It's Beta-max vs. VHS all over again

[The Shadoe]

There may only be a price difference at the very beginning. From what I understand in the industry's One-To-One magazine, the players won't have significant price differences. What will have the price differences initially are the costs of the discs themselves (though Sony denies this).

The reason is because existing replication equipment can be easier adapted for HD DVD. Blu-Ray requires more investment, which will most likely lead to higher prices at first.

If HD DVD wins, it will be because of price, and price alone. But the way the news sounds, more studios are backing Blu-Ray than are backing HD DVD. That means a lot. As weird as it sounds, the porn industry will end up being the ones having the most say. Whichever one they decide to back will most likely be the winner because of the tremendous economic impact the porn industry has.

Consumers won't be the ones determining the winner of this war.