MS: HD-DVD might be "next Betamax," Blu-ray still possible


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Speaking with Ars Technica, Microsoft Director of Platform Strategy Scott Henson explained that the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive would likely never be internalized into a future version of the console because "[we] don't want to charge customers $200 extra for something that may be the next Betamax." While Henson's frank remark is definitely a PR no-no (though it could easily be interpreted as a shot at Sony), it simply echoes the current state of uncertainty: No one knows which format, HD-DVD or Blu-ray, will prevail. Microsoft has clearly aligned itself and the Xbox 360 with HD-DVD, but it's left open the possibility of a Blu-ray switcheroo -- Peter Moore openly acknowledged as much during CES last year.

Early HD-DVD add-on adopters might eventually get burned (if the format fails), but this certainly won't affect all, if even a majority, of Xbox 360 owners. On the flip side, if Blu-ray flops, 100% of PlayStation 3 owners will feel the burn. Sony is still the bigger risk taker.

News Source: Joystiq

Edited by Giga
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What a screwy title.

The real title - "Microsoft: HD-DVD might be "next Betamax," switch to Blu-ray still possible." Let's not get mad boys :p

They really did pick a small part of that whole Ada article to gripe about though :p.

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You really have outdone yourself..

title edited for clarification

edited for clarification? "blu-ray still pos"

last time i checked pos meant piece of s***

edit:nvm it got changed after i posted

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I feel that the title is a bit dramatic... Nothing like taking a quote and making it sound that he stressed that. Besides, it?s pretty obvious that HD-DVD is in much better standing right not than Blu-Ray.

edit: ahh, the title has been changed, I knew it was a bit off.

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the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive would likely never be internalized into a future version of the console because "[we]don't want to charge customers $200 extra for something that may be the next Betamax." While Henson's frank remark is definitely a PR no-no (though it could easily be interpreted as a shot at Sony),

I'll gladly accept that as a dig at Sony. Here's hoping that BD fails.

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^ :o. Title is better now. And like said before Microsoft has really positioned itself so that no matter which way the market goes it can adapt and still offer an amazing package.

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It would be much more fitting to compare Blu-Ray to Betamax: more expensive than HD-Dvd, more expensive players/burners as well and you can't have Blu-Ray and normal Dvds on the same disc (as is possible with HD-Dvd).

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So? Its a smart move. With a 360, no one looses.

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I don't care what wins but I like blu-ray cause more space for backing up. As for watching movies I could care less DVD works for me and I have no HDTV so I'm good.

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Honestly, I see that Sony is pushing Blu-Ray way more than HD-DVD is being pushed by it's supporters. I went to the Sony store yesterday and they had a Playstation 3 in the wild for people to see working and playing Blu-Ray (Other than the Demo system which isn't the functional system that you see, the actual system is hidden at the bottom.)

I had doubted the Blu-Ray format but as I see Sony pushing it more and more, the more I feel it may become the standard, of course I would love to see it win as it will be a good for us PC users that love to burn stuff.

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Everey Where? i see HD-DVD weather it be hardware or the movies , are selling more and more . Blue-Ray is just sitting ther on the shelfs with hardly no Sales, as it is Sony has yet to release a ther Blue-ray setop box drive as they keep delaying it. Anywho i have a contact at a bestbuy up in washington well a friend who works ther and he keeps up on this and siad up ther Blue-ray isant selling as well as HD-DVD but they have made a Few Blue-ray customers he is speculating 2 out of every 35 customers that come in go for Blue-Ray while more then maby 7 out of 35 request and or buy HD-DVD, he siad the playstation 3 isant really selling at ther store as they have a good count in stock but they have only sold 1 maby 2 since christmas.

Pearsonly i am pleased at what i have seen with HD-DVD and it feature set. so my feeling is HD-DVd may lasy longer and will last longer . oh dont forget the HD-DVD is backed by the offical DVD forum that siad to go ahead with the original standard DVD format and Blue-Ray isant reconized at all

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i walked into gamestation today (UK) and guess what they have HD-DVD movies, i could not see a blu-ray movie in sight... but then again they were selling the HD-DVD drive for 360 so im not suprised.

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It would be much more fitting to compare Blu-Ray to Betamax: more expensive than HD-Dvd, more expensive players/burners as well and you can't have Blu-Ray and normal Dvds on the same disc (as is possible with HD-Dvd).

Well HD-DVD is similar to Betamax in one way also. Betamax had much lesser capacity than VHS, this was the main reason for Betamax's downfall. BluRay has a much higher capacity than HD-DVD (50gb vs 30gb) and BluRay is more durable (better anti scratch protection).

HD-DVD gives you 15gb on single layer discs, 30gb on dual layer.

Blu-Ray gives you 25gb on single layer discs, 50gb on dual layer.

Blu-Ray discs are more durable (scratch resistant)

Why on earth would anyone want HD-DVD to win? Blu-Ray is clearly the better format in this case.

Yes the discs might be a little bit more expensive, but 30gb vs 50gb? that's 20gb more - that's almost a DL HD-DVD extra on the DL BDR ...

I seriously hope Blu-Ray wins, it's clearly the better format due to capacity and the fact that Blu-Ray discs are more durable. BDR's and players/writers will be cheap anyways once Blu-Ray is mainstream.

Edited by bidz
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and BluRay is more durable (better anti scratch protection).

There's reasoning behind that. Blu-ray's data layer is much closer to the surface of the disc. Light scratches were making the discs unreadable until TDK, I think, developed a new polymer for the scratch-resistant coating. So really, both will effectively have the same durability.

My main beef with Blu-ray is that its DRM is stricter and the component prices are higher. It's a great data format, I think (I'd like to use it for backups), but I hope it doesn't win as a media format. HD-DVD with H.264 is just as capable.

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It's a great data format, I think (I'd like to use it for backups), but I hope it doesn't win as a media format. HD-DVD with H.264 is just as capable.

No HD-DVD isn't. It has 20gb lesser capacity. This means movies on HD-DVD has to use a higher compression ratio resulting in lesser quality. 1080p videostreams take _alot_ of space, even in H.264. Anyway - 20gb more gives the movie studios more possibilites, extra features, more audio streams and subtitles, better quality H.264 encodings, you name it...

So what you're saying is that you want Blu-Ray as a PC format for backups and such while you want HD-DVD as a movie format? Well do you think the prices on the components and discs will fall as much as it did with DVD if you have two competing formats in different markets? No. No. No.

And what if you want a full season of let's say "24" on one disc, encoded with H.264 in HD resolution... Don't you think 20gb extra gives you some more choices here? Better quality video and audio compressions, subtitles, etc etc...? And what about home movies shot with your HD camera that you edited on your computer? 20gb more gives you some more room to work with...

20gb more is alot. i hope bluray wins and hd-dvd flops. not because i am a fanboy of any sort, but simply because Blu-Ray is the better format thanks to a much bigger capacity.

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