The HD Format War Thread

[Arkaign]

This guy said it better in the comments related than I have :

Finally you suggest that HD Downloads are going to become mainstream somehow. Currently only about half of Americans have broadband to their homes. Of that number a very minuscule number have more than 3.0 mbps. Worse is that this is time-share bandwidth so if several of your neighbors are using it then you do not get all 3 mbps. The US infrastructure just cannot support wide acceptance of HD downloads. In fact if you look at most companies that are attempting to roll this out: ATT, Comcast, etc. All of them are talking about having it ready in "a few years".

On top of the issue of there not being enough bandwidth to support the HD downloads, there is the issue of people having to purchase another set-top box for their television. How do you propose to sell this to joe-six-pack?

"Hey Joe, we have this box that lets you rent movies for $5 a piece. You only get to watch the movie once for that price though. Oh yeah, one more thing, once you start watching the movie you have to finish watching it within 24 hours or lose it. And the box will cost you $300"

Joe, "Uhm, so what is the difference between that and the PPV system my cable company offers now? It sucks and we have had it for years. Is the picture quality better than upscaled DVDs?"

"Well no, actually it is not as good as upscaled DVDs and you have to subscribe to the $70 per month Internet package to use it reliably."

Joe, "Right, I will get back to you..."

 

[spacejamz]

It is truly hard to believe everything that has happened in just 6 weeks since the WB announcement. I don't think anyone could have predicted this would have happened this quickly, even after the WB announcement, especially given Toshiba's will to keep up the fight.

I don't see how any HD DVD supporter can even think that HD DVD still has a chance, but sure enough, they are still out there...and they would rather watch upconverted DVD's than get blu ray.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: ricochet
I don't know of the guy, but what makes him the biggest idiot? Just because he predicted wrong? Plenty of smart people pick wrong stocks all the time. The fact is people cannot see the future. He simply wrote an opiniated piece of his prediction.

Enderle is a paid analyst for both Microsoft and Toshiba. He is a lackey who pushes the corporate agenda without the repercussions of officially speaking on behalf of the corporation. He wasn't predicting the future, he was trying to convince other people the future events are already set in motion.

Enderle is most known for his countless anti-Apple and anti-unix/linux articles.

 

[zinfamous]

so, what is the new title of this thread going to be?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
so, what is the new title of this thread going to be?

It was switched from The Format War: HD-DVD versus Blu-Ray to The HD Format War Thread due to an increasing number of people siding with HD VOD (and other cable / broadband HD delivery methods). So, it is not just Blu-Ray versus HD-DVD anymore


I plan on letting the moderator that you guys elect (for this forum) decide the future of this thread series.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: zinfamous
so, what is the new title of this thread going to be?

It was switched from The Format War: HD-DVD versus Blu-Ray to The HD Format War Thread due to an increasing number of people siding with HD VOD (and other cable / broadband HD delivery methods). So, it is not just Blu-Ray versus HD-DVD anymore


I plan on letting the moderator that you guys elect (for this forum) decide the future of this thread series.

Now that you are a senior mod are you not going to be actively moderating this forum anymore?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Now that you are a senior mod are you not going to be actively moderating this forum anymore?

I will help to uphold forum policy in all of the subforums that I frequent (including this one).

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: zinfamous
so, what is the new title of this thread going to be?

It was switched from The Format War: HD-DVD versus Blu-Ray to The HD Format War Thread due to an increasing number of people siding with HD VOD (and other cable / broadband HD delivery methods). So, it is not just Blu-Ray versus HD-DVD anymore


I plan on letting the moderator that you guys elect (for this forum) decide the future of this thread series.

http://gizmodo.com/352392/vudu...-what-needs-to-be-done
http://scobleizer.com/2007/04/...-says-dont-buy-for-hd/

I see no need to keep the thread any more. I don't think there will be any heated arguments breaking out anywhere between optical and downloads, which necessitate confining the discussion to a single thread.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: zinfamous
so, what is the new title of this thread going to be?

It was switched from The Format War: HD-DVD versus Blu-Ray to The HD Format War Thread due to an increasing number of people siding with HD VOD (and other cable / broadband HD delivery methods). So, it is not just Blu-Ray versus HD-DVD anymore


I plan on letting the moderator that you guys elect (for this forum) decide the future of this thread series.

http://gizmodo.com/352392/vudu...-what-needs-to-be-done
http://scobleizer.com/2007/04/...-says-dont-buy-for-hd/

I see no need to keep the thread any more. I don't think there will be any heated arguments breaking out anywhere between optical and downloads, which necessitate confining the discussion to a single thread.

I think we need to keep it open until Toshiba officially calls it quits...(which should be fairly quickly)...I am still shocked that they have not issued any releases today regarding the Hollywood Reporter story or Walmart...they owe their supporters at least that much.

 

[cubby1223]

The original purpose of this thread was to stop the dozens of pointless threads created with every new plot twist, each created solely to piss off the other side, and filled with nothing but mindless bickering. Those days are finished, regardless of what progresses from here on forward.

Maybe turn this into what AVS did to the news thread. Other than that, move the discussion to regular threads now, I don't foresee any more arguments over formats or services.

 

[spacejamz]

Looks like the white flag has been raised.

Text

Toshiba to exit HD DVD, end format war-NHK

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.

No one at Toshiba could be reached for comment.

The format war between the Toshiba-backed HD DVD and Sony Corp's Blu-Ray, often compared to the Betamax-VHS battle in the 1980s, has slowed the development of what is expected to be a multibillion dollar high-definition DVD industry.

