6. Conclusion

To my eye, the clear winner in quality is WMV-HD, but you have to hand it to DivX-HD for its speedy encoding and significantly smaller file size. At less than half the file size of WMV-HD without a huge difference in quality, DivX-HD could be the format of choice for budget-conscious HD fans. Personally, I prefer to make my encoding decisions on a file-by-file basis.

I have found that HDTV really looks great in sports or programs with lots of beautiful outdoor scenery. The detail and color on those types of high definition video are downright spectacular and I try to preserve as much of that detail as I can by using WMV-HD.

On the other hand, sitcoms and dramas are less visually interesting to look at in HD since the focus is more about telling a story than of providing a visual. In those instances, I tend to go with the shorter encoding times and smaller file sizes of DivX-HD.

Either way, the compression options that are available for HDTV recordings will allow you to maximize your available hard drive space and give you a little more time to enjoy your favorite shows.

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