Official : War all but over says Reuters

OK, I've been comming here for the past year at least. Really great site for all of the unbiased reviews. I consider myself an early adopter and the reviews really helped me dive in to the HD world. I was living in Paris and got the first HDDVD player from Microsoft when it came out. Never looked back on my purchase. I've been buying HDDVD's from DVDPacific because they where cheaper and came out before than the ones in Europe.

Now, since August, I've noticed a lot of Blu-Ray fan boys come here and really start a lot of conflics. Who can forget BubbleBathGirl or Tony for their efforts?

WB abbandonning HDDVD really hurt this format, but I was still hoping for some miracle. Than this rumor comming out of HollyWood stating that Toshiba is abbandonning the format I found was not that credible. But this morning on http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/0,14-0,39-34343561@7-37,0.html, the rumor seams to be fact. Now, LeMonde in France has to be the most credible NewsPaper and website in that country.

What to do now? Buy a second player in case... Whatch all the specials on HDDVD's to stock up... Wait until september or later to buy a bluray player that will cost less than 200$ and be upgradable.

From a guy, now back in North America, wondering how HDDVD could have lost this format "war" ....

P.S. For all of the PS3 fans out there, don't you think it is a bit pathetic on suggesting people buy a gaming console just to watch movies???? It's like telling people to buy a car in order to listen to the radio... Just my 2 cents...

Also, this site really rocks, hope you keep up the good work, and get a bit of peace when this war is over for good.

Bonne Chance!!!!!

[Post edited by CoolDog on Feb 16, 2008]

This news from Reuters.

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSL1627196120080216

Yeah, I agree that it sucks a bit that the best player today is the PS3, hope they get it together soon this Java stuff. Maybe they could even use HDi™ on future Blu-ray players and the PS3.

Thanks, did not bother trying to find it in English! You thing that on Monday, Toshiba will annouce it?

Quote:
P.S. For all of the PS3 fans out there, don't you think it is a bit pathetic on suggesting people buy a gaming console just to watch movies???? It's like telling people to buy a car in order to listen to the radio... Just my 2 cents...

Pathetic..maybe.

I think what us PS3 fans are trying to say (or at least the fans that are sympathetic to the HD DVD folks) is that the PS3 is the best option to guard against blu ray obsolescence.

I can not argue the fact that Blu Ray is not a complete format. However the PS3 has all of the capabilities to conform to the BR 2.0 profile when it is available, and is currently 1.1 compatible.

From a price/performance standpoint I think it comes out on top of all other Blu Ray options.

I now have 20 BR movies and 1 PS3 game. I'm not a heavy gamer these days (young children tend to put a dent in video game time) but I also have that option. Say what you will about the gaming console but the game(s) for ME are excellent (I have a wii as well, but quite frankly I lost interest in the wii after Zelda..the kids love it though).

To sum this up..what us PS3 fans are saying is this:

If you want to watch movies now, but are concerned that your player will be obsolete in a few months (and given the price points of other players I'd imagine that you wouldn't want that to happen) then go with the PS3. However, if you don't want to buy a gaming console (which its actually a media center pc..(not to be confused with Microsoft Media Center PC) then just wait a few months for the BR profile 2.0 players.

Hope this sheds some light on our thoughts.

Uni

[Post edited by unieye on Feb 16, 2008]

I respect your opinion.

But remember, the best option is not necessarily a good option.

For gaming, it's a whole other debate. My whife has got a Wii and a DS... When I smoke a joint or have friends over, it's cool to play, but that's it. The Xbox 360 is where the games are at, at least for now... I've replaced it 3 times (2 x ring of death, 1x because Pal/Ntsc).

I just remembered also when I first saw the PS3 on demo playing a movie... Almost a year ago on the Champs Elyse. Playing Ice Age 2. Ok, grafics as good as HDDVD, but I noticed that the framerate was horrible, especially when the camera was getting closer to the iceberg on the opening shot. Hope they got it fixed, but it's hard to get that experience out my head of a console being sold as the best in history and not being able to play a cartoon like a 30$ dvd player can (flawlessly).

Who woulda thought computers would have been the wave of the future? LOL

Quote:
Toshiba plans to continue selling HD DVD equipment at stores for the time being but will not put resources into developing new devices, NHK said.

I think that statement right there answers questions about if the movies that have been announced are stil going to be made, etc., etc. Toshiba probably won't say, OK WE ARE DONE WITH HD DVD, and then boom there's nothing left in the store. It says they will continue to sell HD equipment but no new devices are going to be developed. We should at least a few months of new HD DVD movies to chose from.

What if that was what the announcement is going to be. The fact that there's really no more development needed for there machines because they are COMPLETE so they are going to now spend there money on advertising and push the sale of the HD DVD players and HD DVDs.
I just thought it was weird that this rumor came after a new firmeware update and WB saying that there will still be instances when they would make HD DVDs. Just wishful thinking that's all.

[Post edited by Jedi_Soljah on Feb 16, 2008]

Quote:
I think that statement right there answers questions about if the movies that have been announced are stil going to be made, etc., etc.

Ultimately that's up to the studios (Paramount, Universal, Warner) as well, but who knows if Toshiba will hold these studios to their contract commitments if they do officially announce they're throwing in the towel. Suddenly I don't find it surprising that Universal hasn't yet announced their HD DVD movie line up for this quarter, beyond 2 titles that is.