Toshiba CEO: HD DVD didn't stand a chance after Warner left
By Nilay Patel 
posted Mar 3rd 2008 7:01PM
posted Mar 3rd 2008 7:01PM
We had an inkling that the format war was soon to be over when Warner announced it was going Blu-ray just before CES and HD DVD canceled its press conference, but we didn't realize how quickly things would come to an abrupt end. It looks like Toshiba CEO Atsutoshi Nishida was decisive in ending the battle, telling the Wall Street Journal that HD DVD didn't stand a chance after Warner left, and that if HD DVD wasn't "going to win then we had to pull out, especially since consumers were already asking for a single standard." That's interesting, especially since Toshiba issued all those jilted-lover press releases as former partners defected and continued to waffle for another month or so and even air a Super Bowl ad, but we suppose PR people can't go running around saying things like "One has to take calculated risks in business, but it's also important to switch gears immediately if you think your decision was wrong," like the CEO can. Of course, the CEO probably shouldn't be saying Toshiba's upconverting DVD players are so good "consumers won't be able to tell the difference from HD DVD images" either, but give the man a break -- he's still in mourning.[Thanks, ogscorpion]
Alright, more HD DVD fodder. Why doesn't this suprise me? Oh right, what a dumb question to ask. It's EngadgetHD.
Sore loser
I can't 2nd that enough. This guys last article was more or less the same thing, touting blu ray's victory by just trashing hd dvd. Move on man, you're losing readers interest. I can watch the O'reilly factor if i wanna see someone just sling mud instead of being informative. I couldn't even get my last post on the below article finished before more of this crap, and this is coming from a guy who checks this site once a day and is generally a fan of this place (at least!).
@Greg
Yes, Greg. I'm a sore loser. That's why I bought a Blu-ray and a HD DVD player at the same time. I support/ed both formats. Don't think for one second that I only support HD DVD. I love HD, so much that I didn't want to side with one format because I thought it was better. I'm just pointing out how completely pointless this article is. I mean are we going to have articles about the Last HD DVD player sold in about 7 months from now? When does it stop? Is EngadgetHD realizing that the format war was the main reason people came to site, so they are going to keep using it like hollywood keeps bring out retarded movie parody movies? Give the people what they want I, guess.
I think the point of the article, believe it or not, is that the company that was one of the main backers for the HD-DVD format commented the reason for end of it. Its a powerful statement that the CEO admits that Warner was the knife that killed HD-DVD. It wasn't some little fanboi or some kind of analysis for some investment group, but its one of the top brass who now has to answer to all the non "in the know" people why suddenly HD-DVD is not going to have a future any longer. Admittedly this is old news and seems like rubbing it one's face, but there are a lot of people who probably went to Wal-Mart, saw a HD player for cheap and picked it up and now saying WTF!!
I am just saying...
Yes, I understand that a CEO saying a certain action killed them is big, but wasn't it obvivious? It was a landslide of Blu-ray switching after Warner Brothers announced the exclusive backing. Just because a CEO states what really happened, doesn't make things become right and peaceful. Look at Enron. People didn't get their pensions back and life saving becuase he admitted the crime. Besides this article could have been written better without the countless HD DVD attacks. Just give the information of what the CEO said and be done with it. No need for "but give the man a break -- he's still in mourning." and "but we suppose PR people can't go running around saying things like" If that isn't fodder, I don't know what is.
Sorry dude, but the CEO of Toshiba admitting that the Warner announcement is what killed HD DVD is newsworthy. Engadget reports (and comments on) the news. That's that.
"Enron...he admitted the crime."
Ok, let's let the fact that you're comparing an entertainment format to Enron slide. On this blog, as many others, the format war has taken the form of a sporting event with associated smack talk. Just as in a post game show, the hosts are not bound to strict journalism standards when commentating on the event.
If you really don't care about that aspect of all this, then treat it as many people should treat news of Brittany Spears...a non event that is unfortunately discussed everywhere.
Well, I for one actually find it interesting that Toshiba had [internally] effectively thrown in the towel after Warner went Blu-ray exclusive. I think this was generally assumed by most everyone reading about Toshiba's limp press releases leading up to the end, but once again it's interesting to have it officially confirmed.
