http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/ Engadget HD Comments for HD DVD fires back, slashes hardware & software prices 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/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 4:37AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
Don't be so willing to jump on the fanboi train when you clearly have no more clairvoyance than Toshiba or Nielsen or anyone when it comes to market share.]]>Jan 14th 2008 9:55AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
Looking in my crystal ball, I predict 1:2000 in 12 months :D]]>Jan 14th 2008 2:34PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
Sounds impressive when it isn't in context. When you consider that they had a major price advantage, including $99 sales, and didn't manage to take a significant sales lead - that's not so great. And that still ignores all PS3s. I'd never count *all* PS3s as BD players, but counting none of them is equally invalid. I'm one of the people who owns a PS3 and uses it primary for movies. I own 30-40 BD titles, I own 3 games. (Well, one of those is The Orange Box, so it has a few games in there.)

If lowered prices - even lower than the new reduction - didn't help HD DVD take a decisive lead during the peak shopping season, I don't see this new reduction helping it take the lead during what is normally the slowest shopping season of the year.]]>Jan 14th 2008 5:19PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/One of it's remaining two studios need's to declare neutrality fast and just break it's legs from under it.
End it quickly and cleanly, this is getting embarrasing.]]>Jan 14th 2008 4:56AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 6:13AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
It will be interesting to see what the details of the "Extended Advertising Campaign". We know there have been conversations with retailsers. Are we going to see kiosks in some of the big box retailers? More dedicated floor space? Spiffs to encourage the sales force to recommend HD DVD players?

Support from the remaining studios will be a key. A confident stance and solid release schedule will do a lot to bolster perception of the format as still viable. I suspect at least some of the decision makers aren't chafing at the suggestion the hubris of Warner thinking they could end the format war single-handedly.

Who knows, it could even work. Keep in mind that Warner purportedly made the decision to cut HD DVD support independently. That means no contractual barrier to reversing their decision if it turns out their attempt to force the market's hand failed.

Given my druthers the studios would publish in both formats for the time being and let the consumer decide the ultimate fate of each format.]]>Jan 14th 2008 11:26AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 5:12AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 5:28AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
Just like CD's, VCD's and even Divx players, hardware manufacturers in the future will support every possible format in existence as part of their 'feature set' on any player they make that accepts 12cm optical discs. Be thankful that at least Bluray stuck to THAT standard.]]>Jan 14th 2008 9:58AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
OMGFIRESALE! I piss on this clear bias.]]>Jan 14th 2008 5:52AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 6:10AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
LOTS of HDTV owners only have 1080i sets...so no reason to spend $50 more for the HD A30. There is also the fact most new 1080P sets properly reinterlace the 1080i signal from the 1080p movie source for the same 1080 display.

That's why.]]>Jan 14th 2008 8:20AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
Here's a clue ... HD DVD players are also DVD upconverters. So, knock it off with this "nothing to play" crap. Even if HD DVD media goes away, there still will be EVERY DVD out there that HD DVD players will play. And, unlike Circuit City's DIVX, every HD DVD will still play successfully on HD DVD players until such time as the player stops working.

I'm really fed up with these morons who desperately spout "nothing to play" when it's 100% not true.]]>Jan 14th 2008 9:05AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 10:00AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
And unless you're in the market for a PS3 (I'm not) you'd be a fool to buy Blu-Ray before October...so either way one goes until the 4th quarter, we're all fools. Except the people who just pretend the Toshiba units are DVD players, and get really awesome upconverters for an awesome price. :-D

