Who knows who's going to win at this point?

I guess this Christmas is going to be the important turning point.

"What FOOLS these mortals be..."

Guys, simmer down. There is a lot of FUD going on in these comments. Let's see if I can cut through some of it.

1) BOTH systems use a Blue Laser - in fact the laser is almost identical, it is the focusing optics which are different as HD-DVD uses the middile layer (like traditional DVDs), where BD uses the top of the disc (thus requiring a "coating" layer to deter scratches).

2) While BOTH systems support MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and VC-1, Sony is a STRONG promoter of MPEG-2 and Toshiba is a strong supporter of VC-1. Where almost all HD-DVD titles use VC-1, most BD titles use MPEG-2. Exceptions on BD are when the same title is on HD-DVD and the VC-1 encoded video is simply transfered to a BD disc, or when the disc is a Japanese encoding which generally uses MPEG-4. MPEG-2 is undeniably the weakest of the three codecs, and is one reason for image issues still with some BD titles.

3) BD titles can use 50gbs per disc. This is single-sided dual layer. However, due to the fact that there is a VERY high failure rate for these titles, they have to be basically done by hand (this is why the PS3 packing was TN on a BD-25 (high-volume) where the release was BD-50 (low volume). HD-DVD has just announced 51gb per disc for replication later this year. This will be a single-sided triple-layer disc and "should" play in existing players (this is one of the design criteria). In addition, this new spec also allows for much higher bit-rates.

4) While 120,000 or so HD-DVD add-ons have been sold for the XBox 360, we can assume that 100% of those are for watching HD-DVDs. If we assume about 10% of the PS3 units sold in the US are primarily for BD watching, then we get a number of about 60,000 PS3s used primarily for BD. If we extend that to another 10% used for casual watching of some significance, then we are at the same 120,000 units - ergo a wash at best.

5) The current "hack" to decrypt HD-DVDs is the same for BD discs as this is a circumvention of the AACS encryption through a software player which plays BOTH HD-DVD and BD discs. The additional security features of BD do nothing here, as they are aimed at stopping mass duplication (pirating from Hong-Kong) of BD discs. In this case they are irrelevant.

6) Yes, people who want Spiderman 1-3 or Pirates 1-3 will have to purchase BD. However, just the same, those that want Harry Potter 1-7 or Lord of the Rings 1-3 or the Matrix 1-3 will have to buy HD-DVD. The number of studios issue is an irrelevancy if you want a single title which is exclusive to the other format. In that case you will need to own both.

As to my bias, as I said, I own and support BOTH formats. However, I am more than a little upset with the false technical information that the BD camp has spread in its FUD marketing campaign. This has turned me off, being technically minded about this stuff, to their cause (from a technical perspective).

Issues are:

1) 1080p vs. 1080i (from film source) there is no difference. Also, BOTH formats are encoded exactly the same way - 24 frames progressive and can output exactly the same data.

2) MPEG-2 is the equal of VC-1 for High-Def content. This is simply not true. VC-1 has been shown time and again to be the single best codec for HD content, but Sony refuses to use it (as they would be forced to include Microsoft in their royalty stream - and Sony has not VC-1 tools of their own). http://video.ldc.lu.se/pict/WM9V-MP4AVC-MP2V_comparison-Goldman.pdf

3) Blue Ray has "Won the War" simply because they have shipped in a great number of PS3s. Look, the PS3 has already been a generally acknowledged failure. They will have one chance to redeem themselves with the March Firmware Update they have promised, but to date they are dead last. http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/14/official-holiday-2006-console-sales-figures-dont-surprise/ and it seems that BD may have a lot to do with this (through artifically raising the retail price and dramatically increasing the loss Sony takes on each unit sold).

So, there you have it.

Guys, simmer down. There is a lot of FUD going on in these comments. Let's see if I can cut through some of it.

1) BOTH systems use a Blue Laser - in fact the laser is almost identical, it is the focusing optics which are different as HD-DVD uses the middile layer (like traditional DVDs), where BD uses the top of the disc (thus requiring a "coating" layer to deter scratches).

