According to a research carried out by JupiterResearch titled "
Next Generation DVD: Will the Winner Be HD DVD, Blu-ray, or None of the Above?", the format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray is not only causing confusion among consumers, but it will result in major challenges for manufacturers as they seek to stimulate mainstream adoption of either.
Among the motivations reported in the research there are the low availability of High Definition titles (dumb reason in my opinion) and the possibility to get very good results also with already available standard DVDs by simply purchasing an up-scaling player (very good reason in my opinion).
Another interesting point, however, is reported in
the press release published at BusinessWire:
"The abundance of material in such a wide variety of formats is going to make adoption of any single standard very difficult as consumers may well opt for a combination of what is already available. To be successful, manufacturers must offer a clear and visible improvement in quality and functionality as well as place greater emphasis on platform longevity and backward compatibility."
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It makes perfect sense. If you consider the popularity of iPod and other portable devices (including cell phones) for music and video, the trend towards micro components is unstoppable. The public at large doesn't give a hoot for hi-def -- or high-fi, for that matter -- they want convenience. Which means the HD format will remain a niche market, not enough to create a huge & profitable industry.