Even though there are no Blu-ray disc players in the U.S. market, Sony Pictures and allies have let at least one web-store to pre-order movies on Blu-ray discs (BDs). As a result, those, who are clear in their decision to adopt the Blu-ray format driven by Sony and Panasonic, will be able to get numerous titles before the hardware is available.

Amazon.com, a major web-store, offers over 20 movies in Blu-ray disc format, including such titles as “The Hose of Flying Daggers”, “The Fifth Element”, “Resident Evil”, “XXX” and so on for the price of $20.29 to $27.29. Meanwhile, movies in competing HD DVD format, including films like the Appolo 13, Chronicles of Riddick, Doom and many more cost 17.49 to $21.95.

Traditional single-layer DVDs allow consumers to watch movies in 720x480 (NTSC) or 720x576 (PAL) resolution with Dolby Digital audio. The blue-laser discs will provide consumers 1920x1080 resolution as well as DTS or Dolby Digital Plus audio along with some additional interactive features. 

Blu-ray and HD DVD formats compete for replacing the DVD standard. HD DVD discs can store up to 15GB on a single layer and up to 30GB on two layers. Its competitor, Blu-ray, can store up to 27GB per single layer and up to 50GB on two layers, but Blu-ray discs are more expensive to produce. The HD DVD is pushed aggressively by Toshiba and NEC as well as being standardized at the DVD Forum, which represents over 230 consumer electronics, information technology, and content companies worldwide. Blu-ray is backed by Sony and Panasonic, which are among the world’s largest makers of electronics. Among Hollywood studios HD is supported by Warner Bros. Studios, New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures, whereas Sony Pictures, Walt Disney, Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox endorse Blu-ray.