Toshiba calling it quits on HD-DVD

ic1male · 16 Feb 2008 at 14:51

So says Reuters and Japan's NHK this morning -

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSL1627196120080216

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp is planning to stop production of equipment compatible with the HD DVD format for high-definition video, allowing the competing Blu-Ray camp a free run, public broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday.
Toshiba is expected to suffer losses amounting to tens of billions of yen (hundreds of millions of dollars) to scrap production of HD DVD players and recorders and other steps to exit the business, Japan's NHK said on its website.

NokkonWud · 16 Feb 2008 at 14:52

WalMart stopped selling HD-DVD yesterday, so it's not surprising.

Inoshishi · 16 Feb 2008 at 14:53

The 'War' ended so much sooner than I thought it would, gutted for the early HD-DVD adopters

NokkonWud · 16 Feb 2008 at 14:54

Inoshishi said:
The 'War' ended so much sooner than I thought it would, gutted for the early HD-DVD adopters

I'm jealous. They get a ton of cheap HD-DVD's soon enough to make up for it

.

mcwildcard · 16 Feb 2008 at 14:55

Winner by TKO - BLU RAY!

mcwildcard · 16 Feb 2008 at 14:56

NokkonWud said:
I'm jealous. They get a ton of cheap HD-DVD's soon enough to make up for it .

What are you on about, you've got a 360, the HD-DVD drives will be cheap as chips soon, so you'll be able to take advantage as well!

NokkonWud · 16 Feb 2008 at 14:56

mcwildcard said:
What are you on about, you've got a 360, the HD-DVD drives will be cheap as chips soon, so you'll be able to take advantage as well!

I'll get a seperate HD-DVD drive I think, though I don't have the cash.

Werewolf · 16 Feb 2008 at 14:58

It's at this point I start considering a PS3, as a blu-ray play (i've held off HD video up until now).

Inoshishi · 16 Feb 2008 at 14:58

NokkonWud said:
I'm jealous. They get a ton of cheap HD-DVD's soon enough to make up for it .

That is the upside of all of this, but should anything happen to their HD-DVD Drive, they are stuck with a load of unplayable discs.

NokkonWud · 16 Feb 2008 at 15:06

I still have DVD players that are ancient going strong. I highly doubt the HD-DVD drive will go... it's not a PS3 BR drive you know

.

Metalface Mark · 16 Feb 2008 at 15:07

I got an hd-dvd player for xmas, but i havent even bothered claiming my 5 free disks with it

NokkonWud · 16 Feb 2008 at 15:13

I think you only have til the end of the month Mark.

Booner! · 16 Feb 2008 at 15:17

Well, if anyone is interested... I think I might sell up my HD-DVD addon (boxed) for 360 and my HD-DVDS (Serenity, Superman returns, Hot Fuzz, Transformers, 300..) ... I thought the quality was amazing on it! to the members market!

NokkonWud · 16 Feb 2008 at 15:20

Why get rid of it, it's still to the same standard as Blu-Ray?

Johnnytoxic · 16 Feb 2008 at 15:27

Maybe because he doesn't want his cases looking like a multicoloured lego brick monstrosity. I may as well post this in here as well.

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/fat_lady.jpg

Hotlinking is bad m'kay?

Nanoman · 16 Feb 2008 at 15:28

Or maybe its because no more films are to be released on it and I cant really see Microsoft funding for HD games as they arent intrested in anything that doesnt have a potiential >billion dollar profit.

NokkonWud · 16 Feb 2008 at 15:32

johnnyfive said:
Maybe because he doesn't want his cases looking like a multicoloured lego brick monstrosity. I may as well post this in here as well.

Ah, that multicoloured white and chrome monstrosity.

Nanoman said:
Or maybe its because no more films are to be released on it and I cant really see Microsoft funding for HD games as they arent intrested in anything that doesnt have a potiential >billion dollar profit.

Microsoft always said games wouldn't be on HD-DVD, which is why it was released as a seperate peripheral. It was an option for people who wanted to watch HD-DVD movies.

beachBOYken · 16 Feb 2008 at 15:36

im not to bothered which wins but if i was to pick , it would have to be blu-ray now as ive got a ps3 ,even though ive had a hd player longer , but im pleased i can still use it for upscaling dvds

Cyanide · 16 Feb 2008 at 16:23

Damn, this is a real pain. I don't want a PS3, nor do I want to fork out for a Blu-Ray player so I guess I'll have to get whatever HD-DVD's I want before they stop making them then go back to standard def until Blu-Ray players become more affordable

Abooie · 16 Feb 2008 at 16:30

I read yesterday that both Sony and Toshiba had contingency plans in place for both win scenerios.
Toshiba own 49% of a joint blu-ray tech venture with Samsung and Sony owned 49% of a HD-DVD one with NEC. This gives Toshiba immediate access to all the blu-ray technology to get in the game as quickly as possible. The rumour is Sony will allow them straight into the BDA and Toshiba will have a blu-ray player out by Q4 (probably a dual format player too.).

I also wouldn't be surprised to see a 360 Blu-Ray drive announced in the next few weeks and even MS invited into the BDA.

At the moment though many people are still left in no mans land. The only player that will be format 2.0 compatable is the PS3. If they were truly sensible they'd quickly do a deal with MS and Disney and get the much superior HDi adopted.