Well there was talk that they were going to continue for a while until WalMar decided to 'out them'. They may well have been into their 'continuing' as early as the end of January. A lot of folks were saying then that they just wanted to unload their stock to unwitting consumers. Looks like we were right on.
This answered numerous questions I had on why Toshiba abruptly canceled their CES event after Warner's announcement. As an unbiased observer of this HD war, I've always been dumbfounded by Toshiba's CES event cancellation. Sure Warner's decision was a monumental blow to the HD-DVD format, but Toshiba's CES cancellation showed to me that they had no fight left in them. This interview confirmed my suspicion that Toshiba capitulated internally on that day. It makes pure sense now. By the way, I personally found this piece VERY informative. Thanks EngadgetHD. Please keep up the good work!
"Sorry dude, but the CEO of Toshiba admitting that the Warner announcement is what killed HD DVD is newsworthy."
Yes, I agree, but what I've been talking about from the begining is not the CEO. Its the fodder in the article. Clearly...its not that obvivious. So I'll say it agian. The fodder was not needed. Take out the HD DVD fodder you have news, but this is a blog. So "newsworthy" and blog don't really go hand in hand.
"So I'll say it agian. The fodder was not needed."
But that's engadget, joystiq, and a whole host of other blogs. The fodder is what distinguishes them from strictly "news" sites. Whether it is a parody of Casablanca, or editorial comments of the kind you object to, it's part and parcel of these sites.
It's not engadget that has to reign in if the editorial humor is not for you. I still browse Gizmodo, though the host of a podcast I like, Cali Lewis, stopped reading because of perceived nastiness.
Hell, there is probably some reader out there still pissed at Betamax jokes. You just can't win 'em all.
I just bought a brand new XA2 with 10 HD movies for $300.
I couldn't be happier, people talk about DVD upscaling, the job this thing does is remarkable, the difference between HD and DVD upscaled on this machine is minimal.
I will stick with this, maybe when a top of the range Panasonic profile 2.0 BR player is available for similar money I will jump in, until then, this baby will do me fine.
@Gus
Quote: "the difference between HD and DVD upscaled on this machine is minimal."
You either need new glasses, a new TV, or a new format.
You have the Departed HD DVD as your avatar. I assume you have the combo edition. Put the SD side in. Watch a color and detail-intense scene. Flip the disc over. Watch the same scene over.
It's much more than minimal.
@Deeznutz
Geez your a tool. I have a 50'Panasonic full HD and no I don't need glasses. Upscaled DVD on the XA2 is sensational, not as good as HD, but not far off it, read the product reviews, best DVD player of ANY brand 2007, so get your head out of your ass!
@Gus:
LOL I miss format war posts! Just pushin yer button... but I would have to disagree with your assessment of "minimal" difference... but we would be treading on subjective matter. I'll just agree that HD-DVD players upscale quite nicely.
I'm with you Gus, I also have an XA2 and the up conversion is astounding on a high quality TV.
Don't worry about the negative responses, if they have a standard DVD upscaler you cant blame them for there responses.
I have a near new Panasonic 1080p upscaling DVD player as well that does a terrible job, the video quality is awful, so if that was all you ever saw, and a new Panasonic is great quality, you could be forgiven for thinking DVD upscaling is a load of crap.
We know the XA2 is a different story, let them gloat and enjoy there victory, and you buy a quality blu ray player for yourself if and when they ever build one.
HD DVD the departed is a pun!
I can switch channels from HD to SD running the same movies in both formats, THE DIFFERENCE IS MINIMAL!!
You blu ray tools keep believing your product is vastly superior, it's not, I suppose you have to justify your ridiculously expensive outlay some how!
The difference isn't minimal. For starters a 1080p has 6 times the screen resolution of an NTSC image. An upscaling DVD player will just interpolate an image to fill those pixels whereas a true HD source won't have to.
