The format war is over! HD-DVD is dead!

[gLing]

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp is planning to stop production of equipment compatible with the HD DVD format for high-definition video, allowing the competing Blu-Ray camp a free run, public broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday.

Toshiba is expected to suffer losses amounting to tens of billions of yen (hundreds of millions of dollars) to scrap production of HD DVD players and recorders and other steps to exit the business, Japan's NHK said on its website.

No one at Toshiba could be reached for comment.
The format war between the Toshiba-backed HD DVD and Sony Corp's Blu-Ray, often compared to the Betamax-VHS battle in the 1980s, has slowed the development of what is expected to be a multibillion dollar high-definition DVD industry.

Toshiba was dealt a blow on Friday when Wal-Mart Stores Inc said it would abandon the HD DVD format, becoming the latest in a series of top retailers and movie studios to rally behind Blu-ray technology for high definition DVDs.

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.

Toshiba to exit HD DVD, end format war-NHK | Reuters

 

[Elle]

Am I the only one who thinks implementing plans like this seems a bit "premature?"

 

[juggler]

I don't think it will ever be really over! There's bound to be something better just around the corner!!!

 

[SRC]

I'm still waiting on my 6 free blu-ray movies .. to be able to tell which i prefer LOL

 

[DavyBoy]

I suspected blu-ray would get the upper hand.

But, for now, I'm perfectly content to keep building my standard DVD collection. I just don't see the need for a better quality format than DVD.

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

Interesting development.

 

[Ria]

I don't know what to think there really - how affected will us consumers be - I think over here we won't feel as affected as we have things on a smaller scale generally, but it shouldn't be forced from a well known company like Toshiba.

I don't think they know how to operate themselves properly doing that, let alone anything else.

If they cannot see the problems, then it'll all be ending in tears - money and greed, that's all it ever is.

I'd rather have nothing than greed.

 

[gLing]

I'm still waiting on my 6 free blu-ray movies .. to be able to tell which i prefer LOL

You will not notice a difference in picture between a blu-ray movie or a HD-DVD movie.

 

[SRC]

I've never watched a HD movie either LOL .. just TV

 

[gLing]

I've watched them in the demo room at circuit city. The picture is beautiful.

 

[SRC]

I need to get out more it seems LOL