Originally posted by: HDTVMan
If we take out the manufacturer support and leave really the companies that produce movies we see that Blue Ray is not really winning. Movie companies will decide who wins not technology manufacturers. You think Paramount wants to give sony money for its movies because sony is the founder of blue ray? Why does paramount want to finance sony movie studios?
HD-DVD (30 GB WORKING TODAY)
Paramount
Universal
HBO
New Line Cinema
Warner Home Video
BLUE RAY (25 GIG WORKING, 50 JUST IN THEORY VAPORWARE)
Fox
Walt Disney
Twentieth Century Fox
Why did Microsoft and Intel side with HD DVD?
The companies cited several reasons for their decision. They said the 50GB version of Blu-ray was "nowhere in sight," giving the 30GB HD DVD the capacity advantage for the time being. They also said HD DVD guarantees a feature they want, "managed copy," which lets a computer user copy a movie to a computer hard drive so it can be beamed around the house. The iHD software offers "greater interactivity," for example, letting a small screen with a movie director be overlaid onto the main video screen. HD DVD manufacturing is easier than for Blu-ray's BD-ROM, and its "hybrid disk" feature will mean an owner of today's DVD player will be able to buy a dual-format disk that can be played in tomorrow's HD DVD player.
HD-DVD allows for great profitability. You know what that means to MPAA? KaChing! Advantage HD-DVD.
Neither Intel or Microsoft make Drives or are film studios. But here is something from HP & Dell on the matter:
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?date=2005-09-29
Sep 29, 2005 - Dell and Hewlett Packard Set the Record Straight on Blu-ray
Dell and Hewlett Packard, the worlds two largest PC manufacturers, today reiterated their support for Blu-ray and addressed the inaccurate information cited by Microsoft and Intel regarding the Blu-ray Disc format. "Every computer manufacturer in the BDA carefully reviewed both formats and ultimately chose Blu-ray as the superior solution for meeting customer demands and providing the best possible end-user experience," said Maureen Weber, General Manager of Hewlett Packard's Personal Storage Business. "It is surprising that Tuesday's announcement is not aligned with that of the vast majority of the computer industry and is contrary to our consumer research." Virtually every computer company that has expressed a preference for a high definition disc format has chosen Blu-ray Disc as the superior format for computer platforms and applications, including top-tier computer brands such as Dell, Hewlett Packard, Panasonic, Sony and LG.
Information on the HD Format War (Includes support companies):
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000623059130/
A short selection of Blu-Ray Disc Association members:
Oct 2, 2005 - Paramount Home Entertainment to Support Blu-ray Disc Format
Aug 17, 2005 - Lions Gate Entertainment to Support Blu-ray Disc Format
Aug 15, 2005 - Universal Music Group Joins Blu-ray Disc Association
Jul 29, 2005 - Twentieth Century Fox to Support Blu-ray Disc Format
Mar 10, 2005 - Apple Joins Blu-ray Disc Association
Jan 18, 2005 - Sonopress Joins Blu-ray Disc Association
Jan 6, 2005 - EA and Vivendi Universal Games Join the Blu-ray Disc Association
Lets also not forget, in japan you can already BUY Blu-Ray Drives for plugging into your nice new HD TV. Have HD-DVD reached that point yet?