HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray DVDs?

Blu-Ray was the format that won out in this market. I don't believe that they are currently making HD-DVD anymore. It's not even that one was better than the other but it was unrealistic to market both and have DVDs in all formats. It's similar to the VHS vs Beta war in the 80's.

Okay, I'll try giving a short answer for a change. See my other answers for a long drawn out explanation. Anyhow... realistically HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are fairly similar. Both do up to 1080p and support the same video and audio codecs. Average Joe consumer would most likely tend not to notice any difference between the two. On a technical level, however, Blu-Ray discs can technically product a higher quality (less compressed) image/audiotrack. Most people contribute this to the fact that Blu-Ray discs hold more data (about 60% more). However, people never seem to mention it also plays data at a higher bitrate. This means that even if capacity isn't an issue.. lets say for a 10minute video, Blu-Ray can still concievably have the data (audio/video) less compressed. This doesn't neccessarily always translate into a noticable improvement though... depends on you, depends on the movie, your TV or sound system, the player, how well it was transfered, etc. Also, big misconception.... normal HD-DVD's don't use a red/infrared laser. Both formats use blue/violet lasers to read.. but because the brand name of one says Blue (Blu) and the other doesn't.. this confused people. Regular DVD's are what utilize red/infrared lasers. There's a pseudo HD-DVD format called DVD x3 that uses red lasers... but it's technically still a DVD. To answer your other questions... Which to buy? Honestly, it seems you should probably not get HD-DVD, because it's in danger of going bye bye. Blu-Ray is a safe bet, however keep in mind you still wont be able to get 100% of the movies that come out in HD, yet, if you only have a Blu-Ray player... though those movies that are not will likely be re-released on Blu-Ray eventually. If you absolutely want HD movies now and you want ALL of them, then the solution for you is get an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray combo player.. which will play both discs. A little more expensive however. Also.. (okay I lied about the short thing).. to comment on someone elses comment. The durability of each disc is a little elusive. Yes Blu-Ray has a anti-scratch coating.. but that's because it's naturally so much more succeptable to imparing damage then HD-DVD, since it has a thinner plastic layer over the data. Before they came up with the coating, they were going to put Blu-Ray discs in little plastic cartridges... kinda like floppy discs. So technically Blu-Ray might be harder to scratch, but once scratched HD-DVD is more likely to keep on working with a deeper scratch. So technically HD-DVD is potentially more durable, because nothing is stopping HD-DVD's from having a hard coating as well. After finally looking in to even further, I'd say Blu-Ray is technically more durable against your average run of the mill scratching. However, severer treatment that might negate the harcoating, could show HD-DVD as the more durable. It's also sometimes repairable like normal DVD, I do believe.. where Blu-Ray is not.. or not as much if at all.

Most movie studios support Blu-ray. Hd-dvd doesn't have enough support to come out with alot of movies. Hd dvd only shows in 1080i as Blu-ray is 1080p.

In January 2008, HD-DVD or high-definition DVD gave up the battle with blu-ray. Unfortunately for fans of HD-DVD, that means blu-ray 'won' and I am now seeing HD-DVDs in the clearance bins.

Brenda

They do not make HD-DVDs anymore. Blu-Ray won the battle. I was more of a HD-DVD person myself. HD-DVDs and their players were cheaper than Blu-Ray. I have a Blu-ray player and I like it. Very good picture, and plus Blu-Ray had more people to sponsor them.

Blu-Ray has more options.

HD movies can play on any DVD system, but Blu-Ray play only on Blu-Ray systems

Blu-Ray uses a blue laser and the physics of that is that blue light has a smaller wavelength, so u you can store more information thus a sharper image. They don't make HD DVDs anymore.

HD-Dvd died a while back. Sony won that's why you only see Blue Ray movies.

Blu-Ray is expensive

Blu-Ray is where its at baby.