Reuters: Toshiba to exit HD DVD, end format war

By randomnut
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Grand Master

+Audioboxer Subscriber²

Posted
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I don't know how you could say they've made a poor choice.

-Spenser

For the record im not saying they made a "poor choice", im saying they missed out on some opportunities I think would've made their market share even larger. In doing that they would also have helped Toshiba, and hampered Sony.

Even if HD DVD ultimately failed, it would not of failed this early, and the longer the format war raged on for, it would still of been a plus for MS.

Now the market is going fully Blu Ray and at an early point in the year which is all plusses for Sony, and will help sell PS3's. Right at the timing as well where in terms of software (games) the PS3 is ramping up.

People are going to start wanting to invest in Blu Ray, and what is everyone recommending they buy? A PS3. Yeah standalones will come down in price, but not tomorrow and IMO I believe the PS3 will remain the Blu Ray player to get for a while to come - I also think it will receive another price drop to $300 this year, which is going to help even more.

Veteran

That Guy Veteran

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Well, that's that settled. While I personally think HD-DVD should have won (I mean come on, they were so damned cheap a 9 year old could get one for their birthday!), it will end a lot of hassle and confusion as to which format to go for (duh!).

To be honest, we all knew Bluray had won it when Paramount & Warner Bros decided to go for Blu-Ray. Of course, the only problem now is that all those stores and shops who have HD-DVD players and units are going to have to shift them somehow.

Grand Master

Deaf Spacker

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Maybe not a "head start", but the Elite is proving to be the most popular 360 model, so that would mean it would of sold a hell of a lot more than the standalone addon did at around 200-250k.

I'm sure the elite model has sold millions - Probably not far off how many actual PS3s have been sold.

I'm sure the Elite has not sold millions, it's been out a short while compared to the premium 360 and it's more expensive. Heck it's around the same price as the PS3 in the UK and if people are still complaining about the PS3's price then I can't exactly see them buying an Elite.

That's my opinion anyway :/

Grand Master

ctebah

Posted
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Here's an interesting thing now. MS have said before that they will support whatever the consumer chooses. So now that Blu-ray has won, will we see a blu-ray add on for the 360?

i think we will, but that's just my opinion. i started selling my hd-dvd movies and will try to sell the drive itself pretty soon.

Grand Master

theyarecomingforyou

Posted
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Of course Microsoft will release a Blu-ray addon now that it is the sole physical HD format. I also wouldn't be surprised if we saw an updated model with the Blu-ray drive built-in, much like the PS2 and Xbox play DVDs - maybe not immediately with the price of the technology still quite high but certainly a possibility later on.

Grand Master

revvo

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Finally this war's over.

I just hope that people will stop saying that Sony won, because theres a large number of companies who are part of the blu-ray association. Sony just had happened to play a big part in developing it and spreading it worldwide thanks to PS3's.

Think of the PS2 as a way of giving people an affordable DVD player that worked and played games.

Grand Master

ctebah

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not sure which article is was in but one quote that I think is worth mentioning is:

anything can happen between now and June

and indeed, something huge did happen and we didn't even have to wait until june for the war to be changed. a sudden surge of companies switching over to blu-ray to give their customers a clear choice in the hd format was what sealed hd-dvd's fate.

it can't be denied that early adopters of blu-ray will be missing out on features yet to come, but i really feel for all those early adopters of hd-dvd media and hardware.

Grand Master

soniqstylz

Posted
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MS have lost quite a bit to be honest, its HDI would have given them millions in licensing over the years. The fuss over HDI/BDJ was one of the major reasons for the format war in the first place.

Still, MS managed to get its VC-1 Codec into the standards for both formats, so they still stand to make a fair amount on Blu-ray.

Sony, Philips, and a few other companies make more from VC-1 than Microsoft, according to the patents on it.

MS's real reason for backing HD-DVD was to get HDi involved over BD-Java. VC-1 was also a push, but the major BD-only studios seem to be using more mpeg-2 or AVC codecs.

Grand Master

goji

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Do you really have to ask the question this far into the game?

Sony, Philips, and a few other companies make more from VC-1 than Microsoft, according to the patents on it.

MS's real reason for backing HD-DVD was to get HDi involved over BD-Java. VC-1 was also a push, but the major BD-only studios seem to be using more mpeg-2 or AVC codecs.

You forget MS recently admitting to courting the Blu-Ray consortium with their HDi tech. MS is still in the game, toshiba is not.

Grand Master

1Frothy

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Do you really have to ask the question this far into the game?

You forget MS recently admitting to courting the Blu-Ray consortium with their HDi tech. MS is still in the game, toshiba is not.

But I do not get why people feel so excited over one HD Format over the other. I'm glad for once (just once? LOL) Microsoft has been on the wrong side of technology success. They're getting their tentacles into too many technologies.

Grand Master

Tech Star

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What about Microsoft, which is behind the HD-DVD? mmm thats a total loss...

They don't care who won. They only backed HD-DVD to prolong the war so they can get digital downloads out into mainstream before someone won. Now that the war is over they might finally back Blu-ray as an external drive and finalize their download system or w/e.

As for the news I am glad it is finally over! :)

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