Comments on: It's official: Toshiba announces HD DVD surrender

The consumer electronics giant says it will stop producing HD DVD players, effectively conceding the high-def format war to Blu-ray.

[Wally Flick]

The second post below is simply not accurate.

I realize this is complicated stuff, but black bars on the top and bottom have nothing to do with being ?anamorphically enhanced?. If I understand, there is no need to ?enhance? HD content be it on Blu-ray or HD-DVD.

The broadcast standard for High Def television in the US requires a 16x9 or 1.78:1 ratio; therefore, High Definition televisions have a ratio of 16x9. For better or worse, there exist no such standard in the movie biz. Movies are shot in a variety of screen ratios for example Michael Clayton is shot at 2.4:1, Ratatouille 2.35:1, The Namesake 1.85:1. So, to review the higher the first number, the larger the bars above and below the picture. The same problem exists with standard definition ?anamorphically enhanced? DVDs too. Movies shot with ratios other than 1.78:1 will display black bars.

[Schneiderdriver]

I'm no Sony lover, but...

Quote:

"Less Competition = Bad for Consumers
Posted by zmrt69 (See profile) - February 24, 2008 6:49 PM PST

I think the real losers in Toshiba's decision to no longer participate in this market niche are you and me the consumer. With more or less a monopoly on this portion of the market Sony will probably feel free to institute greater controls for preventing consumer choice."

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While I've got my share of Sony products, I'm not an HD DVD basher/Blu-ray lover by any means. I actually chose HD DVD in this battle. I don't regret my Toshiba A-35 purchase. It's an awesome HD player and upconverting player for SD DVDs.

So I'm not here to defend Sony, but I really don't understand the Sony bashing by saying that they now have a monopoly in the HD format. They just happen to be the major player because of the PS3, but they are only one of many players in the development of the format. Look at it this way... Toshiba was one of the major players in the development of the DVD format, and Sony was on the other side. Toshiba and their partners won that battle, yet... I seriously doubt that anyone was worried that Toshiba then had a stranglehold on the market. It is only because of the success of the PS3 that Sony is seen now as being in that position. I don't see it that way. It is a format. Sony doesn't own the format, just as no single entity owned (or owns) the DVD format. To think otherwise is more than a little bit nutty.

[DWS4500]

Not that much of a surprise

I'm not that worried about there only being one HD format DVD on the
market. When DVD's first came out, I was reluctant to make the switch since I
couldn't see spending the extra money. But as we all know, the prices of
DVD's have greatly dropped, and you can now get "classic" titles for $8, or
less. During this transition, we can expect DVD's to drop more since no one
will want them. And it may only be a year or so before Blu-Ray players are a
reasonable price.

But we can't be all that surprised that Blu-Ray won the HD battle. There was
not that much difference in price and consumers would simply want more
disc space, regardless of what studios were making them or companies were
backing them.

[fnsydrgn1]

I got a HD DVD Player but hey if the HD DVD Movie Prices are dropping SWEET! I will continue to buy more plus of course the combination still have the power to get the standard DVD's with upcoversion option available too. as for the Blu Ray well....the time will come once those darn prices drop! hmmm...which appears everyone is looking at ebay for the answer on a lower cost blu ray dvd player i seen them as low as 199.99 for a opening bid. but hey I will wait for the price to drop even more. and all those others that have a HD DVD Player hey its not the end of the world its still HD and we got house advantage a price drop! and also sure to find a HD DVD Movie still wheater its in the stores or online. there will be plenty of time to add a Blu Ray Player to your entertainment system. and in conclusion HD DVD Is Better Than DVD! Blu Ray is Better Than HD DVD and DVD, HD DVD still will give you the great High quality picture and sound and also the flexibility until it comes time to grab a low cost Blu Ray DVD Player

[Crunchy_Frog]

I just bought a used HD-DVD player (Toshiba A-2) and I love it. Purchased for $44 on eBay, and Fry's has tons of movies for $11. Even in defeat, HD-DVD still rules. Eat your heart out, Blu-Ray!