The high-definition battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc can be traced back to 2000, when companies began experimenting with blue lasers into optical disc systems.

High defenition DVD has superior picture and audio quality over a standard DVD format. This enables longer movies to be stored on a single disc. This technology became available late 2005, but was delayed because of a battle between two different formats. Both formats use blue-laser technology which allows for a much higher storage capacity than the traditional 4.5GB that standard DVDs offer. However, Blu-ray technology claims a storage capacity of up to 50GB, while HD DVD format can hold about 30GB.

Do not get confused with terms and definitions. Both Blu-ray and HD DVD are high definition DVD formats. HD DVD decided to use a title that clearly associates it with high definition technology. Blu-ray is named for the blue laser technology, which makes the 10x storage capacity possible.

Both DVD formats had many large companies backing them, which made it difficult to converge to a single format. This battle caused problems for hardware manufacturers that planned on releasing high definition DVD players. They had to make a risky decision on which format to choose. If they chose the wrong format it could cost them millions of dollars. Take a look back at history and imagine if you chose the Beta-Max format for VCR's; Ouch!

All high definition DVD players will be able to read your old DVDs. With that said, you will get a much better picture quality with HD DVD only if you have a high definition television. It would not make any sense to go out and buy a new HD DVD player and connect it to a standard television. Many electronic companies see the high definiton DVD format a catalyst to increased sales of HD televsions.

History of Blu-ray and HD-DVD format battle

2002

Feb 19: Sony unveils plans for Blu-ray Disc.
Aug 29: Toshiba and NEC propose the HD-DVD format, which is the alternative to Blu-ray DVD.

2003

Feb 13: Licensing of Blu-ray Disc begins.
Apr 10: Sony puts on sale in Japan the world's first Blu-ray Disc recorder at a cost of $3,815.
May 28: Mitsubishi Electric joins the Blu-ray Disc group.

2004

Jan 07: Toshiba details its first prototype HD DVD player at CES which includes backwards compatibility with standard DVD.
Jan 12: Hewlett-Packard and Dell annouce support Blu-ray Disc.
Sep 21: Sony announces the PlayStation 3 will use Blu-ray Disc.
Nov 29: Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO and New Line Cinema announce support for HD DVD.
Dec 09: Disney announces support for Blu-ray Disc.

2005

Jan 07: Backers of both formats promise DVD players and movies by the end of the year. It never happened!
Aug 18: Lions Gate Home Entertainment and Universal Music Group offer support for Blu-ray Disc.
Sep 27: Microsoft Corp. and Intel Corp. offer support for HD DVD.
Oct 03: Paramount Home Entertainment annouces it will offer movies on both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.
Dec 16: Hewlett-Packard backs out of exclusive support for Blu-ray Disc and supports both formats.

2006

Jan 04: Bill Gates announces that Microsoft will offer an add-on HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 video game console.
Mar 31: Toshiba offers the world's first HD DVD player for $936 in Japan.
Nov 11: Sony's PlayStation 3 which includes a Blu-ray Disc drive goes on sale before the holidays.

2006

Apr 17: Sales of HD DVD players in North America hit 100,000.
Aug 01: Microsoft lowers the price of its HD DVD player for the Xbox 360 from US$199 to US$179.
Aug 20: Paramount and Dreamworks Animation discontinue Blu-ray Disc in favor of HD DVD.
Sep 13: Sony announces it will use Blu-ray Disc in all high-def video recorders.
Nov 11: Sony begins selling a lower cost version of the PlayStation 3.

2008

Jan 04: Warner Brothers discloses it will stop issuing HD DVD movies in the coming months and rely exclusively on Blu-ray Disc.
Jan 06: Akio Ozaka, head of Toshiba America Consumer Products, says at CES: "We remain firm in the belief that HD DVD is the format best suited to the wants and needs of consumers."
Jan 06: Sony CEO Howard Stringer says "All of us at Sony are feeling blue today."
Feb 11: NetFlix and BestBuy say they will phase out HD DVD.
Feb 15: Wal-Mart says it will phase out HD DVD by June.
Feb 16: Toshiba halted production of HD DVD players.