If you thought having to decide between Blu-ray and HD DVD were bad, try adding another format that wants to be in the mix: VMD. The VMD was created by NME, the same company that recently claimed to solve the Blu-ray and HD DVD problem by creating a disc that holds both.

The VMD standard is targeted as a low cost high definition DVD. It uses red lasers, much like DVD’s and CD’s do today, rather than the blue lasers that the other next-generation formats use.

The standalone player has been delayed for a while now, but when it does launch it is expected to be only $175 USD, compared to the $500+ price of the other formats, it is a much nicer price. The main problem for this format though, is not beating the competition on price. It is getting the studios backing the format. Since the VMD is aiming at the eastern markets first, you probably won’t see it here any time soon.

Related posts:

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DVD Peace Talks Break Down
Toshiba to delay HD DVD player launch
Microsoft makes Office 2003 format public

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