2) While BOTH systems support MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and VC-1, Sony is a STRONG promoter of MPEG-2 and Toshiba is a strong supporter of VC-1. Where almost all HD-DVD titles use VC-1, most BD titles use MPEG-2. Exceptions on BD are when the same title is on HD-DVD and the VC-1 encoded video is simply transfered to a BD disc, or when the disc is a Japanese encoding which generally uses MPEG-4. MPEG-2 is undeniably the weakest of the three codecs, and is one reason for image issues still with some BD titles.

3) BD titles can use 50gbs per disc. This is single-sided dual layer. However, due to the fact that there is a VERY high failure rate for these titles, they have to be basically done by hand (this is why the PS3 packing was TN on a BD-25 (high-volume) where the release was BD-50 (low volume). HD-DVD has just announced 51gb per disc for replication later this year. This will be a single-sided triple-layer disc and "should" play in existing players (this is one of the design criteria). In addition, this new spec also allows for much higher bit-rates.

4) While 120,000 or so HD-DVD add-ons have been sold for the XBox 360, we can assume that 100% of those are for watching HD-DVDs. If we assume about 10% of the PS3 units sold in the US are primarily for BD watching, then we get a number of about 60,000 PS3s used primarily for BD. If we extend that to another 10% used for casual watching of some significance, then we are at the same 120,000 units - ergo a wash at best.

5) The current "hack" to decrypt HD-DVDs is the same for BD discs as this is a circumvention of the AACS encryption through a software player which plays BOTH HD-DVD and BD discs. The additional security features of BD do nothing here, as they are aimed at stopping mass duplication (pirating from Hong-Kong) of BD discs. In this case they are irrelevant.

6) Yes, people who want Spiderman 1-3 or Pirates 1-3 will have to purchase BD. However, just the same, those that want Harry Potter 1-7 or Lord of the Rings 1-3 or the Matrix 1-3 will have to buy HD-DVD. The number of studios issue is an irrelevancy if you want a single title which is exclusive to the other format. In that case you will need to own both.

As to my bias, as I said, I own and support BOTH formats. However, I am more than a little upset with the false technical information that the BD camp has spread in its FUD marketing campaign. This has turned me off, being technically minded about this stuff, to their cause (from a technical perspective).

Issues are:

1) 1080p vs. 1080i (from film source) there is no difference. Also, BOTH formats are encoded exactly the same way - 24 frames progressive and can output exactly the same data.

2) MPEG-2 is the equal of VC-1 for High-Def content. This is simply not true. VC-1 has been shown time and again to be the single best codec for HD content, but Sony refuses to use it (as they would be forced to include Microsoft in their royalty stream - and Sony has not VC-1 tools of their own). http://video.ldc.lu.se/pict/WM9V-MP4AVC-MP2V_comparison-Goldman.pdf

3) Blue Ray has "Won the War" simply because they have shipped in a great number of PS3s. Look, the PS3 has already been a generally acknowledged failure. They will have one chance to redeem themselves with the March Firmware Update they have promised, but to date they are dead last. http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/14/official-holiday-2006-console-sales-figures-dont-surprise/ and it seems that BD may have a lot to do with this (through artifically raising the retail price and dramatically increasing the loss Sony takes on each unit sold).

So, there you have it.

I work in this industry and can shed some light.

1) The HDi feature is integral and a vital part of HD-DVD. Without it, there are no menus, bookmarks, etc. This is not a "seldomly used" feature, but a critical component.

2) Currently, HD-DVD is outselling BD by more than 2:1 (discounting gaming consoles).

3) Gaming consoles considered, there have been approximately 100,000 HD-DVD add-ons for XBox sold through, while about 1 million PS3s sold-in. Currently, there is a tremendous inventory of PS3s sitting in retail locations - not selling. First glance has the PS3 struggling to find a market.

