The future is clear in war of the super DVDs

Toshiba's HD DVD machine is at the forefront of a battle with a competing technology developed by Sony called Blu-ray.

The confrontation is being billed as the biggest in home entertainment since the VHS video machine saw off Betamax in the 1980s.

Toshiba's HD-E1, priced at £449, will initially take on the first Blu-ray player, Samsung's DMPBDP1000, which sells for £999.

However, a host of other manufacturers will be adding their machines to the contest throughout 2007.

In theory both deliver around the same improvement in image quality - around five times sharper than existing DVDs. Both also offer Dolby surround sound.

The result, claim manufacturers, is an experience that is much closer to going to the cinema than anything seen before in the home.

However, the high cost of the players, coupled with the fact that they only offer any benefit when attached to one of the latest expensive HD-ready flat panel TVs, will put many people off.

At the same time, the number of movies that are available on either HD DVD or Blu-ray is currently limited to a few blockbusters, such as Superman Returns.

On the plus side, at least machines on both sides of the technological divide will be able to play the library of DVDs owned by many people.

In fact, they may even be able to improve the images offered by existing DVDs although they cannot at present record from the television.

Some of the biggest, richest and most powerful names in electronics and home entertainment are standing either side of the barricades.

HD-DVD is supported by Toshiba, Microsoft and Intel, while Blu-ray is the brainchild of Sony and is also supported by Pansonic, Pioneer and TDK.

The Toshiba machine has the advantage that it considerably cheaper than the first Blu-ray rival - around half the price.

However, Sony's secret weapon is that its new PlayStation 3, which is due for its UK launch in March 2007, will include a Blu-ray player.

A basic PlayStation 3 is expected to cost around £425 and is being billed as an entertainment centre for the entire family.

Permanently attached to the TV, it will not only play Blu-ray movies but also operate as a sophisticated games console.

The film industry is hugely excited by the technology - not least because they will be able to sell classic films, previously released on VHS, Betamax and DVD, all over again.

Ironically, the extra defintion and detail has thrown-up some problems for technicians and actors. People working on the HD version of Star Wars found it meant viewers could see the actors' make-up lines.

Similarly a sweeping shot across the inside of the Death Star revealed that an image which was originally just a blur, can now be identified as a filing cabinet which should not have been caught on camera.

Ageing actors may find the "warts and all" clarity of the high definition images something of a curse.

To a large extent, the winner in this battle for a multi-billion pound industry may well be decided by the quality of the films available from each of the formats.

The HD DVD discs now available range from Superman Returns, King Kong, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Batman Begins, to classics like Goodfellas and The Fugitive.

Blu-ray discs currently available include Exorcism of Emily Rose, Into the Blue, Stealth, SWAT, Tears of the Sun and Hostel.

Olivier Van Wynendaele, of Toshiba Europe, played up the low price of the company's first machine.

"The HD-E1 brings affordable, stand-alone next generation DVD to the mass market in the UK for the very first time," he said.

"There is a real demand for high definition content, and there's no reason why consumers should have to spend thousands of pounds to enjoy the very best home cinema experience."

The president of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, David Bishop, countered saying: "We stand behind the superiority of Blu-ray as the pre-eminent high-definition optical disc format and are committed to delivering a strong slate of Blu-ray titles to entertainment enthusiasts worldwide."

Stuart Miles of the techno website pocket-lint.co.uk, said there is no real difference in terms of the image and sound. Consequently, price and other factors will be key.

"Currently, in the States the PlayStation 3 with its Blu-ray player is outselling an HD DVD device offered by Microsoft at a rate of six to one. But it may be people are buying it for the games console, rather than Blu-ray," he said.

"On the other hand the Toshiba machine is around half the price of the first Blu-ray device from Samsung. Consequently, you could argue it will be successful because it is a cheaper format."

Mr Miles said consumers would be wise to wait before buying.

He said it is possible to buy DVD players for as little as £80 which include computer software that "upscales" images produced by existing discs. The image is significantly sharper when shown on an HD-Ready TV, but not as good as with the new machines.