Originally Posted by ucv.karl

This isn't true. Blu-ray supports ~52Mbit/s while HD-DVD only supports ~26Mit/s. This is important to the quality.

Also, the disc space allows for a higher bitrate, so it has the potential to have a higher quality. It's difficult to compare because they both use different codecs. Also, hd-dvds hold 15 gigs per layer (so dual layer will hold 30G) while blu-ray supports 25G per layer (dual-layer will be 50Gigs). In the upcoming years, I would believe that you would want to choose the better technologically format that we can 'grow' into in the next 5 or so years.

I believe this is why Sony chose the blu-ray format for the PS3.

Also, the betamax analogy is a bit specious. The blu-ray vs. hd-dvd is very different. There isn't the 'outside' support from computer companies and video game systems in the betamax era. This new media form isn't just used for watching movies.