Blu-ray is starting to beat out HD DVD
While Sony’s Betamax may have lost to VHS decades ago, it seems this round of the format wars may be in Sony’s favor.
Sony’s Blu-ray is emerging as the industry favorite for HD movies over HD DVDs.
Warner Bros. recently announced they would release HD movies exclusively on Blu-ray, striking a heavy blow to HD DVD. Warner Bros. is just the latest to join the ever-growing majority of studios to pick Blu-ray over HD DVD.
Netflix also announced on Feb. 11 that they are only going to continue buying the Blu-ray format for HD movies. According to Netflix, HD DVDs will stay in their system until the life cycle of each disc has run its course, which is expected to be in roughly a year.
“Most people who watch movies in high definition use Blu-ray with their Playstation 3,” said Aaron Villere, 21, a senior English major. “Most of the industry of high definition is shifting to Blu-ray.”
According to Best Buy’s news site, Best Buy announced its endorsement of Blu-ray as the HD format of the future. Best Buy will continue carrying HD DVD products for those who want them but acknowledges Blu-ray as the current leader in HD home entertainment.
What does Blu-ray have to offer that HD DVD doesn’t?
Blu-ray has a lot more storage ability than HD DVD. However, the production process of Blu-ray discs is more difficult than its competitor and demands a higher selling price in response. Advocates of the HD DVD have commonly argued that the price for HD DVD players is roughly half the price of Blu-ray.
On Best Buy’s Web site, HD DVD players go as low as $150, while the cheapest Blu-ray player is about $400. While Blu-ray may be significantly more expensive, the prices are dropping month to month.
“I think Blu-ray will take over because the price is dropping. Blu-ray has a lot more potential and it just needs to appeal to a cheaper market,” said Jenna Hodges, 20, a sophomore psychology major who owns an HD DVD player.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Andrew Nute at Nute@colorado.edu.
