The draw between hd media

For those who have not yet settled on which high definition disc to invest in, this article will

help bring several issues to light. First of all, the potential video and audio quality remain

alike between both formats, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. The difference lies in the laser that reads the

disc; where the former uses the identical red laser used to read DVDs, the latter employs a blue

laser that reads only Blu-Ray. Both lasers can decode an identical amount of information, called

the bitrate. A bitrate can be labeled as the amount of "bits" decoded per second. Generally, the

higher the bitrate the higher the quality of video/audio. So a bitrate of, say, 30mbs (megabytes

per second) should be preferable to a meager 10mbs. The average hi-def picture, with its superior

clarity and contrast, can maintain a bitrate between 15mbs-35mbs; compare this with an ordinary

DVD, which averages 2mbs-7mbs.

With its ability to store and transmit at a higher bitrate, hi-def media easily trumps the quality

of DVD. This higher bitrate allows for less compression, and thus can retain most of the clarity

from the original master print of a movie; whereas a DVD will look blown-up and fuzzy. But the

differences between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray begin with how they can be played. HD-DVD players have the

advantage of backward compatibility, as it can playback DVDs. Blu-Ray players cannot, due to their

unique laser, which completely isolates it from older generation technology. But the advantages of

Blu-Ray lay in its inherent differences.

Blu-Ray players come equipped with Java software, which some believe to allow more interactivity

with the user. This gives it the ability to have fancier menus and in-depth bonus options, such as

picture-in-picture display. At the moment, bugs and slow performance have hindered some confidence

in its support of Java, where Bill Gates complained that it was not user friendly enough to be used

in PCs. Counter this with HD-DVD, which uses Microsoft's own HDi Interactive Format. It allows

anyone to author simple content, where Java requires a more intimate knowledge of scripting.

If all the information so far sounds redundant, it is. The only thing that can make or break a

hi-def entertainment center does not stem from the format at all. In fact, it all depends on what

you choose to display it on. Be weary of interlaced televisions. Rather than playing back video at

1080p (progressive), the user gets short-changed with 1080i (interlaced). Progressive scan means

that the picture gets scanned upon each frame; this results in a properly displayed picture, like a

solid photograph, with no aberrations. Interlacing occurs when no progressive scan exists in the

television, and so the picture gets displayed as a series of individual lines rather than as a

single, uniform "photograph." In short, the fine edges in a progressively scanned movie may

otherwise appear to be jagged, or even fuzzy, on an interlaced display.

The only reason to get invested in the so-called format war would be to avoid a costly personal

investment if "your" format ever loses. Blu-Ray may be considered to be the superior technology, as

its unique blue laser, while radically different and incapable of DVD playback, allows for exciting

future developments. HD-DVD, largely compatible and user-friendly, is considered by some to be a

static technology. Lately, however, Toshiba released its plan to market the format as cheaper,

practical alternative to Blu-Ray. And, in the event that you still cannot make up your mind, there

exists a combo Blu-Ray/HD-DVD/DVD computer drive that sells for less than $300.