Much has been made of the format wars between HD DVD and Blu-ray, but most of it has been relegated to mere talk. Not anymore.

Toshiba is the first out of the gate, with its HD-A1 HD DVD player. The HD-A1 offers a perfect example of an ideal early-adopter product. It's got well-hyped bling (six times the detail of DVDs means gorgeous video!), a clunky feel (ever spend a minute waiting for a consumer electronics device to boot?), technical limitations (no 1080p output), minimal software support (20 titles by the end of May, hundreds, in theory, by year's end), and a relatively stiff price tag.

Then again, HD DVD's competition, players using the Sony-led Blu-ray technology, won't ship until mid-June at the earliest, and even then they're expected to sell for around $1,000. That makes the $500 HD-A1, as well as its pricier sibling, the $800 HD-XA1, seem like a bargain. Still, there is plenty of reason for buyers to be cautious.
 
The HD DVD–versus–Blu-ray battle is, for many videophiles, reminiscent of the Betamax–versus–VHS format wars of the early 1980s. The loser, Betamax, delivered stunning video, the kind that inspired reactions like "gorgeous," "enveloping," and the more common "wow." In many ways, HD DVD and the new HD-A1 offer a similar experience, but if Blu-ray wins the format war, the HD DVD format could become the Betamax of this generation of entertainment electronics.

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