How did we not see this coming? Your DVD collection is well on its way to becoming obsolete. Maybe we got caught up in our own fascination with flat panel and high definition televisions that we forgot the fact that our ever-growing collection of chick flicks and mob movies would someday go the way of the VHS.

Enter the High Definition DVD, which puts your old blurry and fuzzy pictured DVDs to shame. Technology has now made cinema more vivid than life itself, if it wasn’t already. The format for the new and improved plastic discs uses digital technology, giving it the same clarity as any HD broadcast. HD DVDs also use a blue violet laser with a narrower wavelength than a traditional DVD, which produces the high definition image. Standard DVD players use an infrared laser that is wider than the newer, bluer upgrade. Currently there are less than 100 HD DVDs available from the major movie studios. However, mass production is not far off.

But wait, there’s more. The switch to HD won’t be that simple. Just like an HD TV, additional hardware is required to play HD DVDs. So toss out your old and outdated DVD player, no matter how new and updated it may be because inconceivably, HD DVD players are required to view HD DVDs. However, normal DVDs will also be compatible with the HD players. According to HD DVD’s promotional website hddvdprg.com, “HD DVD is backwards compatible, which means it can play movies in the original DVD format just as easily as it plays HD DVDs.”

Currently, there is a limited selection of HD DVD players, ranging from $499 to $999. Microsoft’s Xbox 360, however, offers a $199 exterior HD DVD drive.

And what would a new and novel product be without some healthy competition? Competing with the HD DVD this holiday season will be the Blu-ray Disc. Similar in format and optical resolution, the Blu-ray disc has a higher capacity for digital storage. According to Blu-ray.com, the disc “allows data to be packed more tightly and stored in less space, so it’s possible to fit more data on the disc even though it’s the same size as a CD/DVD.” Panasonic and Samsung have emerged as the developers of Blu-ray players while the newly released Sony Playstation 3 features a Blu-ray drive.

Possible further developments in Blu-ray may allow for HD discs to be played on future Blu-ray disc drives, which could allow for easier compatibility across format lines.

As for appearance and interest, some electronic stores haven’t even begun to carry HD hardware, so don’t expect a wide selection.

Noel, a salesman forging through the mayhem of Black Friday at Magnolia on Arden Way, said many of these first models may have some “bugs” that will need to be worked out, and some electronic stores won’t be carrying any until after the holiday season.

While the picture and image quality may be superior to any kind of other visual media, the technology hasn’t quite caught on with mainstream interest despite the holiday season. For some stores, marketing new, more expensive technology has been a tough sell, in part because of the hardware conversion it requires.

But before you toss your old DVDs out with yesterday’s garbage, there may a ray of hope; it’ll just cost you a little more. Nick, a home entertainment specialist at Best Buy in Citrus Heights explained, amidst the holiday madness, that an up-converting player will run you at least $129, but you’ll be able to connect it to an HD DVD player and watch all your old titles in stunning high definition.

And while the hardware hasn’t been flying off the shelves, at least one customer was satisfied as he left the Best Buy on Arden Way with a bag full of HD DVDs.

“Once you go HD, you’ll never go back,” said Matt Freeman, a Sacramento resident.

“It’s almost like it’s clearer than real life,” said Freeman, who just set up his new HD system only days ago. “It cost more than enough, but it was worth it.”

Josh Huggett can be reached at [email protected]