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

[The Shadoe]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

HD DVD has the huge advantage in being compatible with regular DVD.

Just to clarify, HD DVD is not compatible with regular DVD. Blu-Ray has the capacity to be compatible with DVD format, as a dual-layer Blu-Ray disc can have high-def content on one layer, and regular DVD content on the other layer. Many studios plan on releasing movies this way. This allows for a one-sided disc with all the content on one side, and the disc print on the top.

The only way that HD DVD can be compatible with DVD format is to have one side of the disc with the HD content, and then flip the disc over for the standard DVD content. There are several problems with this though, namely that mastering fees are quite high to have a dual-sided disc as it is and the mastering fees will be even higher with different types of content on each side of the disc. Other problems with this include that the disc is more vulnerable to being scratched up, and you can only have a surface print on the inner hub of the disc.