Looks like the format wars are over

[Webmeister]

Toshiba announced it is throwing in the towel on HD-DVD after a slew of recent announcements (Warner Bros, NetFlix, BestBuy and Walmart) supporting the Blu-Ray format.

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssC...27196120080216

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/16/t...d-dvd-already/

http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/dailynews1.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23186582/

I was pulling for HD-DVD, but put off a purchase around Christmas when I saw the wheeling and dealing Sony was doing on the supply side, where Toshiba had focused its efforts on the demand side by flooding the consumer market with lots of inexpensive players during the holidays.

Now I can finally get to looking at a hi-def player that won't be obseleted in the near future!

[SmokinJoe]

I was in the same boat over Christmas...thanks for posting this!

[nativetexan_1]

In years past, I bought Beta. This time, I waited.

[Daver3283]

Well, I am glad it's over. I hate to side with Sony, but I was a blu-ray backer on this one. Although I am wagering that within the next year all DVDs will be replaced by Thumb Drives.

[Webmeister]

Originally Posted by Daver3283

Well, I am glad it's over. I hate to side with Sony, but I was a blu-ray backer on this one. Although I am wagering that within the next year all DVDs will be replaced by Thumb Drives.

As to the next method of movie delivery system, my money is on downloadable content. You're seeing just the beginning looking at places that sell music downloads, and movie downloads/streaming are becoming more popular.

Remember you heard it here first...

[Ceedee]

Originally Posted by Webmeister

As to the next method of movie delivery system, my money is on downloadable content. You're seeing just the beginning looking at places that sell music downloads, and movie downloads/streaming are becoming more popular.

Remember you heard it here first...

Nice Mike! Sony finally made up for Betamax!

CD

[boomerd35]

Originally Posted by Daver3283

I am wagering that within the next year all DVDs will be replaced by Thumb Drives.

I am NOT buying Star Wars again on thumb drive! Even if its an all new super special edition with lost scenes of Carrie Fisher in the gold bikini outfit. F**kin George Lucas.

[ezmoney5150]

I don't know how true this is but from what I heard the reason Beta died is because the **** industry didn't buy into it. And the **** industry bought into Blu Ray. That's why HD DVD is on its way out.

Anybody else heard this??

[stlcards]

Originally Posted by ezmoney5150

I don't know how true this is but from what I heard the reason Beta died is because the **** industry didn't buy into it. And the **** industry bought into Blu Ray. That's why HD DVD is on its way out.

Anybody else heard this??

Good point lol.

And Troy, I almost spit pizza on my computer. No more wise cracks, lol!

[mrgatorman]

I had heard something about the ***** theory as well...dont know if its true, but it has some teeth to it.

[Webmeister]

Came across this article today and thought it has some very interesting views of what's next for Blu-Ray and hi-def content delivery.
http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...eek+exclusives

[shrtcrt-cl]

thank goodness that war is over. People think the next big thing will be digital delivery of movies. Who knows. I bought some of my VHS again on DVD, but will NOT replace existig DVD with BluRay. New ones, sure. I want my Star Trek movies in High Def, those I will rebuy. Oh yeah and Transformers on Blu Ray.

[Webmeister]

I read another article a few days ago where it was speculated that Blu-Ray will not take off like a rocket after all. The new direction (I believe it was Toshiba) is taking is to integrate upscaling technology into standard DVD players. My DLP and Onkyo receiver both have upscaling built in, and on most movies it has a dramatic effect when output to 1080p.

If I can track down that article, I will post it here but I think we'll be hearing more about it in the coming months.

[jim@mindofmen.com]

Came across this article last week:

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-989...g=2547-1_3-0-5

Basically, one of the fallouts from the format war end is that BlueRay players are going to start getting more expensive before they get cheaper now that there is essentially no competition.

On top of that, most of the players on the market today (aside from the PS3) are not software upgradable, and there is a new version of the BlueRay spec coming down the pike soon. I think that there are going to be a lot of POed BlueRay early adopters who are going to be fuming when their thousand dollar players don't play the new BlueRay DVDs or can't access all of the new features in a year or so.

[Tha Criddler]

Damn I thought HD DVD would win.