I mean, since everyone's declaring the war over, that'd be the only reason to get a Toshiba HD player now, right? ;-)]]>Jan 14th 2008 3:06PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Their first talking point is that HD-DVD and Blu-ray have identical picture quality, usually noting that they use the same encode for both formats.
This is ignoring the fact that Blu-ray has a much greater capacity and higher total bandwidth (48mbps vs 30mbps) which would most likely lead to a higher bitrate encode if not for the fact that format-neutral studios were producing their HD transfer for the limitations of HD-DVD and then using it for both formats. Regardless, the idea here is that they project the two formats to be "equal".
The other argument they make is a follow up to the first. Since the formats are essentially "equal", they argue, the mass market will be much more willing to adopt HD-DVD vs Blu-ray because of cheaper player prices, especially with the low-end 1080i players like the Toshiba HD-A3. Now, we'd have to assume that this same mass market crowd would then tend to buy cheap, economical HDTVs. The problem lies in the fact that these cheap HDTVS are precisely the ones that tend to have very poor DSPs/components that do a bad job at de-interlacing/inverse telecine/etc, thus leading to a possibly much inferior picture when using a 1080i HD-DVD player.
You can't have it both ways!]]>Jan 14th 2008 5:59PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 6:34AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
Lower the MSRP to equal the MSRP of the same title on DVD and take away the biggest reason most consumers have not to upgrade. IMHO, the only format that can do this without it killing them is HD-DVD since the format can be run on the same production lines as DVD. Blu inherently costs more because their process is different and the plants aren't paid for yet. If HD wants to pull out all the stops and get the general public on board, they need to address software pricing. BOGOs are great and I've sure bought my fair share of them but by lowering pricing to match their biggest competitor is what really needs to be done to capture NEW customers and NEW market share.]]>Jan 14th 2008 6:17AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
My guess is M$ MIGHT be about to way into this HD war boots and all,.... does Microsoft need HD DVD going forward?..I would guess yes.

When the 360 was launched in 2005, HD DVD was not a necessity, to costly and just not a priority at the time, but with the PS3 having BR, and BR looking to win the HD war, the 360 is starting to look decidedly out of date and old gen.
It is fairly obvious that M$ with Toshiba's help are developing a new product range as previously announced, and you would assume that the plan would be to include HD DVD. Interestingly, the current 360s casing has been designed to accept Toshiba's HD DVD drive if required.
An increased hard drive size is only part of the solution for M$ moving forward, a larger capacity disc drive and future proofing your product IMHO is an absolute necessity.
It appears to me that M$, by developing the 360 add on were trying to help keep the product alive until such time that it was convenient for them to embrace it.

A lot of people spoke about M$ being involved in paying off studios in the past, i highly doubt that, if they were going to spend that sort of money, why not just fit the HD DVD drive and get on with it, they could have done this and finished this war off a long time ago, and probably the PS3 as well!
I am not sure there heart was ever in the HD battle at all, but the games console war is an entirely different matter.
All of a sudden M$ finds themselves in a very tricky situation.
If they do nothing and HD DVD dies, what do they do if they want to fit a HD media drive to the 360?
Buy BR drives off there arch nemesis sony and have to pay them on going royalties?! That seems highly unlikely. Or, fit HD DVD drives at a time suitable to them in the future and run the risk of fitting a dead format to their console? There is also the HDi issue, do they walk away from that?
Suddenly, the PS3 is looking like a very very powerful enemy to M$.

Also, it's hard to imagine Toshiba wanting to build and develop 360s as has been stated if they have to fit sony BR, and certainly M$ needs all the help it can get with it's hardware development & manufacturing!
If they don't fit a HD DVD drive, and BR becomes the new standard where does that leave M$, up shi* creek that's where, all and all a very tricky situation for them!

So what do they do now?
The HD DVD parties, Tosh, M$, Universal & Para have all been very very quiet.
It is crunch time now, maybe, just maybe, M$ has indeed now pulled the check book out. Maybe they have just fronted up with a pile of $ to keep Para and Uni in bed, just long enough for them to launch there own, I think, necessary, games console counter offensive.
Almost a bit like Pearl Harbor, maybe the sleeping giant has just been woken by the WB bombs, only thing with that analogy is thats a Michael Bay movie, so I'll leave that one right alone!

As i said, this is all unsubstantiated theory, no facts , but is it a distinct possibility? i think so.

