Blu-ray.

Blu-ray is so-named because it uses blue-violet laser to read a disc, instead of the red laser used by traditional DVD formats. Because of the shorter wavelength used in blue laser, it can focus the laser more precisely, and therefore more data can be packed in a smaller space. Hence, a lot more data can be stored on a blu-ray disc than on a traditional DVD - over five times the amount when a single layer blu-ray disc is used compared to a traditional DVD, or six times the data when using a dual-layer disc in the comparison. When using high definition (HD) video, about nine hours can be stored on a 50 GB (double-layered) blue-ray disc, about 23 hours of standard definition (SD). HD video basically means more detail in the picture when compared with SD. Most blu-ray players are backwards compatible - you can play all your old DVDs and CDs on a new blu-ray player.

It is hoped that blu-ray will revolutionize the market, with more CDs and DVDs readily available on blu-ray format than their competitor, HD-DVD.

HD-DVD.

HD-DVD also uses blue laser, and has a single layer capacity of 15GB, and a dual layer capacity of 30GB. New HD-DVD players are also backwards compatible, so people can play all their old DVDs and CDs on a new HD-DVD player, and not have to upgrade their existing library.

Betamax vs VHS All Over Again?

Having said all this, there is still slightly more support at present for blu-ray formats (although HD-DVD do have some major heavyweights - Toshiba, LG, Hitachi, TEAC, Kenwood, Fujitsu, Sanyo, HP, NEC, Canon, Ricoh, Maxell, Acer, Lenovo and Imation are among the hardware suppliers, and software supporters include Universal Paramount, Studio Canal, Warner, the Weinstein Company, Dreamworks and New Line). Many other major Hollywood studios are supporting blu-ray, and there aren't that many labels choosing to release in both formats. Sony released its PS3 in blu-ray format (and Microsoft subsequently released an add-on HD-DVD for its Xbox 360), and many other major electronic companies are also backing blu-ray with hardware (for example, Apple, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Hitachi, LG Electronics, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic (Matsushita Electric), Pioneer, Philips, Sharp, Sony, and TDK ). In fact, blu-ray players are currently outselling HD-DVD, and they have a more extensive movie selection - although, blu-ray discs have previously been released only in the 15GB format while HD-DVD have usually released theirs in a 30GB format.

There are, however, companies standing behind HD-DVD, due to its lower production cost. The players are cheaper, making them more accessible to the everyday person wishing to watch a movie - although there are not too many movies to choose from at this point in time. This may be why the world-wide pornography industry, with its $72 billion a year weight, is choosing the HD-DVD route. Even so, blu-ray still has the support in the form of both hardware and software to come out on top. In the meantime, it would appear people are buying neither - maybe this could be overcome by both camps agreeing to bring out dual-format hardware, in an affordable machine that is user-friendly.

In short, it is too early to tell who will win the war. But don't go selling your old DVD or VHS collections just yet. Neither camp is 100% affordable or accessible, and work is on-going.