Will dual-format players end the battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray?

Will hybrid Blu-ray/HD DVD players like the LG Super Multi Blue Player put an early end to the next-gen format war? ABI Research believes so. In a new research note, the firm calls the LG dual-format player an "exit strategy" from the nascent format war and forecasts that the dual-format players will become the standard. Most consumer electronics makers and movie studios are anxious to head off what could be a long and tedious format war. Two competing formats means consumers scratching their heads in the aisle of their favorite big-box retailer and wondering which expensive player they should buy. A hybrid player removes that doubt because the buyer is guaranteed compatibility with both formats. Keeping the hybrid down At the moment, there are two significant barriers to the widespread adoption of dual-format players: price and availability.

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