MacWorld reports that there are rumblings from Sony that a compromise might be possible between the Blu-ray and HD-DVD camps. If this were to happen, the introduction of an HD optical disc format would have to be delayed further. It is unlikely that the Blu-ray consortium will just give up on Blu-ray and whole-heartedly embrace HD-DVD. It is equally unlikely that the HD-DVD camp would have a similar change of heart. So both parties would have to come to the table and hammer out a new standard that takes pieces from both. This would mean putting on hold the current plans to release Blu-ray and HD-DVD to market within the next year, thereby delaying the day consumers get to watch HD movies from an optical disc format.

So the theoretical choice comes to be between a unified format later, or two separate formats sooner. If, once the formats hit the market, one clearly becomes dominant in a short period of time, the answer is simpler than if there’s a long format war. But no matter what happens, the consumer loses: delay or two formats. No other choice.

Link: Macworld