Blue-ray, HD DVD, or Dual Format DVD Player: What is the Best Option?
In the ongoing format "war", the consumer is the unwilling or unknowing victim. Both Blue-ray and HD DVD or Dual Format DVD Player has its own advantages and disadvantages. Should a consumer choose one or the other, disadvantages are sure to bring difficulties such that the best option would be not to choose either and be content of what the "old" format has to offer which include restricted quantity of storage and images bereft of quality and clarity. Or is this the only option?
Perhaps this has also been in the minds of the world's technology giants. These giants have put profit second in their priorities as they placed the consumers content foremost. Some, like the Korean LG Electronics, have taken the driver's seat in spear-heading the ambitious project of creating a dual format for both the Blue-ray and HD DVD or Dual Format DVD Player optic formats. LG is a supporter of Blue-ray. Its cross license with Toshiba that manufactures HD DVD paved the way for the creation of this hybrid.
Currently, even Samsung, despite its pessimistic views on the dual format, has started production of the hybrid. It has added the strategy of marketing it at a much lower price if only to attract consumers. Samsung is the second to manufacture the Blue-ray and HD DVD or dual format DVD player.
Understandably, the consumers have assumed a wait-and-see stance to evaluate if indeed there will be any advantage of the "marriage" of the two protagonists so to speak.
A great majority of consumers are classified as late adopters. This was manifested when DVD player sales dethroned VCR player sales nearly a decade after the first DVD units were created.
The format "war" has created confusion in the market. Consumers have delayed their decision on what to buy because of fear that they might have chosen wrong in selecting one of the two formats. In the ensuing mayhem, some giant players claim that the "war" will continue for the next several years and it too have assumed a wait-and-see position.
Options in the Blue-ray, HD DVD or Dual Format DVD Player
At this point in time, it is impossible to produce only one type of Bluee laser player, be it Blue-ray, HD DVD or dual format DVD player, or a universal type, to satisfy the consumer. This may entail years of research, study and testing. In this world, anything is possible. But presently, the best option may indeed be this dual format. Who knows? This might be the solution to put the format "war" to a stop once and for all.
