BluRay Vs HDDVD

[dogbert]

I hate Sony...they truly are a bunch of sleazy bastards.

[spharis]

Doom9.net is a dvd backup resource. They follow all things dvd related.

Following Warner's announcement to abandon HD DVD there have been more editorials than you'd care to know. It started out with painting doom and gloom, then came Paramount's statement they wouldn't give up, followed by Universal's statement they'd stick with HD DVD and finally Toshiba has reacted: They have slashed prices on their players - now the list price for the entry level model is just $149 and the list price for the more advanced model just $200 - so below $100 suddenly seems within reach. Toshiba will also be launching a major PR offensive and one of the focus point will be that those not so expensive players are also great upconverting players for your standard DVDs. I wonder how long it takes for the Blu-ray camp to slash prices on their 1.0 players (which you really shouldn't buy). Speaking of profiles, the BDA has come up with some fancy marketing terms for the profiles: Bonus View is profile 1.1 and BD Live is profile 2.0. But the kicker is the admission by the Blu-ray camp that basically if you have gone Blu in the past, you should've known what you got yourself into (with a standalone player that is... even today the PS3 despite its noise and the remote situation remains the best solution - unless you are looking at PC playback where an upgrade to BD Live is also only a question of when, and not if). And finally, it seems to dawn that Blu-ray was indeed rushed out to compete with HD DVD.

Admits the doom stories also came some questions about the future - if HD DVD falters, can Blu-ray become the dominant player or will download options become more prevalent in the future? One serious contender in the diskless area is Apple: They have just announced high def rentals for $3.99 to $4.99 (per 24h), have all major studios on board, and they already have the standalone player to go with it: Apple TV 2.0.

By the way, even though Sony has yet to call itself the winner of the format war yet again, they're already looking forward to the next format war and have come up with their own wideband short-range wireless standard.

[spharis]

Some more news from betanews (betanews is a software discussion forum). Nice interview if anyone cares to read.

http://www.betanews.com/article/Inte...tay/1200951636

[ragboy]

Another big nail in the coffin from NetFlix:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/11/n...n-hd-dvd-soon/

[da.bell]

Well, looks like there might have been a decission made.

[Lucky 275]

When companies start deciding what the consumer wants, is when it all goes wrong. If they stop carrying HD DVD, I'll stop carrying my subscription with them.

I did find out that you can pick up HD DVD imports for exclusive USA blu ray titles. That'll be a plus at least for a little while.

[spharis]

Netflix also made the announcement they figure rental prices will go UP once the format is no longer subsidized. Apparently Blu-Ray is cheap to produce b/c Sony is getting good funding and they are writing off millions. Thus far Netflix has stated pricing on BluRay is low due to the competition being bred by the HD format offerings.

I say they both need to stay. Competition breeds advancement.

[dogbert]

Sony and the term fair market practice in the same sentence is an oxymoron.

[CP3]

wonder when xbox will get blue ray compatability

[da.bell]

wonder when xbox will get blue ray compatability

6 months from now IMO.

[spharis]

wonder when xbox will get blue ray compatability

I'm gonna guess never.

[da.bell]

I'm gonna guess never.

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20080...-the-xbox-360/

But again, it is speculation anyways.

[ragboy]

Microsoft wants the xbox to be the set top box and game console. Unless they change to only caring about games, I think they will def roll out bluray. Its only a software update once they provide the new external drive.

[da.bell]

Microsoft wants the xbox to be the set top box and game console. Unless they change to only caring about games, I think they will def roll out bluray. Its only a software update once they provide the new external drive.

exactly why MS did that.... They have the option and won't have the community having to purchase the entire device like Sony PS3 would have had if they lost this war.

[zad0030]

exactly why MS did that.... They have the option and won't have the community having to purchase the entire device like Sony PS3 would have had if they lost this war.

Right,

If Microsoft didnt offer the bluray player then they wouldnt sell any x360s