, both formats may always exist.

As for which is better, right now HD-DVD has the clear edge in two major areas: picture quality and price. Reviews of Blu-Ray have been very negative, while HD-DVD has gotten high marks for excellent picture quality. There is controversy regarding why Blu-Ray is not up to snuff, with some blaming the fact that Blu-Ray has stayed with MPEG-2 while HD-DVD uses the much more efficient VC-1. It was thought that the extra capacity of the Blu-Ray disc would make up the difference, but maybe it hasn't. There is a current article in Sound and Vision magazine that covers this subject quite well. See if you can find it.

I have seen HD-DVD with what is considered the best source image (Phantom of the Opera), and I must admit it was stunning. Far better than anything I have seen on HDTV (this was in someone's home under good conditions). I have only seen Blu-Ray in stores, and I am unimpressed, although store viewing is always less than optimum.

If you add the above to the fact that HD-DVD is half the price of Blu -Ray, you wonder how the latter can survive. However, everyone agrees that Blu-Ray will eventually solve the picture quality problems, and that over time there will not be much difference. However, HD-DVD is inherently less expensive, and Blu-Ray will have a tought time competing on price. http://www.somacon.com/p116.php... blue ray is the one i think will take off because of the sony game consol will also use blueray that puts more system out there right now blue ray cost more and that might hurt it but blue ray will be the winner Best is blu- ray