4) As far as image quality. We ran a recent blind comparison using top-tier HD-DVD content (V for Vendetta) and top-tier BD content (Kingdom of Heaven) and the results were unanimous amongst those polled, that the picture quality of V was "Significantly" better than Kingdom. [Most thought Kingdom was simply a DVD].

5) LG is a BluRay committee member and had never discussed the development of the HD-DVD side of this unit with the HD-DVD committee. As such, it appears to be a lop-sided player designed to make HD-DVD seem weaker than BD.

6) The current attach rate of titles to players in HD-DVD stands above 20 titles per unit on average. The current attach rate of BD stands at just above 3 titles per unit. This is of significant importance to the studios.

Lastly, I stand neutral in this battle, but often come to the aid and defense of HD-DVD as there is a lot of marketing FUD and HYPE about BD which is openly wrong or misleading (1080p vs. 1080i for example). While I think this battle is clearly far from over, currently HD-DVD has a significant lead (unlike pronouncement from Fox at CES that the war is over and BD has won).

Nice bit of tech, but a couple of real problems...

1. EDGE - SUCKS. Give me EVDO or WiMAX (in Chicago soon) anytime.

2. Cingular - service SUCKS!!! C'mon!

3. Price - hell, I want/need a phone FIRST. I don't want to carry everything in the world in my pocket. E-mail is about the only other app I really need.

4. Is the battery removable? I didn't see that. I BETTER have a user replaceable battery so that I can use it on long trips. This is a MUST.

Cool gadget - but still only a gadget!

Face it!

Things get CHEAPER - FASTER - BETTER all the time!!!

I LOVE THE SMELL OF COMMERCE IN THE MORNING!!!!

BOO-YAH!!!

WOW!!! WOW!!!!!!!!

Boy, you guys really need to CALM DOWN!!!

First, if you have an XBox 360 then you "more than likely" have it properly connected to your TV.

Second, they are adding NO NEW FEATURES!!! Read that again NO NEW FEATURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HDMI is not a FEATURE, it is a type of connection to your TV!!!! (for Christ's Sake!)

Will your games play differently? NO!
Will your existing games cease to work? NO!
Will future games not play? NO!
Will future features be limited to the new system? NO!

When you bought your XBox 360 was HDMI a significant force in the market? NO!
When you bought your XBox 360 was HDMI even a concern? NO!
Is HDMI required for 1080i or 1080p? NO!
Where there any 1080p sets when you bought your XBox 360? NO!

Stop this nonsensical whinning and get real folks. The XBox 360 you have was designed for the 2005 market. The market you bought it in, and the market your existing devices at the time were made in.

Now, the XBox 360 has to compete in the 2007 market against the PS3 which has HDMI and a larger drive. If you want a larger drive, I am sure you can upgrade yours! If they build in HD-DVD and you want it, you can buy the add-on! If you want HDMI - then buy the new system!!!!

Do you expect the car companies to provide you with an upgrade path when they add "Traction Control", "ABS", "Airbags" to your car in a subsequent year? HELL NO!!!

The XBox 360 is an outstanding system. Had Microsoft not released it when they did, they would not have the commanding lead over the PS3 that they have today. You would not have "Gears of War" or any of the other outstanding titles.

Give it a break and STOP WHINNING!!!

WOW!

Boy are you guys NUTS or what?!?!?

Getting MAD because Microsoft is updating their console with the latest technology and you've had yours for over a year?!? Will any of the games you have now STOP PLAYING?!? Will any of the new games not play on your existing systems?!?! Stop crying, this is the nature of the beast - things improve and get updated.

No - there will not be an HDMI cable for the existing units - as far as I can tell, this is not at all possible. There is no hardware support to make this possible (however, I leave room for some genius to figure it out).

Did you guys also complain when Sony updated the PS2 and slimmed it down, added the network connector and IR ports - for LESS MONEY??? Did you also complain when the DS Lite came out so quickly on the heels of the Nintendo DS???

Come on - give it a rest!

They've been running this ad for months. Where has HSDPA been?