There's a new high-def format in town, set to battle Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD: HD VMD. Most of you seem to think that it won't really matter in the format wars. Read the article and then let us know what you think: Can HD VMD beat Blu-ray or HD DVD?

Commit fraud on eBay, and you could go to jail like a Seattle man did. Did eBay's Trust & Safety department let its users down by letting him get away with it for so long? Should the man have received a longer sentence? Tell us what you think.

Should Social Security numbers be used as personal identification? A recent poll found that many Americans want the use of this number restricted. Read about the Consumers Union's proposed restrictions, then join the discussion.

Apple released new iPods last week. Which one are you eyeing? Take our poll and let us know.

As usual, we end with product reviews written by readers like you. Have a new product for the back-to-school season? Tell us what you think of it by leaving a review. Just find your product in PC World Shopping, and click Add Your Review.

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HD VMD to Battle Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD

penn919 says: I think the HD VMD format should have came out much earlier. It would've competed with the other two quite well and would be much better for us consumers because it's so much cheaper to produce while at the same time delivering equal performance. Despite all that, it will be ignored.

jeff7 says: The only major Hollywood Studio that might support it would be Warner Brothers, seeing as how it is the only neutral studio. Sony Pictures will never release on it since Blu-ray is owned by Sony. Disney has invested too much in Blu-ray to back out now, plus it may be getting paid by Sony to only release in Blu-ray. Paramount has the deal with the HD DVD group. Sorry, But HD VMD is screwed.

swftman says: Without support for a lossless audio format this format is not in the same arena as HD DVD and Blu-ray.

Read all the posts in this thread and contribute your own opinion.

Seattle Man Gets Two Years for eBay Fraud

fransway says: This went on for four years? Not unusual. I wonder if eBay Trust & Safety will ever suspend him. He may have been a Power Seller, and in that case, he can still list auctions from jail. After all, he'll need money to pay the restitution.

NeonFire372 says: Two years in prison? He should have gotten more. I'm sick of having to worry when using eBay. There are so many scammers and large corporations with huge feedback ratings that couldn't care any less about customer support and helping you with your problems. You leave negative feedback, and what do you get? One back. You could be one of most knowledgeable, friendly and fast-paying buyers, but when the seller doesn't send your item and you question him or her and eventually leave negative feedback for a valid reason, you ruin your percentage of positive feedback when he or she leaves one back.

bigscale says: It is hard to let eBayers know if an auctioner is doing something wrong when eBay won't post negative feedback reports if an auctioner is one of their good customers. For the most part their feedback is useless because of this.

Read all the posts in this thread and contribute your own opinion.

Social Security Number Use Restrictions Wanted

genedefcon says: I totally support this! I think this will lower identity theft rates in the U.S.

umopapisdn says: What needs to be prohibited is any use of SSN to access secure information without also requiring a securely established password or other authenticator. Paradoxically, I think the best way to eventually get there is for as many SSNs as possible to get lost and distributed. Once this really becomes a crisis, Congress will finally have the spur to take proper action.

cwillia says: My bank and my cell phone provider have both asked me to say my SSN out loud in a room full of strangers in order to identify myself. My SSN is required to change service on my utilities. Insurance companies have gone to personal identification numbers and birthdates as identification. What's up with banks and utilities that they so casually expose their customers to ID theft? Would it be fair to say they just don't care?

rega451 says: To me, the ability to keep track of someone by a single ID number has always seemed to suggest a "Big Brother" mentality.

Read all the posts in this thread and contribute your own opinion.

Community Poll

Apple recently refreshed its entire iPod line, adding new colors, new designs, and even a new product. Which new Apple product will you buy?

• iPod Shuffle
• iPod nano
• iPod Classic
• iPod touch
• iPhone
• none--I will not buy a new iPod
• other (please comment)

Vote now in the PC World Forums.