In early 2008, Toshiba, the primary supporter of the HD DVD format of optical discs, announced that it would no longer manufacture HD DVD players and recorders. This made Toshiba’s competition, Blu-Ray, the dominant manufacturer of high definition optical discs. Blu-Ray players have become much more common in American households with the two brands no longer in competition.
During the stint when Blu-Ray and HD DVD were both receiving support from DVD companies, consumers were apprehensive to purchase the players because many realized that only one would come out on top. Blu-Ray’s success can be attributed to several factors, the main being support from the Sony PlayStation 3 gaming system, and the support of the adult entertainment industry which was the nail in the coffin for Toshibas HD TVs. It’s good that Blu-Ray won, because in terms of quality, it is far superior to HD DVD, though more expensive to manufacture.
