Two weeks ago my husband bought an HDTV and hooked up the HD cable service. We then proceeded to sit there and flip between two football games, one on ESPNHD and the other on a non HD station.  (Oh, how I wish Direct TV would offer more HD stations in Northwest Arkansas.) I can’t believe how quickly I was hooked on the HD quality, I kept saying that the other game looked so blurry and I could barely stand to watch the non HD game.
 
As I sit here at my desk and think about all the Blu-Ray and HD movies that we should carry in our stores, I wonder which is really better? What do our customers think? Do they care? Is this another Beta versus VHS scenario?
 
The studios each say their machine and their picture quality is the best. So...is it HD, or is it Blu Ray?
 
This is what one of the Blu Ray studios say…
 
Blu-ray Disc is the leading next-generation, optical disc format that enables the ultimate high-def entertainment experience. Blu-ray Disc provides pristine picture quality with 1080p resolution, the largest storage capacity available (25 GB single layer/50 GB dual layer), the best audio possible with as many as 7.1 channels of native, uncompressed surround sound and interactivity options including menu navigation, bonus features and network connectivity. Blu-ray also offers the largest selection of high-def playback devices and backward compatibility with DVD. Additionally, breakthroughs in hard-coating technologies enable Blu-ray Disc to offer the strongest resistance to scratches and fingerprints.

Blu-ray has broad industry support from the major Hollywood studios, almost all leading consumer electronics companies, four of the top computer brands and more. Six of the eight major movie studios (Disney, Fox, Warner, Sony, Lionsgate and MGM) have released movies in the Blu-ray format.
 
(What was interesting...they forgot to mention you can play Blu Ray movies on your PS3 -- that is a cool feature.) 
 
The HD camp says this…

1)    HD DVD offers consumers the most affordable high-def players
2)    The only format with mandated features - from internet connectivity to picture-in-picture ensuring a consistent experience on every player
3)    The world's leading consumer PC companies are bringing millions of HD DVD PCs to market in 2008
4)    Exclusive HDi technology is the easiest and most efficient interactive layer to program
5)    The only format that can capitalize on ten years of proven DVD technology.
6)    Manufactured on the same lines as DVDs, providing cost efficiency and reliability for mass production.
7)    Only HD DVD provides movies that play in combo format, with both HD DVD and DVD versions of the movie on the same disc.
8)    Over 50 leading studios and content providers world wide supporting HD DVD.
 
I don’t know about you, but I just want to see any movie I choose, with an amazing picture at a good price.

So speaking of a good price…on Friday, Dec. 7th at 8:00 a.m. (easterm), we will be having a secret sale.  You can get 5 free HD movies when you purchase a Toshiba HD player.  The Wal-Mart price on the players range between $198 and $298.  I am not sure that is low enough for me, but the fact I get to walk out the door with 5 free movies (valued at $150) and order 5 more in the mail might help me make up my mind.  What do you think?  

If you do join the Hi Definition bandwagon, remember it works best on a 1080p TV, and you need an HDMI cable to make it all work.

UPDATE: Oops. A technical glitch got this in the wrong category. It's been corrected now.