DVD vs. VHS

For now, consumers do have a choice of DVD vs. VHS, but don't expect that to last. It seems likely that the VHS will disappear the way of the 8-track, Laser Disc or Betamax - replaced by better technologies. In fact, with the prices of low end DVD Players already comparable (and often cheaper) than VHS players, the beginning of the end of the VHS is already in sight.

An easy way to see how the DVD vs. VHS question has been answered is by stepping into your local video store. True, they're still called "video stores," but you'll readily notice that more of the store is devoted to DVDs than to video tapes. The big studios are now releasing more product on DVD than ever, with discs outselling and outrenting the video tapes.

The reason that the DVD vs. VHS question is truly so simple is that the quality and durability of discs for DVD Players is much better. The one advantage of VHS - the ability to record - is quickly being answered by DVD Players that can record discs and the increased popularity of Personal Video Recorders (also known as Digital Video Recorders) such as Tivo. For now, you may still want to keep your old VHS to take advantage of all your old tapes, but soon enough, expect to see it down in the basement along with your 78 record player, portable typewriter or other dinosaurs.

Digital Entertainment

The Digital Entertainment world, though having made remarkable strides in the past two decades since the CD Player was introduced, is in some ways still in its infancy. It wasn't too long ago that few people even knew what an Mp3 Player or CD Player was, and perhaps in not too many years, even these remarkable elements of the Digital Entertainment world will be forgotten, having been surpassed by even more exciting formats. Still, a HDTV system equipped with a top notch Home Theater System is an experience as close to sitting in a movie theater (without the crowds or messy floors) as one can find without leaving home.