One of the bigger thing at Cebit (to kick of tomorrow) will clearly be HD media and TV/DVD in particular. HDTV broadcasting has started and will probably accelerated from the soccer World Cup this summer. HD DVD (both HD-DVD and Blueray) are to hit the market this spring, and the second VHS/Betamax format war will start. Several manufacturers will show their line of models here for the first time. But is this what consumers really want? Are they not satisfied with DVD for now. Is not Video-On-Demand (VOD) over high quality broadband what consumers would prefer?

Well, the battle will start: Microsoft, Intel and Toshiba (HD-DVD) on one side, and Sony, Philips, Matsushita on the other side. I hope that Microsoft looses this one. As far as I have understood it, HD-DVD is based on WMV. Microsoft shouldn’t get itself another monopoloy. And for now things looks good for Blueray, as Sony has gotten support all Hollywood’s major studios so that consumers will get a wide selection of content. Blueray also have a far larger capacity then HD-DVD, as it can contain 50 GB per disc. Futher disk might contain up to 200 GB, at least that is what Sony is experimenting with. HD-DVD starts on 15 GB and only has a roadmap up to 90 GB. Blueray will probably also get a boost by Playstation 3.

I will probably try to limit myself to an internal Blueray PC-drive together with the just announced new version of CyberLink PowerDVD. The new version will be able to play both formats. I am simply tired of changing my home cinema equipment every year. Oh, look there is a new audio or video format, I have to change this or that. I think most people are getting tired of it.