Toshiba Responds to HD DVD Claims

[Jimmy 2004]

Toshiba has responded to claims that it plans to give up on the HD DVD format with a rather half-hearted statement that seems to neither confirm nor deny the speculation. The firm released a statement saying:

The media reported that Toshiba will discontinue its HD DVD business. Toshiba has not made any announcement concerning this. Although Toshiba is currently assessing its business strategies, no decision has been made at this moment.

However, it certainly doesn't sound like a strong denial given that Toshiba at no point gives any indication that it is still backing the format. So there may be a slight glimmer of hope for HD DVD owners, but things still look rather bleak.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[EastCoasthandle]

Wow, what else could they say? No decision has been made at this moment. I guess some people will have to remain upset about this.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

Thanks to calvary1980 for sending this in.

 

[SK-1]

OMG!(ear held to my Toshiba HD-DVD player) is still has a pulse!!
Seriously, I wish this would just get over with, then I can finally have some closure.

 

[effmaster]

Its time that Toshiba made a statement of their decision.

I love HD DVD and still do but with major retailers like Netflix and Best Buy giving HD DVD more of a snub. Theres no way that HD DVD can make a comeback with so little publicity.

 

[thoughtdisorder]

Sounds like Toshiba's testing the waters....:shadedshu

 

[newtekie1]

That sounds like a solid "We're thinking about dropping it, but aren't sure yet, and want some of the HD-DVD stock to sell off before we annouce the product is dead and people stop buying it, leaving use with a bunch of product we can't sell".

 

[Ravenas]

Of course HD-DVD is a good technology, but they no longer have the support needed to maintain good business. It's time Toshiba, and the rest of the HD camp make a decision on to what they are to do. If they don't do it soon, they are going to get a lot of flak concerning the fact that they kept selling players even after they had little or no retail support. People are going to be stuck with more and more dead products.

 

[Ravenas]

Couldn't resist:

 

[HookeyStreet]

The death of HD DVD is near (unfortunately) This was obvious as soon as Bluray came on the scene.

Most people look at it this way:

"Why spend £400-£600 on an HD DVD or Bluray player when you can just buy a PS3 and get a decent gaming console with Bluray built in?"

 

[Triprift]

There in denial id say and dont want to admit that the end is nigh.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

I think people need to admit that HD-DVD is dead.

 

[Ravenas]

The death of HD DVD is near (unfortunately) This was obvious as soon as Bluray came on the scene.

Most people look at it this way:

"Why spend £400-£600 on an HD DVD or Bluray player when you can just buy a PS3 and get a decent gaming console with Bluray built in?"

BR player under £250, by far the cheapest BR player on the market:

Output Resolution: 1080p (24/60) / 720p
HDMI Version: 1.3
Audio Decoding: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS, MP3
Media Support: BD-Rom/DVD/VCD/CD/CD-R/DVD+R (RW)
Video Output: HDMI/Component/Composite
Audio Output: Coaxial

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=963

Prices for BR players are coming down greatly.

 

[HookeyStreet]

BR player under £250, by far the cheapest BR player on the market:

Output Resolution: 1080p (24/60) / 720p
HDMI Version: 1.3
Audio Decoding: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS, MP3
Media Support: BD-Rom/DVD/VCD/CD/CD-R/DVD+R (RW)
Video Output: HDMI/Component/Composite
Audio Output: Coaxial

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=963

Prices for BR players are coming down greatly.

not bad m8, but wouldnt it make more sense to just grab a PS3

 

[Ravenas]

Depends on if you wanted an all in one media solution, but yes, to me it made the most sense.

 

[MilkyWay]

Thats is correct people that have a playstation 3 do buy blu ray and i think that if it was an external attachment then less people would buy blu ray.

It came down to this ps3 has built in blu ray and people recognise this they think that hey i have blu ray so why not use it.

I mean the percentage of users that dont have a ps3 is minuscule.

 

[imperialreign]

Thats is correct people that have a playstation 3 do buy blu ray and i think that if it was an external attachment then less people would buy blu ray.

It came down to this ps3 has built in blu ray and people recognise this they think that hey i have blu ray so why not use it.

I mean the percentage of users that dont have a ps3 is minuscule.

TBH, I think the only reason BR has gone over so well is due to SONY's bundling the capability with the PS3 . . . smart move on their part, but yet it's also making use of their market power to corner the market, which could bite them in the ass down the road.

Although the format war is starting to near the end - the only thing that would breathe life back into HD-DVD is if Microsoft decided to go HD-DVD only with the Xbox . . . then we'd see the format war get re-kindled again, as MS could easily pressure many other organizations to support only the HD-DVD format, as much as SONY, I'm sure, has pressured others.

And should the end come to a close before MS makes a move, I still forsee Pioneer and SONY getting into it over BR rights and royalties, which could seriously hamper further advancement of the format, even after it's declared the winner.


... still, though, I don't think HD-DVD will be fully dead; I can forsee the format going more into the computer market and getting away from the HD movie scene. As we try to cram more and more software info onto a disk, something will have to replace the standard DVD for everyday computer use . . .

 

[Ravenas]

When I worked at Best Buy you had a lot of husbands and wives that came into Best Buy to look for a Blu-Ray player. After they did their research, they figured out that the PS3 was a very good solution.

The husband convinces his wife that this is the Blu Ray player for the price (while the husband isn't really telling her he will also be able to play games) while the wife is completely satisfied with a new Blu-Ray player.

 

[Eclecticos]

Reminds me of those Laser Disc players.

Those sure didn't last long. I remember hearing a story of someone who hung one from there rearview mirror took a right turn knocked him out cold.

 

[effmaster]

Reminds me of those Laser Disc players.

Those sure didn't last long. I remember hearing a story of someone who hung one from there rearview mirror took a right turn knocked him out cold.

LOL

 

[effmaster]

Couldn't resist:

Therefore that makes Blu Ray the evil Sith lord hated by all

 

[Triprift]

Its makes blue ray the victor is what it does.

 

[effmaster]

Its makes blue ray the victor is what it does.

Th evil cheater who uses unfair tactics with lightning lol.

Joking aside we all know that this could have gone either way despite the sales of either format, with Warner and Fox almost going HD DVD exclusive before Sony bought back their support for over half a Billion dollars thats more than three times the amount that the HD DVD group offered Paramount and Dreamworks.

 

[Ravenas]

Sony had more money to offer, a better business strategy, and last but not least a better product (sales have shown this). Clearly customers have supported Blu-Ray or they wouldn't be here now. Wins don't come easy, and in the world of business it's all about money, not what you or I think is fair. May the best company win.

 

[effmaster]

May the best company win.

Thats what all consumers want but thats not the case of Blu Ray. Blu ray bought themselves out. If Warner and Fox had changed sides we would be talking about Sonyt potentially calling it quits rather than Toshiba. You and I both know this.

Also better sales dont mean you have a better product. Its all about marketing and im not afraid to admit that Toshiba royally screwed that part up massively.