Blu-Ray or HD-DVD?

[v85rawdeal]

Looks like M$ have thrown in the towel...

Microsoft 'would consider Xbox 360 Blu-Ray drive'

Despite throwing its lot in with the HD-DVD crowd, Microsoft has admitted it would bow to consumer demand if the Sony-backed Blu-Ray technology won the format war.

According to Xbox group marketing manager Albert Penello, this would even stretch to an Xbox 360 console fitted with Blu-Ray.

"It should be consumer choice and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider," he said.

But he added that entertainment group Warner's decision to swap its support from Toshiba's HD-DVD hi-definition format for Blu-Ray is unlikely to have a major impact on the console war between the Xbox 360 and the Sony PlayStation 3.

"You can't say it's not a bummer, not a setback, but I've seen this battle declared over so many times," he said.

"I want consumers to have a voice in this and I think there are a lot of consumers who bought HD-DVD who are going to have a say in how this shakes out."

Guess that will clear the way for more xbox games on BD disc.... which is good for PS3 owners, as it means no more shoddy ports from a smaller storage format.

[Harrison]

Plus Sony would make money from the sale of Xbox 360's!

[AlexJ]

Looks like a few more nails have been hammered into the HD-DVD coffin as Walmart & Best Buy in the US have withdrawn the format. Oh and rumors suggest that Universal have just gone dual format. I reckon the whole thing might be over before the summer.

[Harrison]

I think it is already over anyway, so no need to wait for the summer. Stores such as Tesco have been selling Toshiba HD-DVD players for under £200 since before Christmas which has to prove something. Normally a new technology won't drop in price so quickly.

[Sharingan]

It's not just Best Buy and Walmart that have made announcements either recently. Since the 4th of January, around 30 companies which have previously supported HD DVD, including retailers, film distribution companies etc., have abandoned the HD DVD camp.

These include Netflix, HBO, National Geographic, Imation, Woolworths, Sonic Solutions, ADV Films, Manga Films, and so on.

Moreover, sales ratios have been hovering in the 83:17 range in favour of BR ever since Warner's decision (when ratios had been typically 66:36 throughout 2007), in spite of firesale attempts by Toshiba (sub-$150 players) the past weeks.

The writing's been on the wall for a while now. Toshiba ought to do the decent thing and officially pull the plug instead of shoving more hardware into the hands of uneducated customers who think they're buying into a format that will be supported for years to come.

[v85rawdeal]

And in 6 months time, one of the newest Media formats will be totally retro....

From nought to retro in 18 months...

[Sharingan]

Game over.

Finito. The End. Toshiba poised to stop investing money in production or development of new HD DVD equipment. Remaining stock will still be sold.