Comments on: The party for HD DVD is over, literally

Warner leaves the HD DVD consortium, so HD DVD cancels its CES party.

[Ilgaz]

Microsoft Lost,that is what matters

HD-DVD was already anti non windows even including HDDVD-
R writing tools. For example you can write BluRay Recordable
discs on Mac OS X right now (via Toast) but it was out of
question for HD-DVD.
HD-DVD has already lost to BluRay when they didn't have a
company with massive experience on Pro works like Sony and
Apple.
I can't imagine Toshiba or MS supporting a recent 4K movie
transfer to customer project but if one calls Sony pro division,
they would actually send a guy to support you in 10 minutes.

[worsethannormal]

This is not a loss for M$

M$ doesn't care if HDDVD beats blueray or vice versa. Their concern is keeping the format war going as long as possible. Why? Cuase they want them both to fail. This whole war is M$ biding it's time til the interweb pipes get big enough and M$ perfects deilvery of movies (1080i or higher) to end-users from the internet. Granted Warner is a big whale in all this, but unless this move kills HD DVD in the next 6 months to year M$ could still win in the long run.

[oliversolman]

Competition

This is what is driving lower prices and destroying monopoly.
We want two competitors and we want them all to be alive.
Big boys like Warner now the game and if MSFT is gone, Blue Ray prices will go up.
Think before you judge any of them.

[scott12x]

HD DVD

Hd dvd can have this in the bag. Sell the movies for 15 dollars less than the blue ray versions. Nothing else is needed except more titles. If they can sell in volume they'll easily get all the titles avaiable.

Remember... Companies do not do what is best for the consumer. They make decisions based on what they think will make more money. If in the end the consumer gets what they want, it will merely be an after-effect.

[DarkPhoenixFF4]

Unlikely...

Once again, you're buying into the Microsoft hype line and are mistaking standards with products. Having one STANDARD won't lead to higher prices; in fact, it'll likely lead to the opposite. Having one PRODUCT is what leads to higher prices.

[jrm125]

Explain why DVDs are so cheap then

But, but but...there's only one format at the moment known as DVD...why are DVDs so cheap then?

That's right...because as something is adopted and becomes proliferated it gets cheaper. Cheaper manufacturing methods, etc. Right now the bigger issue is all the people who invested in the loser format and are stuck with an expensive player that won't play the upcoming movie releases.

Don't be an idiot.

[umbrae]

The war is hardly over...

Funny how short people's memory is. The type of news has flopped back and forth many times. Thing is 2% of media sales is no winner for either side. If HD DVD vanishes and BR still is only 2%: it lost.

Fact is that in the end these formats will be back up media for stuff we purchased online or through pay per view. Eventually, probably end of year, studio will feel the lost of revenue and release on all available formats. DVD sales are falling faster than adoption of HD formats: where you think those people are getting their content?

The war will be a stalemate.

[GGGlen]

Especially when

Especially when you've got legions of sycophants desperately
proclaiming that somehow "less=more" and clinging onto HD-
DVD.

[revolv]

Wow, getting burnt hurts. (who knew?)

I'm just glad it looks like consumers can (almost) be a little more confident in picking a format now.

I was one who bought both formats; a PS3 and Toshiba HD-A30. I was waiting for the day where I wasn't going to have to sweat it out trying to decide if I was making a good choice on movie purchases.

I think everyone has gone overboard with tech specs and should remember most consumers, when it comes down to it, don't give a hamsters left whisker.

With that said, I do care, and have always and will continue to support Blu-Ray. Truly the best choice.

[moonskin]

Great Tech, Crap Content.

as an ex-broadcast worker, I love the new technology, too bad that most content is just pretty looking crap.

I like sony's tech, but hate their company politics and practices, lets just get this crap over with.

[jrm125]

Now you can watch Blu-Rays on your PSP!

http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/843/843979p1.html?RSSwhen2008-01-07_162900&RSSid=843979

[scottwilkins]

Blu-Ray on PSP?

That's funny. Considering the LOW resolution of the PSP, why would anyone want to spend HOURS (if not days) converting the movie down to that resolution. DVD would convert much faster and easier than Blu-Ray would. Dumb.

[scottwilkins]

Still waiting to hear why Blu-Ray is better...

I'm still waiting to hear and see some real content, not just words, but studies and true reasons why Blu-Ray is better?

Here's more why it's not:
Blu-Ray discs rotting...
http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/16/blu-ray-disc-coatings-starting-to-rot/
This is why Sony is not using the special protective coating, and making the discs more damageable in the end. Be ready to buy your movies again!!!

I'm no MS fan, but their points are good:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360hddvdplayer/whyhddvd.htm
Don't bother replying unless you read that first...

Blu-Ray's dirty little secret:
http://www.audioholics.com/news/editorials/blu-rays-dirty-little-secret
So all the "blu-ray sells more movies" news is a lie that Sony is supporting. They count those HD DVD sales a Blu-Ray, even though they are not all sold on Blu-Ray.

Sony did after all admit Blu-Ray was a mistake!!!
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/246067/Did_Sony_s_CEO_Dig_Blu_Ray_s_Grave_or_Was_This_Just_a_Series_of_Idiotic_Events_
Why would you support Blu-Ray after that? Why?

OK Blu-Ray idiots, I'm waiting to see REAL reasons why Blu-Ray is better. Post your links...

[jrm125]

here's why

Because in a few months, it'll be the only format on the shelf. They're "technically" so close in technology that there isn't really much separating them. But in the end, one beats the other. So we don't need to prove it to you, because you won't have a choice soon anyway.

Anyone can find complaints with both format via google. I'd bother...but you'd refute them as easily as I can refute yours.

If MS was so confident they wouldnt have stated today theyre considering Blu-ray. It's pretty amazing that shiny black Blu-ray player you supposedly have isn't even appealing to you at all.