The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial

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HD DVD and Blu-ray of similar quality but differ in price

Consumers have decided to delve into the world of high-definition movie entertainment. After splurging on a shiny HDTV and a mind-blowing surround sound system, what better way to show off their technological monuments than by purchasing a high-definition disc player?

The dilemma is which format to choose: HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc?

Reminiscent of past video format competition between Sony’s Betamax and VHS, Toshiba’s HD DVD and Sony’s Blu-ray disc format have constantly persuaded consumers to invest in their product. Both companies are the founders of each format. Both formats promise to deliver an unmatched, cutting edge high-definition experience.

HD DVD, which stands for “High-Definition Versatile Disc,” was first marketed to the U.S. during the spring of 2006. The costs of the first HD DVD players by Toshiba ranged from $500 to $800 depending on the model, a hefty price for the average consumer. The prices of the players are the same today. For those who own Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console, an HD DVD player add-on can be purchased for only $200. HD DVD was designed to be the standard DVD’s successor. A single HD DVD can store up to 30 gigabytes of data compared to a standard DVD’s capacity of only 4.7 gigabytes.

Sony’s Blu-ray players were marketed in the U.S. in the summer of 2006 with whopping price tags ranging from $1,000 to $1,800. The reason for the higher price is the capacity of a Blu-ray disc. A Blu-ray disc can hold up to 50 gigabytes of data, a 20 gigabyte difference between HD DVDs’ capacity and eight times the maximum capacity of a standard DVD. Sony’s Playstation 3 game console, released for sale in November 2006, is capable of playing Blu-ray format movies and games. The price of the system ranges from $500 to $600, depending on the model.

Both formats play back movies with an unparalleled increase in resolution compared to a standard DVD player, resulting in a clearer, sharper and more detailed image on a compatible high-definition screen. They also support a High-Definition Multimedia Interface input, dubbed HDMI, for a digital data output, allowing multiple channels of data to pass through for clearer pictures and sound. Although the Blu-ray format has a distinct advantage over HD DVD in capacity, it delivers the same picture quality. That is because both formats utilize the same type of optic-laser in reading discs, which results in a similar output.

If consumers want a potentially superior product, purchasing a Blu-ray may be their best bet. But if consumers want a high definition player, that delivers the same quality as the Blu-ray with a relatively cheaper price tag, HD DVD should suit them well.

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