Maybe the above article is just the first salvo in a major fight back counter offensive, the next few days and weeks are going to be very interesting to watch, but certainly, if M$ are going to act to help save HD DVD, it surely must be now.]]>Jan 14th 2008 6:30AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
"The fate of HD-DVD is not critical to the success of the Xbox 360, according to senior Microsoft officials, who have noted that the company would consider supporting rival technology Blu-ray if it were victorious in the high-definition format war."

"Microsoft would “have to consider” supporting the Blu-ray format if it emerged victorious, but suggestions continue to grow that Microsoft is far less bothered about the HD format war than initially thought."

Link: http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8577&Itemid=2]]>Jan 14th 2008 6:52AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
In any case, this doesn't bother me so much. I've had an HD-A2 for a little over 8 months and I've enjoyed it. Regardless of who wins the format war, I've been able to experience some HD goodness and that's all that matters to me.]]>Jan 14th 2008 7:27AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 11:39AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Settle, settle, no need to get worked up! M$ is a hell of a lot easier and faster for me to type than Microsoft,that's all, so keep your shirt on! ]]>Jan 15th 2008 3:58AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/If your going to be fair, and looking at Sony's track record (how quickly people forget the Sony rootkit fiasco) on unfriendly customer service then wouldn't it be fair to say "$ony" as well as M$?
As soon as I see the M$ from a poster it tells me 1 of 2 things.
1) Either he is jaded Mac user who hates Microsoft just because they exist or
2) They think by using the M$ type that they are being cool and "sticking it to the man". Either way it shows your immaturity and invalidates your integrity or your points whether valid or not.
]]>Jan 21st 2008 1:56AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
Secondly the 360 will not be receiving any HD drive treatment, and for a really good reason, #1 they'd lose their price advantage over the PS3, and Secondly, there are 16 mil 360's out there that would not be able to support any games on HD media.

Here's my theory, Toshiba is putting on another fire sale trying to make themselves look profitable, if you read their press release thing you'll see it is full of lies. So anyways Toshiba is doing their fire sale, and Paramount and Universal see this, and realize just how screwed they'd be to sign another contract with Toshiba so they decide to go Blu. War ends, HD DVD owners cry, BD owners are happy. THE END.]]>Jan 17th 2008 6:03PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/You know man, you must be some kind of complete F'Wit!
Firstly, your reply is a week after the fact, secondly I am pro HD DVD and pro Microsoft, and if you had read the posts above you, you would have seen my reason for using M$.... and i think sony completely sucks!
Get your facts straight next time, if your on my side, god help us all!
Try and keep up with the game]]>Jan 21st 2008 3:24AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 6:51AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Because my 55" HDRPTV is 1080i and my current DVD player is on the fritz. So why not by an HDDVD drive?

Also, with what Sony is doing to BR lately, I'd be very pissed if I had bought one already. Let's see, they have ver 1.0, 1.1, 2.0 and guess what, you can't upgrade from 1.0 to 2.0 which means that early adopters (including PS3 consoles) will not be able to get to 2.0 so they won't be able to play the newest releases. Talk about total BS.

Anyone who thinks that Sony isn't doing that on purpose is naive. Think of all the money they're going to make by forcing everyone who already bought a player to have to go out and buy another one.

At least with HDDVD, the standard was finalized before they sold the players.

It's funny, people are always harping on Microsoft for "monopolizing" the OS market. Why is it that Sony's being allowed to monopolize the Video disk format?]]>Jan 14th 2008 6:50AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
Toshiba and a disturbing lack of CE manufacturer support behind HDDVD is more of a monopoly.]]>Jan 14th 2008 7:37AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 7:48AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 7:59AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
( http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/006084.html )]]>Jan 16th 2008 3:01AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
And how ironic is it that this goes on and Sony feeds Toshiba business by having them manufacturer the Cell processors for the beloved PS3. :) Ok, I just want Sony to offer a 50% off on the PS3 with each Toshiba unit turned in (kind of like Money for Guns program).]]>Jan 14th 2008 6:56AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/As i said it's all guess work, but I read that article about M$ going blu, it was later retracted by M$ and vehemently denied.
I will try to find the link.]]>Jan 14th 2008 6:56AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
(And yes, everyone knows the BDA also said there were a total of 3.5m players including the PS3. I won't pretend they don't exist if you don't pretend they're all active Blu-ray users.)]]>Jan 14th 2008 7:34AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 17th 2008 6:03PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Microsoft DENIES blu ray drive!
http://xboxer.tv/2008/01/please_dont_let_us_be_misunder.html

