[Update 20aug05: now Audio|Video Revolution has a headline that reads “HD-DVD In Trouble As Blu-ray Gains Momentum”]

Up to now the rhetoric has always been in terms of a war with two combatants. Blu-ray vs HD-DVD. Companys X, Y, and Z behind one and A, B, and C behind the other. Which will win? Which will lose? Gosh we really see problems here with two formats on the market. VHS vs Betamax etc etc etc.

But the mainstream press has always shied away from predicting an actual winner or loser. Like everything in society today, it’s not a good idea to take a stand. It’s better to be wishy-washy than to ever be wrong about anything. Sure, there was some obvious bias one way or the other, but still no predictions are really being made.

So it’s with interest that I read a headline over at ArsTechnica. Of course, ArsTechnica isn’t mainstream like CNN, ABC, or Fox. But in internet computing circles, I think that ArsTechnica has always been viewed as an impartial source of information.

Their recent headline reads “Blu-ray wins two more backers, while HD DVD looks doomed”. Gosh, are they predicting a Blu-ray victory? Well, not quite. They did put that word “looks” in there. But they got awefully close.

Personally, I think not only that Blu-ray should win, but that it will win. It’s a technically better format supported by more electronics industry players, and the PS3 will make it quite common. What’s not to like? Personally, I think the Xbox 360 should go Blu-ray as well, it would make everything so much simpler.

ArsTechnica - Blu-ray wins two more backers, while HD DVD looks doomed