Last nail in the coffin for HD DVD?

[Rob]

Yeah...I know it was already all but over. With Dreamworks, Paramount, and Universal being the only studios still supporting the format, and Walmart's announcement the other day about ceasing to sell HD DVDs. But I think this kind of clinches it. Article:

Toshiba to exit HD DVD, end format war-NHK

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp is planning to stop production of equipment compatible with the HD DVD format for high-definition video, allowing the competing Blu-Ray camp a free run, public broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday.

Toshiba is expected to suffer losses amounting to tens of billions of yen (hundreds of millions of dollars) to scrap production of HD DVD players and recorders and other steps to exit the business, Japan's NHK said on its website.

No one at Toshiba could be reached for comment.

The format war between the Toshiba-backed HD DVD and Sony Corp's Blu-Ray, often compared to the Betamax-VHS battle in the 1980s, has slowed the development of what is expected to be a multibillion dollar high-definition DVD industry.

Toshiba was dealt a blow on Friday when Wal-Mart Stores Inc said it would abandon the HD DVD format, becoming the latest in a series of top retailers and movie studios to rally behind Blu-ray technology for high definition DVDs.

Toshiba plans to continue selling HD DVD equipment at stores for the time being but will not put resources into developing new devices, NHK said.

[Captain John Miller]

I never truly say a whole point to it, its not like back in the day with betamax vs vhs where vhs may have had less quality but longer time.

A dvd is a dvd in my book, I dont even have a fancy dvd player-just an old (like 10 years old) dvd/vcr combo.

[Rob]

Yeah... I don't really care to upgrade at all. It really won't make any difference until I buy a new TV that will make it make a difference, and that's a whole pile of cash I'm just not willing to shell out just over movies that already look fine on DVD.

[Captain John Miller]

Oh I totally agree, I sure dont have the cash to shell out for one of them fancy HD tv sets and no one at my house wants to pay for HD service either.

I wont upgrade till we have to and by then I might not even watch tv anymore.

[Rob]

I know the feeling. Nobody in my house really gives a shit about HD service either.

And you're right, TV generally sucks too. The only TV I really watch is stuff I buy on DVDs, which usually comes after I've downloaded them rather than watch them on TV. In both cases, watching broadcast TV isn't involved and so really no need for HD.

[Captain John Miller]

I do watch some TV, but nothing much off the major networks. Mostly discovery/history channels since they have like 10 different ones that discovery owns, and comedy central.

Otherwise I order a movie off the tv sometimes, rent some stuff off netflix every once and awhile and mostly stay on the PC. Just easier and I dont miss movies and tv much. I mean today alone I worked on my trucks brakes and had a better time than watching tv like in yesteryear.

[Rob]

Well, whatever makes you happy, right? I don't find very much all that interesting on TV anymore either, the few shows I do watch are few and far between.

[Fenris Wolf]

I really thought HD would take the win back when this all started. Oh well, not that it makes any difference to me.

[Cranbarry]

I really thought HD would take the win back when this all started. Oh well, not that it makes any difference to me.

As did I... sucks!

I bought an $800 Toshiba HD DVD player 2 years ago(?) - But was under the impression I would be buying a Playstation 3 in the near future....


Course, daughter wanted a Wii - so....

Birthday is coming though... Guess I know what I will be buying myself

Blockbuster went with Blu-Ray a while back and now Netflix has done the same...

[Moldiver]

Ive got the 360 HD DVD player and about 15 HD DVD's, got mine plugged into my pc and hooked up to my HD tv so dosen't really bother me cause i know i will get a ps3 when MGS 4 comes out.