Toshiba Deploys New HD DVD Marketing Initiatives Based on Strong Fourth Quarter Unit Sales

Sounds like the last gasp to me! I have to admit though I don't remember Sony practically giving away their Betamax players in the end. They practically pay YOU to buy standard DVD players these days. I'm one of the lucky ones - I have 5 HDMI ports - 3 on the receiver and 2 on the monitor so if HD DVD does survive I'll probably get one.

Am I the only one out there who thinks that there are probably only a couple dozen movies that are worth purchasing anyway? I used to collect VHS tapes and amassed a huge library (which I hardly ever watch) - like who has time.? I barely have time to watch the shows I record on my DVR(s).

I heard that Apple is going to put Blu-ray in their Macbooks. Here we go...

I agree. Despite their last ditch effort to sell their existing products, it just doesn't make sense to buy into a format with such little studio support now. Unless they can change that dynamic and soon, it looks like the end of the line for HD DVD. I couldn't in all clear conscious recommend HD DVD to any of my friends or family at this point in time. It was close up until the Warner announcement, but let's get real...

AaronS

You can if content is their desire. Both camps retain exclusives on titles for the short haul at least and who knows when and if any of the other HD DVDs will be released again in blu-ray...

If I was a betting man I would place my money on Blu-ray just because, in the world of technology, bigger is ALWAYS better. Until a new technology comes along to replace it (like VLSI large memory flashroms or something) they (the DVD manufaturers) will just upgrade their manufacturing equipment and pass the cost on to the consumers, much like they did with the first CD's. Remember when they transistioned from vinyl and record (CD) costs doubled?!?

This Apple TV thing is looking pretty interesting. I still maintain that inevitable elimination of the (removable) media is a foregone conclusion - it's not a matter of "if" but "when". Once they have fiber optic (FIOS drops into the home) the sky will be the limit. Frankly I am tired of storing all of this media crap anyway. I hate the idea of buying the same content over and over in different formats. These are awfully expensive razor blades.

Sony "bought it" with the MD too you know. I have a major investment in minidisk recorders/players (Denon, etc.) and now they are boat anchors. You have to win sometimes.

And just what happened to SACD and DTS cd's anyway? Are they even still available?

I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if Toshiba hasn't already bought a license to manufacturer Blu-ray equipment...

I spent a ton of money, as an early adopter, but have enjoyed every minute of HD content - how can you put a price on that?

I had a Comcast rep tell me that they are about to launch 1,000 HD channels! (I'll believe that when I see it - Technologically speaking I don't know how they can do that many channels on an RG6 cable unless they have some sort of exotic multiplexing scheme)

This Apple TV thing is looking pretty interesting.
Interesting, yes ... but it won't cut it if it's only 720p. There are too many other better looking competitors on the market, or coming to market soon.

I still maintain that inevitable elimination of the (removable) media is a foregone conclusion - it's not a matter of "if" but "when".
A concept I am agreeing with more and more every day.

I had a Comcast rep tell me that they are about to launch 1,000 HD channels! (I'll believe that when I see it.
Read that ad again ... it's actually 1,000 HD "Choices" ... they are counting individual VOD and PPV movies each as a "choice".

- Shane

Interesting, yes ... but it won't cut it if it's only 720p. There are too many other better looking competitors on the market, or coming to market soon.


- Shane

I have an AppleTV. It has an output selection for 1080i and will sync up at 1080i on my Mitsubishi 65809 DTV input. I think the software only supports up to 720P content.

There's actually a setting there for 1920x1080p - 60Hz, and I've verified that my TV is receiving the same.

But the AppleTV spec page still lists 720p as the max resolution under "video formats supported":
http://www.apple.com/appletv/specs.html

I suppose we'll have to wait and see

- Shane

The fact that you can get a 1080i output does not mean the content isn't native 720p... If Apple wants to be fully compatible with all HDTVs they would need to support the 1080i scan rate for legacy products.

My point was that the device is clearly capable of 1080p output ... now, will they give us the content?

- Shane

Sounds like the last gasp to me! I have to admit though I don't remember Sony practically giving away their Betamax players in the end. They practically pay YOU to buy standard DVD players these days. I'm one of the lucky ones - I have 5 HDMI ports - 3 on the receiver and 2 on the monitor so if HD DVD does survive I'll probably get one.

Am I the only one out there who thinks that there are probably only a couple dozen movies that are worth purchasing anyway? I used to collect VHS tapes and amassed a huge library (which I hardly ever watch) - like who has time.? I barely have time to watch the shows I record on my DVR(s).

I heard that Apple is going to put Blu-ray in their Macbooks. Here we go...

I'm going to go backward on my reply--LOL

As far as Apple shipping Blu-Ray with their Macbooks: Heck, watching DVDs on a laptop saps the battery. I can only imagine how many minutes of a Blu-Ray title I could watch. And at home? How many people will watch high-def titles with a $2000+ 15" player in their lap? I don't see Apple as a major factor, and judging by his recent actions, neither does Steve, who's looking to the future. Then again, I'm betting that the Pixar-Disney connection comes into play, plus increased removable storage capacity, hence Blu.

I have to say that the offerings so far in both BD and HD are pretty poor, imho. I have Casablanca on VHS, and although I know the movie's been cleaned up, I guess I don't care. And newer moves? Forget about it. Well, I do have Serenity...there's one. 300 shipped with my player, as did Bourne Supremacy, I guess they're all right. My current set isn't big enough or nice enough to worry overly much about the quality of HD discs over SD DVD. So despite "being in one camp" (HD DVD) I'm not contributing a darn bit to the furtherment of that format.

As far as it being a last-ditch effort: Okay, fine; but look at what's happening in both camps. HD DVD players being in good-upconverter pricerange? Desperation (and the main reason I have one, that and my conviction that the worse format always wins ) Five free discs with a player? Desperation. For the other camp: Giving players away with TVs? Desperation. BOGO? Desperation. Recommending that people buy a PS3 to get a fully-functional player? Desperation.

Forcing one format or the other to win won't end the desperation, either, imho, especially since Blu is the format being forced at this time. The time for major consumer uptake hasn't happened yet; that'll be in the fall. My guess is that those Q4 sales scared the BD partners into action, somehow put the high-pressure sale on Fox and Warner, and now the future's Blu. There are worse fates, of course; we could have had studios get together and force a dorky DVD9 h.264 highly-DRM-encumbered format on us all without regard to either HD DVD or Blu-Ray owners. Or worse fates, like sticking with DVD for another 15 years. Hey, it could happen; I first saw an HDTV when I was still in grade school, I swear, and I'm almost 33 now, just now have a semi-affordable HDTV, and at least THREE local stations broadcast in HD PART OF THE TIME! And I'm in a minority of TV owners! And the first HDTVs were invented in the '60s! Let's hope we don't have to wait another 40 years for a standard HD movie format