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PURE GARBAGE...

Sound Advice: HD DVD is clear choice

By Don Lindich, Special to the Star Tribune

Q Do you have a preference between HD DVD and Blu-ray?

RHETT ELTON, SEATTLE

A I enthusiastically recommend HD DVD. Signs are showing it is going to trounce Blu-ray -- and soon.

HD DVD is a better thought-out, more solid product than Blu-ray; it is half the price, and picture and sound quality are identical. At under $200, including seven or more movies, HD DVD players are a stunning value. Why pay twice the money when Blu-ray has serious issues and the movies look and sound the same?

I smile when I see people buying HD DVD players based on bargain pricing, because they are unknowingly getting the Ferrari as well. Despite its purported superiority and much higher cost, Blu-ray is the emperor with no clothes.

HD DVD has delivered as promised from the start, receiving critical acclaim for its spectacular picture and stunning sound. Hundreds of great movies are available, with more added every week. Check out Amazon.com to see the wide, varied selection.

On the other hand, at launch, Blu-ray's picture quality was horrible. Although they have since closed the picture-quality gap, almost all Blu-ray players announced or existing are already obsolete. They conform to an early player profile that does not support upcoming disc features. Profiles should have been finalized before product launch. Blu-ray's record has been spotty, at best.

It's easy to debunk Blu-ray's purported advantages:

"More studios support Blu-ray, including Disney -- no 'Cars' or 'Pirates' on HD DVD." Well, HD DVD has plenty of exclusive support, too, and has never lost a studio. Conversely, Paramount and DreamWorks recently abandoned Blu-ray for HD DVD, calling it "the affordable, high-quality choice." So, no "Star Trek" or "Shrek" for Blu-ray. The answer for either camp is to get the regular DVD if you can't get the high-def version.

"Blu-ray Discs have higher capacity." This is a nonissue, because HD DVD has enough to do the job.

"More Blu-ray players have been sold, and more companies make them." Almost all of the Blu-ray players sold so far are PlayStation 3 game consoles that happen to have a Blu-ray drive in them. Many are used solely as game machines. HD DVD has the lead in stand-alone players. As for more manufacturers, what's the difference if there is one or 10 obsolete, expensive Blu-ray models on the market?

"Blu-ray will win because it has sold more movies to date." Even combined, Blu-ray and HD DVD disc sales are an infinitesimal piece of the DVD pie, a few grains of sand in a sandbox. Blu-ray's tiny numerical lead will be obliterated soon anyway, because kingmaker Wal-Mart has embraced HD DVD. In early November, Wal-Mart placed HD DVD ads on primetime TV and ran a promotion estimated to have sold well over 50,000 players in a single day. Other retailers showed increased HD DVD player sales, with the events making national news.

HD DVD's growing momentum is showing signs of turning into a tidal wave this holiday season. Consumers are smart enough to see which way to go. Nice to get the best for half the price, isn't it?

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http://www.startribune.com/459/story/1556416.html