Toshiba calling it quits on HD-DVD

[FTM]

no point in a 360 with a built in blu ray drive...its only used to play movies, same as the external HD drive..neither are used for games

if its not a core component for playing the games why bother bumping up the price and putting off potential games players who dont give a monkeys about watching the movies
you could always offer a different kit and see how it sells though

so may as well just release another external drive in the new format. as an existing 360 owner mind, I will just buy a ps3 to sit alongside the 360, that way I get the movies and the benefit of platform exclusive title on both platforms

 

[Scratchy]

This answer during the announcement is interesting

Q: How many HD DVD players and recorders, exactly, did you sell?
A: 600,000 players in the US -- 300,000 of which were Xbox 360 HD DVD drives. 100,000 units were sold in Europe. And about 10,000 players and 20,000 recorders in Japan. So about 730,000 units worldwide.

Now a statement from Toshiba VP of marketing Jodi Sally just after the Warner announcement

HD DVD players, including stand-alones and Xbox 360 drives, have sold 1 million units to date since launch, proof of the format’s strength.

So without the 360 addon this probably wouldn't even have been a war in the first place plus they seem to have lost 270,000 sales somewhere.

 

[Dutch Guy]

plus they seem to have lost 270,000 sales somewhere.

Maybe there are 270k drives on the shelves still to be sold to people?

 

[Dutch Guy]

Yeah, although I have a hd-dvd drive I'm glad it's over too. What is annoying about this whole episode is that they was a opportunity for both Sony and Toshiba to combine to make a single format but a level of arrogance from both sides meant this didn't happen.

It's no different than the format wars between VHS vs Betamax or DVD+RW vs DVD-RW, if they combine forces they need to share the profit, if one company can win the war they get much more money.

 

[V1N]

I just hope that blu ray will be able to incorporate some of the features that hd-dvd has done so well such as selecting scenes while the movie is playing. the pip commentary that is used the network options for downloadable content. Not sure if br does any of these yet or at least it didn't when I last saw a br disk.

I can't comment on downloadable content.
I think all of the blurays I have, have "floating menus" so you can select scenes and other stuff while the movie is playing.

Certainly two of the films I have, have pip commentary. War and Shoot'em-up I think they are.

V1N.

 

[dannyjo22]

What makes my laugh is all the HD-DVD fan boys that post silly comments and clearly can't take defeat gracefully.

Not quoting anyone here directly but I’m sure you can find some examples somewhere on the net…

Defeat? Whats equally as worrying is that you think you have personally won a war. Like you have gained anything personally.

I hadn't chosen either format until it was down to one, what makes me laugh are the people who would fight either formats corner like they are getting paid to do so.

I got caught up in the must own DVD scenario and have hundreds of films I never watch. I will rent the odd BD film but i'm more than happy getting dvd quality than paying stupid HD-DVD/BD media prices for a film I will watch at the most twice in a year.

 

[cheets64]

I nearly bought a HD DVD but my head said, its to early and wait for a standalone player, Remember buying a DVD player for £500 and it was crap, couldnt play region free dvds or back up cds.

Blu-ray is still expensive for what it is. £15 a movie no thanks.

 

[FrankJH]

there are decent quality films on both formats (and bad quality ones also) but for me the ps3 has always worked better than any hd-dvd drive I have ever got whether it was the X360 drive, the Toshiba E1 or EP35, admittedly the PS3 was more expensive but it was worth the extra money for the ease of use

I just bought my ep35 but Im still glad I bought it, even just to watch the 30 or so films Im likely to rewatch several times (a number of films I have I doubt I will watch again that regularly)

Doesnt come close to my 130+ BR collection,

I just hope this news means more hd media comes out in the coming months

 

[james.miller]

there are decent quality films on both formats (and bad quality ones also) but for me the ps3 has always worked better than any hd-dvd drive I have ever got whether it was the X360 drive, the Toshiba E1 or EP35, admittedly the PS3 was more expensive but it was worth the extra money for the ease of use

I just bought my ep35 but Im still glad I bought it, even just to watch the 30 or so films Im likely to rewatch several times (a number of films I have I doubt I will watch again that regularly)

Doesnt come close to my 130+ BR collection,

I just hope this news means more hd media comes out in the coming months

there are few people who have both, such as yourself and I, and can remain impartial to any 'us vs them' argument. on a forum full people brainwashed in to wanting a format to fail (either format), its nice to see there are other people around who see the pros and cons of both

 

[Joebob]

I'm glad that it's all over and I'm glad that BD won over HD-DVD, purely because I have a BD player built into the PS3 and don't want to have to buy another box to sit under the TV.

