This whole thing reminds me of the Beta-max vs VHS video tape format war, with many of the same players. Especially Sony who was first to market, then started making incompatable upgrades. Then VHS came in and Beta started slipping. Beta supposedly had the technical advantage, but it was quirky. I started with Beta and had trouble finding blank tapes when blank VHS tapes were everywhere. Finally, I found someone who wanted my Betamax and I switched.

Add that to the fact that after two rounds of Sony on CD's and DVD's that cause problems on computers, I just don't trust them. I'll probably switch to High-Def in about 5 years or so. Regular DVD look great on a HD TV and on the computers.

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Sheesh. Some of us just wanna watch a movie! If I wanted multimedia on a PC... I'd go there to watch. A Gigabyte of RAM and an internet connection? They couldn't figure this out before building devices? Now not only do we have to deal with 'format' wars... we'll have 'version' battles. Only the rich get the 'full experience'. Since HD-DVD players are half the cost, I guess it's Blu-ray for blue bloods, and HD for everyone else.

Really, just make movie players and put PC features on the disk... for computer play (or later in the decade play)... and stop jacking up the disk players, and strangling computer users... we can sit up and watch without your hands around our throats, and home nets. If players aren't 'connected', they won't be hacked... Help! my "28 Days" movie infected me! (home net).

Otherwise, this is the decade (and next) of the gadget... make all electronics, even all simple electrics... wireless with lots of RAM and storage, period, and use -comm- standards for add-ons. My fridge, toaster and pencil sharpener need to be connected to do all the cool things I want next year... and all the features you dream up, (rolling eyes). No More Dumb, Lonely Appliances. I want that Blu-ray, HD movie to follow me around the house, on my fridge, on my toaster, on my pencil sharpener. ACK!

Well... ...

Yes Miss Perenson I would have to agree with you in that maybe no one has yet won the HD Format War.

But one thing is for certain!
Your wonderful article has just helped me with the answers I have been looking for in order to help me become a wiser consumer when choosing the products I will need to purchase in order to enjoy future movie entertainment from hHollywood in my home.

You have also made this reader a winner of the battle over what decision to make as far as the products I wish to purchase such as, TV's,DVD Recorders-Players,Receivers and Speakers.

For all of these reasons I Thank You for your wonderful article Miss Perenson.

T.Noble

I've said this in another forum so I might as well say it here, too. Currently, our economy is in such a state of decline that Joe/Suzy Consumer (the middle-class consumers who DRIVE the marketplace) will likely stay put. There will always be people rich enough to buy into HD ... and not-so-rich people stupid enough to go HD courtesy of their plastic. But I think these people will always be a "niche" ... at least for the forseeable future. No one wants to spend four figures on an HDTV for the dubious privelege of watching 18 HD cable channels (out of hundreds). Likewise, no one wants to spend three figures on an HD disc player for the dubious privelege of renting 400 titles from NetFlix (out of 90,000 titles).

The scenario I see emerging is a two-tier scenario of viewership ... not unlike the current state of airline seating. There will always be people who want to fly either first class or business class. But the overwhelming majority of airline passengers choose coach seating.

Also, here's something to keep in mind. Nowadays, SD televisions and DVD players are so cheap that, if there's a repair issue, most people will "junk" their components and just buy new components (as cheap or cheaper than what they bought before). I often wonder what will happen, say, 5-10 years from now when those same repair issues surface on HD system components. A friend of mine had a 32-inch HD television that crapped out just beyond the warranty period. Repair costs for the set were close to the actual cost of the set itself. And the new sets aren't that much cheaper than the set he bought. On a sad note, he's STILL paying for the first set because the only way he could afford it was by financing it. Bottom line for him? He went back to SD ... and has a very sour taste in his mouth over HD. In short, it will be interesting to see how many HD owners who crow about their components now will switch back to SD once they're confronted by their first hefty repair charge.

Food for thought...