I'm certainly not, since I've bought a PS3 which plays blu-ray :) I think HD DVD is alright yet blu-ray, though slightly slower and more expensive, outdoes it.

Is there a downfall? What happened? I've seen both and HD is so much better and smoother, though I think that Blu-ray has better sound. Are they dropping HD?

I'm not upset about the downfall in HD DVD. Should I be? I personally think it's pathetic for anyone to be upset about something so stupid as that. That's just my opinion, though. I know that you're for opinions, so I'm comfortable enough to tell you what I really think. ;)

I think it is unfortunate. There should be competition, now Blue-Ray will dominate the market and I think the cost is the players and discs are way too high. I won't buy it, I'm happy with my HD TV, XBox and regular DVD players.

No, I'm not... HD DVD lasted a lot longer than it had any right to. The so-called "war" between the formats was basically a war between Microsoft and everybody else. Back it the beginning before any Hi-Def formats were set in stone, Microsoft was a part of the Blu-Ray group. They pushed and pushed to get HDi set as the standard for Blu-Ray's interactive layer. Most of the other members of the group said no. They wanted a variant of the open source Java to be the interactive layer. Microsoft owns HDi and wanted to reap the profits of "owning" the interactive layer of the new Hi-Def format so they packed up their marbles and moved over to Toshiba. Once firmly entrenched in the HD Consortium, Microsoft offered up their HDi protocols for "free" to HD DVD, without relinquishing any rights (which would earn them billions if HD DVD won). Now because HDi was a fully developed protocol and HD DVD could use most of the current manufacturing processes it looked like a sure win for them over Blu-Ray, which still had yet to solidify their BD-Java layer and produce new machines to manufacture Blu-Ray Discs. This is when Sony and Toshiba sat down and started to talk about a mutual standard. When talk came around to the interactive layer Microsoft threatened to walk (taking it's money with them) if HDi wasn't the defacto standard. They refused to even listen to a compromise of having both as standards. Reluctantly Toshiba and Sony parted ways. HD DVD was released with the fully developed HDi layer and was immediately a hit. The fact that the HDi layer is locked and unchangeable by anybody other than Microsoft was completely ignored. So as to compete, Blu-Ray was forced into early release with BD 1.0 that doesn't have all the features ready. Because the ramping up of production wasn't finished, many movies are released in an inferior codec (Mpeg-2). As releases continue the inherent superiority of BD-Java starts to show itself. Usage of better codecs (AVC) allow for better picture, large disc capacity (50gb vice 30gb) allows for more features and better sound options as well as Hi-Def supplements versus Standard Def ones. HD DVD feels the pinch with Blu-Ray getting better and better and it doesn't hurt that Sony released the PS3 with built-in Blu-Ray capability. As Blu-Ray overtakes HD DVD and Microsoft sees its goal of next gen world domination slipping from its grasp, it floods the HD Consortium's bank account with money. This allows Toshiba to pay Paramount and Universal a combined $150 to go HD DVD exclusive. They also offer an undisclosed sum to Warner, who told them where to shove it. It seems neck-in-neck for a while. Finally BD 1.1 is released that contains all the options of HDi (except the on-line functionality which will be included in the upcoming BD 2.0 standard) and so Warner announces that they are dropping HD and going Blu-Ray exclusive. With over 70% of the next gen being produced only on Blu-Ray, Toshiba throws in the towel. So Microsoft's plans for world domination are put on hold... for now. What this means to us as consumers is that HD DVD movies and players will be going for fire-sale prices. I picked up a player for $100 (which included two movies with a send-away for five more) and several HD DVD movies in the $10-$15 dollar range from on-line discounters. I don't mind as the HD Player replaces my old DVD player and upscales my 2000+ DVD collection just fine. Hope this helps.

From a technical standpoint, Blu-Ray is far better. 50GB vs 30GB, BD media is less prone to scratching, faster data transfers 53Mbit/s vs 36Mbits/s (DVD has 11Mbits/s), better audio capabilities twice that of HD-DVD, and JAVA. I am happy Blu-Ray won, I was cheering for it all along! Celebrade the death of the HD-DVD infidel! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_high_definition_optical_disc_formats