The high def video disc format has been brewing since about 2002, in one corner was Sony’s Blu-Ray disc and in the other was the HD DVD chaired by Toshiba. It all started from the same idea using blue lasers, but the main difference was in the platform on which they used. The HD DVD camp wanted to use Microsoft’s iHD system, while Blu Ray used a java based alternative.

Early in 2006, the first HD DVD player was released, and a few months later the first consumer Blu-Ray player was on the market. From a technological point of view, the Blu-Ray was slightly superior: larger capacity discs, faster data transfer, higher quality audio. However the HD DVD camp also had a few things going for it, it was region free, mandatory backward compatibility with DVD’s and CD’s, and generally cheaper.

Another factor was the availability, a Blu-Ray player was incorporated Sony’s Playstation 3, the alternative for HD DVD fans was buying a separate HD DVD player for the Xbox 360 for about £100. So straight away PS3 owners had the choice of HD discs already made for them.

So as time went on, the movie studios released their films on their preffered format, and the consumer bought the discs for their players. The HD DVD camp seemed to be stuggling and started selling thier players with 5, 7, or even 10 free HD DVD’s when they buy a HD DVD player.

Overall Blu-ray has the backing of more film studios; 20 Century, Sony, WB to name a few. Compared to Universal & Paramount and others that back HD DVD. But now, with Paramount poised to drop HD DVD too, and speculation that any other studios may have clauses in their contracts that allow them to break free from the HD DVD chains, it seems like it all but over for HD DVD.

So no matter how cheap HD DVD players, or how many free films they give you, i urge each and every one of you to think before you make your choice. After all, what’s the point of a HD DVD player if a few years down the line, there’s nothing to play on it.