Blu-ray and HD DVD use blue lasers to deliver high-definition movies and other video content. They can both hold more data than a traditional DVD, and likely represent the future of home video.

Electronics manufacturers have laid their bets on one format or the other, hoping their choice will win the hearts of consumers.

Blu-ray has the support of Panasonic, Phillips and Samsung, as well as computer giants Apple and Dell. Sony leads the coalition, releasing the PlayStation 3, a video came console that plays Blu-ray discs.

HD DVD players are almost half as cheap as Blu-ray players and have the support of Intel, Toshiba and Microsoft, which makes the popular Xbox 360 video game console.

Matt Swanston, the director of business analysis for Consumer Electronics Association in Arlington, Va., said the success of HDTV sets has had a positive effect on the battle. More HDTV sets means more room for the two sides to reach a truce.

"We have seen many instances of competing formats coexisting, like Mac and PC," Mr. Swanston said. "There was support for Beta long after it was declared not the winner, so it's not something people should pay too much attention to."

Gary Yacoubian, president of Gaithersburg-based electronics retailer Myer Emco Inc. disagrees. He said the outcome of the VHS conflict hints at the success of Blu-ray.

"One will win," he said. "One thing we learned with VHS is the best (quality) will not always win. It's who has the most movies."

The reason VHS won, even though Beta was technologically better, is because more manufacturers and content providers supported VHS.

"Going by that metric, Blu-ray should win," he said. "About 90 percent of the DVDs released last year were Blu-ray supporters."

Both agreed the quality of Blu-ray and HD DVD is about equal, but Mr. Swanston said lower prices for HD DVD players could help keep both formats alive.

Mr. Swanston said consumers need to make sure the content they want is available on the format they choose.

"Make sure the title you want is available on each platform, but you really can't lose -- the movie or game will play as long as you own that player," he said. "It's a great time to do it because there is plenty of content."

Mr. Yacoubian agrees cheaper prices might give HD DVDs a leg up, but consumers will ultimately choose the player that shows the most movies.

This isn't going to be the Christmas that determines which will win -- that will happen next year, he said.

"By the middle of next year, the dust will settle, prices will come down and the rest of consumers who didn't go one way or another will buy Blu-ray," he said. "I'm really unbiased on this one because we sell both, but I have a Blu-ray player in my home."

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