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Meant as an adjunct to your computer rather than a central part in a home-entertainment system, the HD DVD-ROM drive connects to your PC or notebook with a USB 2.0 connection.

The drives should be available in the UK mid-December with recommended retail pricing of £399 and they will be bundled with Cyberlink playback software. The hd100 is actually a Lite-On device, but HP has been branding its products since early 2005.

When it comes to HD DVD products,

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Toshiba is already pushing ahead, unveiling its second-generation machines - the HD-XF2 and HD-XA2 players - in Japan earlier this month. This is unsurprising given its leadership of the HD DVD cause.

The likes of Sony, Samsung, Philips and Apple are lined up behind Blu-ray blue laser technology, with NEC, Intel and Microsoft among those joining HP in the rival HD DVD camp.

In the ongoing battle for hearts, minds and wallets, the HD DVD camp recently received backing from an important American source. The American Independent Media Manufacturers Association (AIMMA), comprising senior executives from 37 media manufacturing companies, voted in October to back HD DVD over Blu-ray as its preferred next-generation optical disc format.

HP boasts that more than 100 HD DVD movie titles have now been released by Hollywood movie studios, offering playback at a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels.