DVDs are technologically limited right now. They can handle regular TV, but not HDTV video (Also, does not have digital rights. Next gen discs may allow us to make limited legal copies), so we have:

HD DVD: Cheap and can use many of the current DVD production facilities. Backed by Microsoft and Toshiba. Runs a windows variant. Limited in capacity, but a cheap migration to HD DVD can begin very soon..

Blu-Ray: Requires entire revamp of production lines. Offers significantly higher capacity and speed. Backed by Sony and Panasonic. Runs on Java. Will be expensive to move too, but will offer greater rewards in the end.

 

They already have them out... they're just expensive.

 

Here's a list of the movies coming out on HD from Amazon.com

U2 - Rattle & Hum [HD DVD]
The Italian Job (2003) [HD DVD]
Four Brothers [HD DVD]
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider [HD DVD]
Sahara [HD DVD]
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow [HD DVD]
Aeon Flux (2005) [HD DVD]
The Manchurian Candidate (2004) [HD DVD]
Braveheart [HD DVD]
The Ultimate Star Trek Movie Collection [HD DVD]
The Bourne Supremacy [HD DVD]
We Were Soldiers [HD DVD]
Band of Brothers [HD DVD]
Seven [HD DVD]
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy [HD DVD]
Batman Begins [HD DVD]
Friends [HD DVD]
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [HD DVD]
Terminator 3 [HD DVD]
The Aviator [HD DVD]
The Matrix Trilogy [HD DVD]

 

I don't care which one wins, I'm leaning more towards HD-DVD, however.

I think think there are 2 main things that have to be met before it will catch on.

1) It has to be able to play current DVD's. I'm not going to buy into a new format for a long long time if I have to have 2 players going.

2) Whichever wins, when it finally comes to market... it must be called HDDVD (with or without the - ). Even if it's blu ray that wins, it must be renamed. We went from TV to HDTV. We will now go from DVD to HD-DVD. It's the only way it will actually catch on.

Just think about what would be going through the mind of the average Joe consumer when he see's BluRay and HDDVD sitting on the shelf next to each other.

"Hmm, bluray, I think I heard something about that from the kid next door. I don't know what it is. Ahhh, but HD-DVD. Like my HDTV it must be the new and improved version of DVD's!"

 

I hope HD DVD doesn't win. I don't want Microsoft-derived DRM on my movie player

 

The germans (Philips?) and the japanese (forgot which company) already have sata drives and standalones that can play all three (dvd, hddvd, bluray) or burn all three. I don't see why BB is so butt hurt.

 

But at the same time people will say "Well Blu-Ray is made by Sony where as HD DVD is Toshiba. I've heard more things about Sony, so it has to be better."

 

I will wait until there is a decided format leader and it is standardized. Price will be way too high at the beginning anyways so they can all go suck a big one for all I care.

 

Exactly. There isn't going to be a big old format war again like in tape days. Before VHS/BetaMAX, there was no way to home record video. Now, there's piles of alternatives that can tide the common consumer until it's all over. Only the early adopters stand to get burned, but if they can and are willing to drop 500-800 for a player, then they probably won't be a butt-hurt as the common citizen when their format doesn't fly.

I'm still voting for Blu-Ray because it's technologically more robust, less rushed to the market, has the greatest scalability, and I really like Panasonic (aka Matsushita) equipment.