Image quality is always going to be better on Blu Ray (and HD DVD) than DVD. Whether it matters depends on the movie, the movie transfer, your TV, your TV's resolution (720p or 1080p), how far away you sit from it and the price differential between SD & HD formats.
The difference is extremely noticeable on any modern large HD set. It doesn't mean an upscaling player can't produce a watchable picture but it sure as hell isn't the same as HD and it would be very easy for most people to tell the two apart.
I dont think anyone is trying to justify anything Gus, other than the difference between an upscaled dvd and HD/Bluray is more than minimal.
Thats all their arguing.
As for bluray "fools" trying to justify their "expensive" outlay... its currently the only surviving HD format so i dont think they need anymore justification than their the new standard. Regardless if you like the format or not.
F'K me dead!
I stated I am waiting for the appropriate BR player to be available for me to buy, and in the mean time I am happy with upscaled DVDs and i get an avalanche of BR knob jockeys carrying on like F'Wits!
If you don't own a 50" Plasma and don't own an XA2, none of you can comments mean anything other then you are all talking shi*!
No doubt, the comments will be now thats what you all own as well, yeah right.
I REPEAT, I WILL BUY THE APPROPRIATE BR PLAYER WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE !
GUS,
You're a tool, upscaling or interpolation of data from a 480p source cannot come close to a true 1080p source. It is technically not possible. Now you can subjectively say it is ok for you, but that's you. And if you are fine with it ok. That's your opinion. But for the rest of us, 1080p TV is better with a 1080p source.
Then again you didn't have the foresight enough to pick the correct format, so it doesn't surprise me that you cannot see past your obvious wounds to admit HD is actually better than SD upscaled. Toshiba called it quits, you can drop the whole "upscale is good enough" talking point. Game over, pal, the evil empire won (sarcasm) ...
After reading your comments for the last 12 months I'll take anything you say with a large grain of salt, you have proven time and again that most of your comments are baseless, one eyed, fanatical shi*
After reading your comments for the last 12 months I'll take anything you say with a large grain of salt, you have proven time and again that most of your comments are baseless, one eyed, fanatical shi*
After reading your comments for the last 12 months I'll take anything you say with a large grain of salt, you have proven time and again that most of your comments are baseless, one eyed, fanatical shi*
sorry about triple posts,............. and IMO opinion, blu ray doesn't yet have a player of high enough quality for me to buy, so I haven't bought the wrong product or format, but again, you keep justifying your over priced product choice, I wish you well with your POS profile 1 player, I'll stick with my XA2 for now.
Holy shit Gus, take it easy dude. Have a drink or something, this is nothing to pop a vein over.
If you think reading about this is boring and redundant then don't read it or LEAVE. Nobody will care if you ever visit this site again. As far as upscaled DVD being close to HD DVD, LOL. You're an idiot if you believe that.
ANYBODY stating that upscaled DVD quality is negligable to HD DVD or Blu-ray is talking rubbish!
It cannot conjure up detail out of thin air!
True. I think however that some movies really don't need extra detail to work. Blu Ray is really going to have to compete with DVD on price a bit harder because the fact is that many (most?) movies would be quite acceptable viewing in DVD with upscaling.
I'd love to see the slides Toshiba originally planned to show at CES. My guess is they'd have Fox and Warner plastered all over them as well as a preview of some Toshiba branded 360 device. I'm sure someone will write a book about this in a few years and it will make fascinating reading.
Upconversion that Nishida's talking about is "Super Upconversion", a real-time super-resolution enhancement processing running on CELL. Super-resolution has been used by CIA and NASA to double resolution of their pictures for decades. Toshiba's now bringing it to consumer electronics domain, made possible by computational muscle of CELL.
As for Xbox 360 Ultimate with integrated HD-DVD drive, yes it was real and was scheduled to be demonstrated by Bill Gates during his CES 2008 speech, confirmed by a Microsoft VP and another Blu-Ray insider at avsforum.
LOL
I don't care what the CEO said it's not like the lies weren't thick on both sides. But no excuse for this sophomoric writing. I don't really mind that blatant lack of a good reason to post an article but when you compound that with writers who aren't even at High School level. Please give more more of a reason for stopping by.