Its Official HD DVD Is Dead

[{OF}MadD!]

It looks like it really might be over, Toshiba is no longer denying the stories. If they have ceased production (which I think they probably did a month ago), it will not be long until retail supply dries up completely.

When anonymous sources at Toshiba start confirming the rumor, you know the end is near.

[{DvT}JonahHex]

Ok, you guys need to start buying Blu-Ray, in quantity, so the prices will come down to the $79.95 level for a PC Blu-Ray burner and about $0.75 for blank disks.

In the meantime... I really don't care... other than I really would have preferred to see Sony lose this one too (without considering the pros and cons of the hardware). After their root-kit fiasco I would just as soon not put any $ into their pockets, whether directly by buying their products or indirectly thru licensing fees paid by other manufacturers.

[Capt. Insane]

Meh. Downloads will assassinate Blu-Ray soon enough

[{OF}Blong]

Yes toshiba has finally announced it to be true. however the war is far from over as chemical pointed out a while back. DVD is still the clear winner right now. History has also proven that Sony has increased prices already after news like this so i see not only an increase in prices on EVERYTHING blu-ray (well ok everything except the movies and the PS3) but also a downgrade of quality back to where the quality origionally was on the first blu-ray movies that came out (very crappy and not much better than an upscaled dvd). They havent lowered the quality yet so it may not happen but they HAVE increased prices once and I am sure it will happen again. Sony has lost A LOT of $$$ because of this war. And for chem I am NOT talking about just on sales of players but a number of things that has given them a loss on this format so far.

However congrats to sony for finally beating out another lesser format rather than losing to the lesser format. By lesser I am talking about the fact that blu-ray can go alot further programming wise than HD DVD can. however this is bad for consumers and if it wasnt for all the misinformation on blu-ray.com they may not have won.

[{OF}Blong]

Looks like those who bought HD DVD players/movies will be able to get a dual player (at a higher cost of course) and be able to play all formats still.

LG to Continue HD DVD Support
Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 01:59 PM ET

Hoping to bridge the gap for HD DVD-supporting early adopters, LG said Tuesday that it would continue to support HD DVD in the wake of Toshiba's announcement.

In a statement first published by Pocket-lint.uk, LG acknowledged that Blu-ray will now be the leading high-def format, but "that does not rule out HDDVD immediately as there are still a number of consumers who have chosen HDDVD and begun to build a HDDVD collection."

The manufacturer went on to say that "at this present moment in time, it is necessary to provide a player which supports both formats and therefore create simplicity and convenience for the existing HDDVD consumer."

LG was the first electronics manufaturer to offer a dual-format high-def player, first issuing its BH100 back in January of 2007 (the company has since updated that earlier model with the BH200). Late last year, Samsung had entered the dual-format player market with its BD-UP5000, and plans for a second player in the coming months. A Samsung official was quoted Sunday as saying the company would likely focus on Blu-ray moving forward.

Source: High-Def Digest | HD DVD & Blu-ray News and Reviews in High Definition

[{OF}Blong]

Well was just reading what one of the vice presidents of Sony was saying and now that this has happened they are working on profile 2.1 (yes that means your profile 2.0 ps3 will need to be upgraded) and that the downloads to upgrade are going to cost $4.95-9.95 for each upgrade. If you dont upgrade you WONT be able to play new movies that come out with the 2.1 profile. They also mentioned that at one point (he gave a rough estimate of 18 months) you will have to actually buy a new blu-ray player (that includes a new ps3) to be able to play new movies as well. On top of that Warner, Fox, and Disney have plans to start off next year with making quite a few titles on blu-ray only (meaning they wont ever come out on DVD). Basically forcing people to a format change if they want to keep buying movies to play on their player.

So there you have it sony ****s the consumer again. Toshiba was actually keeping this from happening with keeping HD DVD alive.... So heres to hoping Microsoft comes out with high quality streaming movies .

*edit
I should mention for chems sake no this is not on any news sites but a private forum I have access to. its not on any news sites because the details of how this will work is still being kicked around.

[{OF}Flying_Dutchman]

Kewl Blong's got insider info.

Maybe you can give me tips on when to buy and unload Sony stock too?

[{OF}Blong]

Originally Posted by {OF}Flying_Dutchman

Kewl Blong's got insider info.

Maybe you can give me tips on when to buy and unload Sony stock too?

lol he cant and wont divulge that information . That would be illegal.