CONTINUED:
Hi-def DVD format war just got hot

Disc prices that sting
Buying discs can also set movie buffs back. The suggested US retail price for Warner Bros. films on HD DVD and Blu-ray is $34.99 (£20) for newer titles and $28.99 (£16.50) for catalogue films. Blu-ray titles are scheduled to launch in June.

Blank discs from Blu-ray that can be used to record will retail in the US for between $17.99 and $59.99 (£10 and £34).

A civil war in the home-video market is unlikely to spur consumers to go on a shopping spree. Many are expected to stick with DVDs for a while.

In-Stat predicts that DVD players and recorders will combine for 176.6 million units sold worldwide in 2010. That's a 25 per cent increase from the 140.8 million units sold in 2005.

Not surprisingly, both Blu-ray and HD DVD proponents claim their technologies are far superior to DVD. While many analysts agree that the quality of high-definition video is superior, it's not as dramatic as the difference between DVDs and VHS. IDC's Martin recalled that the public was awed by DVD players, which let them jump around to any part of a disk they wanted, instead of fast-forwarding or rewinding on VHS.

"There are certain advantages with the new formats, including additional interactive features," said IDC's Martin. "They've got games and higher-quality recordings, but it's not DVD to VHS."

That opinion was echoed by Laura Behrens, an analyst with research firm Gartner. "The picture quality isn't necessarily as breathtaking this time around as last time," she said.