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DVD FORMAT WARS! The Contenders: HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray
By Scott Kehoe
(The following will be an occasional column of technology news, tips, and tricks useful for, or having impact on libraries in our Region.)

Looking for a new Collection Development headache?

In the upcoming year you could have the pleasure of deciding whether to buy The Da Vinci Code in one or all of three DVD movie formats: Blu-ray DVD; HD-DVD; and in plain old regular DVD! And then you'll have to buy the always popular "Director's Cut" version, in all three versions, when it's released!

Lucky for us as Librarians, no one seems to care ... so far … Consumers have thus far given these two new formats a pass. This is probably due to confusion over the formats themselves and that the players are much more expensive than current DVD players.

Blu-Ray & HD-DVD FORMATS: THE CHART
Blu-rayHD-DVD"plain" DVD
  • Blu-ray = uses a blue laser beam to read data
  • hold up to 20 GB
  • players: $1,000+
  • films: $25-$50 each
  • Industry backers of note: Sony, Panasonic, Apple, 20th Century Fox; Walt Disney; Warner Bros.
  • recordable version not yet available for video & data
  • Of note: the not-yet-released Sony gaming console, Playstation3, will feature a Blu-ray DVD player, which is hoped to be a major selling point.
    		• HD = High Definition
  • hold up to 15 gigabytes (GB)
  • players: $500+
  • films: $25-$50 each
  • Industry backers of note: Toshiba, Sanyo, Microsoft, Intel, Paramount Pictures, New Line, HBO, DreamWorks, Warner Bros.
  • recordable version not yet available for video & data
  • DVD = Digital Video Disc
  • hold up to 4.7 GB, dual-layer holds 8.5 GB
  • players: $30 - $150
  • films: $10-$30 each
  • Industry backers of note: all of the computer and entertainment industry
  • recordable versions available for video & data

    • Related Links:

    EXTRA! EXTRA! Software on the Cheap via TechSoup

    TechSoup is a San Francisco based non-profit that works with the computer industry to provide top quality software and hardware to non-profit agencies and libraries. To be eligible, your library must either be a U.S. 501c3 nonprofit or a U.S. Public Library. Go to their website for more information, a current catalog, and to register: www.techsoup.org

    Two Current offerings of note:

    Microsoft Encarta Premium 2007 - $3
    QUICKEN 2005 - $16