2008 Woodie Awards
Blu Ray vs. HD DVD
Chris Linderman
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Many people have heard about the new wave of technology in DVD players, but not too many people know which one to choose between.
On one hand, there's Sony's little monster, the Blu Ray player, or on the other there's Microsoft's HD DVD player. But which of these two is actually the better buy?
Neither one of these fine pieces of machinery are very wallet friendly. The cheapest model of the Blu Ray player listed on Best Buy's website goes for $487. The HD player isn't much better at the price of $299.
So neither player is a real winner, but since I must pick a champion for this category it'll go to the slightly less expensive HD player.
Since both players are so expensive no matter which you decide to purchase you're going to have to spend some extra time on the clock this weekend.
When the Blu Ray player and the HD player are compared side by side, neither one really looks better than the other.
After weighing the price difference, what will really drive consumers to one camp or the other will be who the movie studios decide to side with.
Sony's Blu Ray player does have some major film studios such as Universal backing its format, but just recently Warner Brothers moved over to the HD camp and cut ties with Sony.
Major film studios may decide to change camps in the years to come as well, depending on which company is willing to shell out the most cash.
So you may only be able to see certain movies on one format or the other.
In the end, the decision that will push consumers one way or the other will be which format has more of the movies that you want to see. Only time will tell which of these two is the better buy.
My advice for now is to wait and not get either, since the technology is still in its first generation.
Bigger, better and less expensive versions are bound to come out in the year to come.
On one hand, there's Sony's little monster, the Blu Ray player, or on the other there's Microsoft's HD DVD player. But which of these two is actually the better buy?
Neither one of these fine pieces of machinery are very wallet friendly. The cheapest model of the Blu Ray player listed on Best Buy's website goes for $487. The HD player isn't much better at the price of $299.
So neither player is a real winner, but since I must pick a champion for this category it'll go to the slightly less expensive HD player.
Since both players are so expensive no matter which you decide to purchase you're going to have to spend some extra time on the clock this weekend.
When the Blu Ray player and the HD player are compared side by side, neither one really looks better than the other.
After weighing the price difference, what will really drive consumers to one camp or the other will be who the movie studios decide to side with.
Sony's Blu Ray player does have some major film studios such as Universal backing its format, but just recently Warner Brothers moved over to the HD camp and cut ties with Sony.
Major film studios may decide to change camps in the years to come as well, depending on which company is willing to shell out the most cash.
So you may only be able to see certain movies on one format or the other.
In the end, the decision that will push consumers one way or the other will be which format has more of the movies that you want to see. Only time will tell which of these two is the better buy.
My advice for now is to wait and not get either, since the technology is still in its first generation.
Bigger, better and less expensive versions are bound to come out in the year to come.
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