Iria

Forrester Research on Wednesday declared Blu-ray, a new DVD format backed by a group led by Sony, as the winner in the increasingly heated battle over next-generation DVD technology.

"Two groups are competing for control of high-definition DVD formats to be launched in the spring of 2006. After a long and tedious run up to launch, it is now clear to Forrester that the Sony-led Blu-ray format will win," Forrester Research analyst Ted Schadler said in a report.
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Read More / Source: ZDNet

studbagel9

I though microsoft backed HD-DVD? It's hard to win any hardware format battles with backing like theirs not on your side

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calidan

Microsoft does back HD-DVD. There is around 140 members for Blu-ray. http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Section-13469/Index.html
I don't think it matters if Microsoft is on their side or not.

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Steam Community :: ID :: calidan



"Don't try to be like Jackie. There is only one Jackie.... Study computers instead." - Jackie Chan

Iria

Intel also backed HD-DVD. Dell and HP are on the other side ... dunno. I don't think this is over yet.

EcPercy

According to that article where Microsoft said they would not back Blu-Ray, the technology is not able to be mass produced at this time. Microsoft said that currently there are not even any sample kits to produce blu-ray discs and the only one's that sony have been successful producing were done so in a controlled lab environment, while on the other hand HD-DVD is already in production because the format only requires minor modifications to existing production equipment.

Take that any way you want, but it looks like HD-DVD will penetrate the market well before blu-ray.

My only question here is; Why can't companies just get together and share ideas. Make one format. I understand the competition standpoint, but multiple formats are not good for us as the consumer. I mean an example of this is the Microsoft DRM vs. Apple's DRM. It's pointless since you limit us to only one type of device or another and quite frankly, I will be sitting this cycle out.

I have said it once and I will say it again. Entertainment is not mandatory. You can't make me buy anything I don't want. I will not be at any loss since I hardly watch TV in the first place.

WaltC

The culprits are the usual suspects, the RIAA and the MPAA, who have been fighting the standardization of digital DVD recording devices for years. So, you've got two competing standards emerging at long last. MS says that the "managed copy" aspects of HD-DVD make it superior to Blu-Ray--as MS believes that once you license a file you should have the freedom to move it around on your machines at home, make an archival backup, etc. Blu-Ray doesn't support managed copy at all, from what I read. Couple that with the facts as you've recited them about Blu-Ray being some distance from production at this time and it becomes obvious why MS and Intel are supporting HD-DVD.

The problem with DRMs in terms of MS vs. Apple is pretty basic. Apple has always been proprietary in contrast to MS's level of 3rd-party hardware support, and that's because Apple is primarily a hardware company and Microsoft primarily a software company. It behooves MS to support as wide a hardware base as it can while Apple believes the only hardware it should support is Apple's.

Regardless of what paid-for PR "analysts" may state, the ultimate winner here will be the standard that supports the widest array of hardware and meets the needs of the widest number of consumers. It's just that simple and always has been, imo.

Iria

If you didn't see my latest post on this subject there's more confusion now.