http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/ Engadget HD Comments for Toshiba's Mike Eves wackily compares format war to fuel http://hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/Nov 22nd 2007 10:36AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/Nov 22nd 2007 10:39AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
Only the new catalog titles seem to justify release, the cost of two HD formats is hurting the less popular, old catalog titles since the HD market is split.]]>Nov 22nd 2007 3:04PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/Nov 22nd 2007 12:23PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
It's always been BR's war to loose and they do a great job of messing up to the point where HD DVD is back in it, and many consumers are passing on both formats. Good work. No one wants 2 formats out there.]]>Nov 22nd 2007 12:41PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/Nov 22nd 2007 12:47PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
==== quote =====
Whatever the case, we can't imagine that having two formats for the duration would be a boon for consumers, but regrettably, we're hardly any closer to seeing a clear-cut winner today than we were on the day these two left the gates.
==== /quote =====

But of course we are closer. From the already won war by Blu-Ray now we are in the stalemate and HD DVD bases continues to rise with cheap players and more and more industry support. The way it seems is that by Q1 2008, HD DVD will overtake the commanding lead once more in sales as it already has a great lead in standalone units.

I think we are VERY close to ending this.. All it has to happen is to Warner to go HD DVD and it's over. HD DVD has reached mass scale production both in hardware and in software (having over 200+ existing DVD replication fascilities that are already ready to produce millions of discs).

Warner accounts for about 25% of Blu-Ray titles while Sony accounts for another 25% the remaining 50% is split among other supporting studios like Lionsgate, Fox, Disney, MGM, Buena Vista. So it's pretty obvious what Warner departure would mean.

To summon it up. I think we are at a great point now. The only way we will see dual format if for some reason HD DVD screws up this holiday season and doesn't deliver a deadly blow with overall hardware sales.

As many people said, it's not really that big of a problem with not having movies specifically on Blu-Ray for some consumers as some people trying to make it out to be. Sure, there are unique titles here and there, but this was exactly the same with VHS to DVD. You didn't have all movies, and the transition lasted for a much LONGER time. It's absolutely the same.

I find Mike Eves comments just condescending and kind of a type of cover up strategy as there's something bigger cooking behind the scenes as well. Sony obviously knows this, considering the toned down announcements from executives about stalemate position between the two. This is probably the reason why Sony is giving everything now to promote PS3 as a player. It's because they know, if the PS3 sales with movies don't pick up. They are SCREWED.

Stringer talks about stalemate because when that big - war ending stuff gets announced by HD DVD (whatever it is ;) ) they will say, well yeah, but we are at a stalemate. It's a preparation for a spin, like they've done every time so far something positive has happened for HD DVD.

Just watch. ]]>Nov 22nd 2007 12:58PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
The problem is that Toshiba made a decision on a format that could quickly be made inexpensive. Less advanced, of course, but adequate and lower cost.

Sony, OTOH, chose a more ambitious path, which relied on much tighter tolerances and more expensive electronics. Sadly for Sony, not only did they not plan well (e.g. no advanced codecs or ethernet, which cost little), but what they did include could not be made, THIS YEAR, for low enough cost.

Toshiba makes the HD-A3 for somewhere between $100 and $150. BD 1.0 players have at another $100-200 of cost, even today, even when all the corners are cut.

Examples of differences: Toshiba uses Linux and a Celeron to control the system. These cost nothing or nearly nothing. Sony uses custom hardware and software, which costs quite a bit more.

Toshiba needs much less tolerance on positioning the (blue) laser and lower bandwidth components. Sony's higher pit-pitch requires twice the positioning and pickup resolution. Costs significantly more.

Is Blu-ray technically better? In some respects (bitrate and capacity) yes. In other respects, such as lossless audio compression, ethernet for updates and online content, and PiP, no, not so much. In fact, some of the BD capacity and bandwidth are used up to cover for these other mistakes (e.g. uncompressed PCM is much larger than TrueHD, needs more bandwidth to transfer from the disk, and offers utterly no sound advantage over lossless compression).

So, one might wish Sony had offered cheaper players, but they would have to pack several hundred-dollar-bills in each box to do it.]]>Nov 22nd 2007 1:11PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/Nov 22nd 2007 1:34PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
I'm just tired... i've spent way too much money on both formats and just want it to end :)

I do know I am pissed at my BR player for what it lacks, but more of my fave flicks are on BR... what is one to do.

I'm going to stop buying titles I know that. Now that I can rent both at BB.]]>Nov 22nd 2007 2:03PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/Nov 22nd 2007 2:22PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
The players and movies are flying out of amazon this week. Check out the dvdwars dot com to see what I mean.]]>Nov 22nd 2007 2:30PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
Very optimistic, considering that HD DVD has yet to win even one week of media sales since both formats came out. Even that week when Transformers, with it's "reference quality" dolby digital plus audio, was hyped up by the HD DVD fanboys as THE week HD DVD would finally win the sales battle. Nope. Didn't happen then, won't happen now.]]>Nov 22nd 2007 8:48PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
Let's face it... stand alone HD DVD players are selling right now... BR ones are not so much.

Eventually, at the current pace, the numbers have to shift... well until there is a cheap stand alone BR player.

PS I am format neutral by the way and could care less. I just want a winner. I'm just taking stats/trends and guessing what will happen lol]]>Nov 22nd 2007 10:07PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
In the spirit of driving h4Idol and his/her/it's multiple personalities absolutely batsh*t, click the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_5903282_2?ie=UTF8&docId=1000167901&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=top-1&pf_rd_r=1T4CZJ84GWWXJPHY6X1S&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=333046901&pf_rd_i=172659

Happy Holidays everyone!]]>Nov 23rd 2007 2:49AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/Nov 23rd 2007 3:04AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
You shouldn't talk about yourself that way. Being the holiday season, when someone starts talking like you, people get concerned about that person's well being. Trying to blame others for propaganda. Guess you've had a setback? Up the meds, doctor's orders.]]>Nov 23rd 2007 11:18PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/Nov 23rd 2007 6:01AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/Nov 23rd 2007 7:11AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
I think both sides are guilty of propaganda.

I still think HD DVD will win for week ending Nov 23rd. 9 of the top 10 on amazon are HD DVDs and players selling well.

And to restate I AM FORMAT neutral... I watched Day of the Dead on Bluray last night in fact :P]]>Nov 23rd 2007 7:24AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
How the heck is the Hd Dvd getting 41% of the votes, with the Blu trailing in 3rd...biggest price drop...name recognition with the recent promos?..i'm at a loss.]]>Nov 23rd 2007 8:58AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
Perhaps HD DVD won in the votes because no one wants a standalone BD player.]]>Nov 23rd 2007 10:16AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
It's that the HD A2 and now HD A3 have been the best selling DVD player (of all DVD players) on Amazon for well over 6 months now.

It's that the best selling Blu-ray player - the Samsung BDP1400 currently at number 8 - has only been at around the 15 - 30 range for months.

It's that despite a year filled with supposedly 'blockbuster' Blu-ray movies the gap closed from a year's worst of around 25:75 to 51:49.

It's that the US retail giant have all called this war for HD DVD.

It's that the Q4 results everyone was looking out for are showing HD DVD hardware sales taking off and software going with them (despite discs in boxes & mail in offers).

It's that when Warner go HD DVD exclusive in 2 months it'll all be over.
]]>Nov 23rd 2007 11:10AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/22/toshibas-mike-eves-wackily-compares-format-war-to-fuel/
2008 will the year of HD DVD and final demise of Blu-Ray except for games, just like PSP.]]>Nov 24th 2007 4:15AM