Also another opinion why M$ needs to act.
http://gamer.blorge.com/2008/01/12/with-blu-rays-victory-over-hd-dvd-ps3s-success-will-snowball-past-360/
]]>Jan 14th 2008 7:13AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
The link I provided quotes from an interview with a MS exec (Panello) by Reuters at CES.

The link you gave cites an email from an unknown MS-linked individual to a "small local games blog". I'm sorry, but that's not good enough. Even then, the pertinent content of that email is "Currently [Microsoft have] no plans at this time to consider Blu-ray as an option", which is a long way from "[Microsoft] have no future plans to consider Blu-Ray as an option".

Also, "[Microsoft] continue to believe that HD DVD is the best optical solution for consumers, since it's the only format today that delivers quality experiences at affordable prices" is a long way from "[Microsoft] currently have plans to consider HD-DVD as an option".

But read it anyway you like... these guys are as difficult to pin down as politicians!
]]>Jan 14th 2008 7:26AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Who knows, politicians like you say, more moves then a bag of snakes the whole lot of them, however, the last part of the article is very strongly worded, time will tell i guess.
..."MS hammered home the point that Blu-ray is still very much the enemy - "There are no current plans to consider Blu-ray as an option. Microsoft continues to be dedicated to the HD DVD format"....]]>Jan 14th 2008 7:35AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Hey P, what's M$ gong to do then?
If they end up fitting BR to the 360, they will be helping to drive down costs for sony, thus making the PS3 cheaper, as i said, i can never see that happening, and surely, they must need a HD media drive moving forward?
Give me your thoughts??]]>Jan 14th 2008 7:44AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
If they do go for HD-DVD inside the box, I don't think it'll make much difference to the HD movie market. In fact, I think if they go for HD-DVD it will highlight their HD content on XBox Live - because far more titles will be available on that than will ever be available on HD-DVD. Plus, they'll be able to use the HD-DVD's extra capacity for games.]]>Jan 14th 2008 8:11AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 7:48AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Jan 14th 2008 7:56AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/To me, that doesn't answer enough of the questions, I think M$'s situation is more complex then that, i don't think we will have long to wait though.
M$ might not say much yet, they wont want to show their hand to sony, lets see if Uni and Para stay put, that will be the biggest indication of what's going on behind closed doors IMHO.]]>Jan 14th 2008 8:20AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
I agree with what you say about Universal and Paramount. What they do is crucial.

Nice talking to you HD4ME.]]>Jan 14th 2008 8:34AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/Cheers P]]>Jan 14th 2008 8:38AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
It's a nice change.]]>Jan 14th 2008 2:14PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
The 360 will never use hd dvd or blue ray for game content...only for movies (and tv shows). And as someone else pointed out MS doesn't want blue ray to win as to soon for ps3 to get that extra support.

Now that the A3 is retail for $149...being sold for $130 something at Amazon with 7 free movies...It is a great deal if you have a new HDTV and want an upconverting player....why spend $50 to upconvert and only be able to watch regular dvd's and not get free movie when for $130 you get to upconvert..can use to watch hd dvd media..and get 7 free movies. This should also lead to a price reduction on the 360 add on (probably $99)]]>Jan 14th 2008 8:48AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/01/14/hd-dvd-fires-back-slashes-hardware-and-software-prices/
I agree that I can't imagine they'd get into bed with Sony. That would be something of a coup for Sony, and would send the wrong message to potential XBox/PS3 buyers.

I think HD-DVD represents very good value to USA customers, but us Europeans aren't getting these deals. There's a worldwide market to think about - this is why these USA fire sales have had little effect on the market as a whole.]]>Jan 14th 2008 9:29AM