It's official. HD-DVD is history
Philip Wong | Feb 19, 2008
The HD format war is finally over! Toshiba has officially announced its exit from the HD-DVD business. This will begin with reduced shipment of relevant players, recorders and their PC drive equivalent, leading to a complete cessation by end March 2008. Nevertheless, it's encouraging that the company will continue to provide full product support and aftersales service for its HD-DVD products. In the meantime, we have sounded out its local Asian office and are awaiting word on its direction, including the yet-to-launch HD-EP30 HD-DVD player.
On the other front, LG will still be launching its BH200 dual-format player in March, while Samsung is pulling the plug for the BD-UP5000, at least in Singapore and other selected Asian markets. This latest development will probably result in stronger Blu-ray hardware and software adaptation in the coming months, but I'm just glad a Blu-ray edition of blockbuster Transformers may be well underway. Oh yeah, do keep it affordable please.
Talkback
ferdiei says...
this is proof that marketing prowess is more effective than technological common sense, to sell products to people. sure 'blu-ray' sounds nice since its tech lies to the blue-laser emitted by the player/reader. i just hope that future media/product don't be called like 'blu-vi disc' i.e. for a blue-violet laser version
Feb 19, 2008 21:18
this is proof that marketing prowess is more effective than technological common sense, to sell products to people. sure 'blu-ray' sounds nice since its tech lies to the blue-laser emitted by the player/reader. i just hope that future media/product don't be called like 'blu-vi disc' i.e. for a blue-violet laser version
Feb 19, 2008 21:18
nubnub75 says...
Frankly, i'm glad it's over. It is good for Blu-ray consumers, it's excellent for prospective buyers and it's tough luck for HD-DVD users, period.
Feb 20, 2008 00:34
Frankly, i'm glad it's over. It is good for Blu-ray consumers, it's excellent for prospective buyers and it's tough luck for HD-DVD users, period.
Feb 20, 2008 00:34
xtrememorph says...
toshiba should get M$ to incorpate into their xbox360's that for sure will pro long the format war.... tosh guy should just sell hw cheap and earn from sw... and issue cheap license ensuring the formats long live too bad, even Bill Gate not interested.. he say the future rely on download and i agree with him on the side note.. hmm ps3 also gaining more momentum the x360. Guess Bill Gate run away before he can see the results... on this generation console battle. or.. if if x360 was release initially as HDMI plus HD Dvd drive i think it would have maintain some sort of competition with PS3, now.. everything is too late....
Feb 22, 2008 16:47
toshiba should get M$ to incorpate into their xbox360's that for sure will pro long the format war.... tosh guy should just sell hw cheap and earn from sw... and issue cheap license ensuring the formats long live too bad, even Bill Gate not interested.. he say the future rely on download and i agree with him on the side note.. hmm ps3 also gaining more momentum the x360. Guess Bill Gate run away before he can see the results... on this generation console battle. or.. if if x360 was release initially as HDMI plus HD Dvd drive i think it would have maintain some sort of competition with PS3, now.. everything is too late....
Feb 22, 2008 16:47
12retards says...
An HD-DVD upgrade was always available for the Xbox 360 for a premium. That's why a lot of people from western countries are annoyed at having paid for a tech upgrade that would be of absolutely no use within the year. The console wars had a lot to do with the format wars but only by so much. Even when the PS3 ceased to be the cheapest blu-ray player out there, it's sales still improved. You greatly underestimate the merits of the PS3. Also, the price of HD-DVD players plummeted faster than a rock in water the past few months but to no great avail. Sour graping was to be expected. After all, the technophiles who couldn't resist burning cash on the latest offering HAD to gamble between two formats. I just think it simply serves as a reminder that patience does pay off. In the end, it is my opinion that the superior technology won. HD-DVD is just a peg or two higher than dual layer DVDs. The only problem blu-ray had to face on the other hand was more expensive manufacturing costs plus the added cost of retooling machines to be able to produce the stuff.
Feb 22, 2008 18:26
An HD-DVD upgrade was always available for the Xbox 360 for a premium. That's why a lot of people from western countries are annoyed at having paid for a tech upgrade that would be of absolutely no use within the year. The console wars had a lot to do with the format wars but only by so much. Even when the PS3 ceased to be the cheapest blu-ray player out there, it's sales still improved. You greatly underestimate the merits of the PS3. Also, the price of HD-DVD players plummeted faster than a rock in water the past few months but to no great avail. Sour graping was to be expected. After all, the technophiles who couldn't resist burning cash on the latest offering HAD to gamble between two formats. I just think it simply serves as a reminder that patience does pay off. In the end, it is my opinion that the superior technology won. HD-DVD is just a peg or two higher than dual layer DVDs. The only problem blu-ray had to face on the other hand was more expensive manufacturing costs plus the added cost of retooling machines to be able to produce the stuff.
Feb 22, 2008 18:26
hsccsh says...
If we see the adoption rate of DVD ofrmat, PS2 had a big role to play, especially in US & Europe. Therefore, when Sony decided to use Blu-ray in PS3, the signs were there that they ahd the upper hand, not to mntion Sony had Sony Pictures as well as MGM under the belt. Personaly, I am glad it is over and have already started on my collection of blu-ray movies. With PS3 selling at SGD 549, the chioce of HD player for me is clear - PS3!
Feb 24, 2008 20:33
If we see the adoption rate of DVD ofrmat, PS2 had a big role to play, especially in US & Europe. Therefore, when Sony decided to use Blu-ray in PS3, the signs were there that they ahd the upper hand, not to mntion Sony had Sony Pictures as well as MGM under the belt. Personaly, I am glad it is over and have already started on my collection of blu-ray movies. With PS3 selling at SGD 549, the chioce of HD player for me is clear - PS3!
Feb 24, 2008 20:33
xtrememorph says...
1. toshiba should have adobt same strategy as Sony, work with MS to get HD DVD drive into xbox 360 from the start at affordable price. 2. make HD DVD pc drive available at early stage.. 3. cheap hardware
Feb 27, 2008 11:50
1. toshiba should have adobt same strategy as Sony, work with MS to get HD DVD drive into xbox 360 from the start at affordable price. 2. make HD DVD pc drive available at early stage.. 3. cheap hardware
Feb 27, 2008 11:50
xtrememorph says...
"12retards says... An HD-DVD upgrade was always available for the Xbox 360 for a premium" i mean.. from the Start, the departure, built in, not add on. now when hd-dvd loose, i also felt that x360 is also loosing is battle with ps3. cause ppl will buy it because it plays blu ray, thumb down for x360 and toshiba marketing team
Feb 27, 2008 12:02
"12retards says... An HD-DVD upgrade was always available for the Xbox 360 for a premium" i mean.. from the Start, the departure, built in, not add on. now when hd-dvd loose, i also felt that x360 is also loosing is battle with ps3. cause ppl will buy it because it plays blu ray, thumb down for x360 and toshiba marketing team
Feb 27, 2008 12:02
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salorion
This is so horrible. Why don't these suppsed giants of technology inform people that if they find their format isn't working they'll just shut shop? What happens to all the consumers who've bought HD-DVDs? And will someone tell us if there isn't something beyond Blu-ray coming out next year so that we can just not buy Blu-ray and wait for that.
Feb 19, 2008 18:26