Toshiba was dealt a blow on Friday when Wal-Mart Stores Inc said it would abandon the HD DVD format, becoming the latest in a series of top retailers and movie studios to rally behind Blu-ray technology for high definition DVDs.

Toshiba plans to continue selling HD DVD equipment at stores for the time being but will not put resources into developing new devices, NHK said.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne, editing by Mike Peacock)

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
The original purpose of this thread was to stop the dozens of pointless threads created with every new plot twist, each created solely to piss off the other side, and filled with nothing but mindless bickering.

You are correct.

Originally posted by: spacejamz
Looks like the white flag has been raised.

Text

Toshiba to exit HD DVD, end format war-NHK

I will recommend to the new moderator that he (or she) end this thread series if that story does not turn out to be false.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: cubby1223
The original purpose of this thread was to stop the dozens of pointless threads created with every new plot twist, each created solely to piss off the other side, and filled with nothing but mindless bickering.

You are correct.

Originally posted by: spacejamz
Looks like the white flag has been raised.

Text

Toshiba to exit HD DVD, end format war-NHK

I will recommend to the new moderator that he (or she) end this thread series if that story does not turn out to be false.

considering that this is being reported by most of the major media outlets in Japan (according to highdefforums and AVS) and Reuters, the likelihood that this is true is pretty high...

 

[DivideBYZero]

Wal Mart backing ONLY Blu Ray:

Wally Ray.

Game over?

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Wal Mart backing ONLY Blu Ray:

Wally Ray.

Game over?

check the post dated 02/15/2008 11:19 AM

i think Toshiba pulling the plug on HD DVD is a more telling sign than Walmart going blu ray only.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: spacejamz

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: cubby1223
The original purpose of this thread was to stop the dozens of pointless threads created with every new plot twist, each created solely to piss off the other side, and filled with nothing but mindless bickering.

You are correct.

Originally posted by: spacejamz
Looks like the white flag has been raised.

Text

Toshiba to exit HD DVD, end format war-NHK

I will recommend to the new moderator that he (or she) end this thread series if that story does not turn out to be false.

considering that this is being reported by most of the major media outlets in Japan (according to highdefforums and AVS) and Reuters, the likelihood that this is true is pretty high...

According to PC World, Toshiba has stopped HDDVD production.

 

[abaez]

I just bought a Blu Ray burner/Reader and HD-DVD reader, so I'm hoping some HD-DVD's get under $10 with this announcement.

Anyway, does anyone remember where that AVS forum thread was that listed the best Blu Rays and HD-DVD's picture quality? I can't find it anywhere.

 

[Muadib]

Here's the one for Blu-Ray. Sorry, but I don't do HDDVD.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: abaez
I just bought a Blu Ray burner/Reader and HD-DVD reader, so I'm hoping some HD-DVD's get under $10 with this announcement.

Anyway, does anyone remember where that AVS forum thread was that listed the best Blu Rays and HD-DVD's picture quality? I can't find it anywhere.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=942015

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: abaez
I just bought a Blu Ray burner/Reader and HD-DVD reader, so I'm hoping some HD-DVD's get under $10 with this announcement.

Anyway, does anyone remember where that AVS forum thread was that listed the best Blu Rays and HD-DVD's picture quality? I can't find it anywhere.

they are both stickied at the top of their respective forums. Always within the first 4 threads

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Heck, even the Economist is now opining on this whole thing. Very interesting indeed.

http://www.economist.com/daily...ry_id=9689600&fsrc=nwl

As many have theorized, I think you'll see Warner/New Line go HD DVD exclusive, as BD 1.1 is now delayed well into 2008, Denon has delayed their BD 1.1 player into 2008, and Fox won't release anything soon, they just reiterated what they said before. I don't doubt you'll see Disney go neutral sometime soon either.

If they drop the price of combo discs and put them day/date with regular DVD but not release reg dvd, it's game over man!

This will probably go down as one of the costliest mistakes in corporate history.

How true this was. Just went the other way than LK imagined.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Heck, even the Economist is now opining on this whole thing. Very interesting indeed.

http://www.economist.com/daily...ry_id=9689600&fsrc=nwl

As many have theorized, I think you'll see Warner/New Line go HD DVD exclusive, as BD 1.1 is now delayed well into 2008, Denon has delayed their BD 1.1 player into 2008, and Fox won't release anything soon, they just reiterated what they said before. I don't doubt you'll see Disney go neutral sometime soon either.

If they drop the price of combo discs and put them day/date with regular DVD but not release reg dvd, it's game over man!

This will probably go down as one of the costliest mistakes in corporate history.

How true this was. Just went the other way than LK imagined.

he doesn't come around here much anymore, does he?

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: spacejamz

Toshiba plans to continue selling HD DVD equipment at stores for the time being but will not put resources into developing new devices, NHK said.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne, editing by Mike Peacock)

Good. I'm totally hoping to snag a bargain-bin A30 and keep my A2 on backup.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: spacejamz

Toshiba plans to continue selling HD DVD equipment at stores for the time being but will not put resources into developing new devices, NHK said.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne, editing by Mike Peacock)

Good. I'm totally hoping to snag a bargain-bin A30 and keep my A2 on backup.

I bet we see HD-DVD players for under $50 before long. I might even pick one up as a regular DVD player.

 

[galperi1]

looks like it will be over in a couple more hours (~5-6 hours)

Link

Toshiba has a press conference scheduled at 5PM in Japan in what looks to be the official end of HD-DVD.

I imagine we will see announcements from Paramount and Universal tomorrow as they will most likely be released from their future HD-DVD obligations. Also I truly wonder if Warner will release any more non-pressed HD-DVD's through June as originally planned (I doubt it).