I have recently got rid of my DVD player and my Hard Drive Media player as the PS3 does the same job as both. Guess I'm a bit of a minimalist when it comes to the amount of devices sitting under the Tv.

 

[NokkonWud]

I have recently got rid of my DVD player and my Hard Drive Media player as the PS3 does the same job as both. Guess I'm a bit of a minimalist when it comes to the amount of devices sitting under the Tv.

You're just happy with the great big massive one then? .
I do agree though, I had my eyes on the new Samsung hybrid drive that was going to be released in the summer which was going to be a top of the range HD-DVD and Blu-Ray player, but with HD-DVD stepping out so quickly I guess sticking with the PS3 is the best option now.

 

[Mr Latte]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7252172.stm

It's official now.

It'll be strange to see the next Xbox with a blu-ray drive. But cool regardless, it's what we all need, a high definition standard that everyone adheres to. Sony has already said they have no problems with MS using blu-ray in their products and consoles the future.

Why will it?
Xbox, PC, PS2 all used DVD it was a format, Blu Ray is a format or as such BD discs. Some people have problems as they associate it as a Sony device is all.

 

[Joebob]

You're just happy with the great big massive one then? .
I do agree though, I had my eyes on the new Samsung hybrid drive that was going to be released in the summer which was going to be a top of the range HD-DVD and Blu-Ray player, but with HD-DVD stepping out so quickly I guess sticking with the PS3 is the best option now.

I really don't buy the amount of films that I used to, so I wasn't going to spend out on either a standalone BD or HD-DVD player. Just happy Sony included it in with the package tbh.

It is a bit big though - can't wait for the PSthree to come out

 

[Mr Latte]

If MS release a 360 with a built in BD drive it will surely push the price up?

I forsee allot of current owners trading their system in if this comes to pass

X360 will always have a DVD drive pure and simple, besides theirs a lot more to it than just swapping a drive. You cant create a system spec and then one day just swap over to a new device that has completely different read speed and technical specs.

 

[Mr Latte]

Blu-ray is still expensive for what it is. £15 a movie no thanks.

They can be rented or certain UK stores are available that do exchanges.
Besides if you take the average cost of a couple going to the cinema is £15 really bad for 2 hours entertainment i dont think it is.
Additionally if you dont want to keep it then flog it on or exchange it.

 

[Bigpig]

TBH if the brand new BD realises where £15 I would buy them. That not that much dear than a DVD New one apart from a special offer from a shopping market.17.99 to 23 pounds is way to much

 

[Kyle009]

Personally i always thought Blu-Ray was the superior format, higher capacity and that, so am glad its "won".

Although I do hope, and am sure they plan to, improve on read times for games consoles of the next generation. Don't fancy having to "install" games to compensate for the read times.

 

[NokkonWud]

I'd rather buy a BR for £15 than the same film on DVD for £10.

 

[james.miller]

well i paid £16 for the 300, imported, weeks before the uk release. there are a lot of blurays to be had for £17 and under.

Personally i always thought Blu-Ray was the superior format, higher capacity and that, so am glad its "won".

Although I do hope, and am sure they plan to, improve on read times for games consoles of the next generation. Don't fancy having to "install" games to compensate for the read times.

why not? you only have to do it once, and storage is cheap as chips these days. i dont really see what the fuss is.

 

[Mr Latte]

TBH if the brand new BD realises where £15 I would buy them. That not that much dear than a DVD New one apart from a special offer from a shopping market.17.99 to 23 pounds is way to much

Well what this means is that retaillers no longer have to take the gamble either and have two formats that were only kinda selling. With one single HD format it completely changes things. It also means all Blu Ray titles should become more affordable or at least closer to their DVD counterparts particulary for new releases. This however will be down to the individual distrubitors but its something i believe Sony themselves will start with their own studio releases and expect their partners to help kickstart the market. You will also see partners inc Panasonic and Phillips with Sony themselves doing "free or reduced Blu Ray players" with HDTV sales. Its bound to happen within the next 6 months as not only Sony will want to capatalise on this win but all of the Blu Ray supporters/backers.

This announcement has probably saved Sony because personally i feel if Blu Ray failed Sony may have also. Id expect PS3 is about to go ballistic this year with this news, increased consumer confidence, its release schedule for both films and games and things like Home will make it become the leading selling console within the next year.

Sony can also now focus on making the PS3 "the peoples choice" for Blu Ray playback which is much better for them than just a standalone player.
If i was Sony id quickly be offering bundled boxes with blu ray remote and some free movies all in for £250.