http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9841437-7.html?tag=recentPosts

Wow...Simply wow,it's like your woman telling you she is leaving with some other dude, when you think all is good!
those are the breaks..

DJoel

No, it's more like your woman leaving you for another woman and then both of them kicking you in the nuts as they leave the house. Ouch.

No mention of G4 players is not a good sign imo.

No mention of G4 players is not a good sign imo.

From this article, it sounds like they did have some new players to show, but apparently didn't. Guess it's kind of pointless now.

http://stuff.tv/blogs/live/archive/2008/01/06/ces-surprised-toshiba-claims-there-s-still-life-in-hd-dvd-after-warners-withdrawal.aspx

BR needed anything to grip on going over the cliff.

The hour is too late for Toshiba to announce a "Plan B" to do some damage control on WB's BR announcement (at CES). Toshiba was clearly cold cocked on that news blast. The next shoe to drop will be Universal either going all BR or producing DVDs in both formats. Either way, Toshiba will have to come up with a DF player and ultimately, HD-DVD will fall slowly into obscurity. I am format neutral, even though I own a Toshiba A2 and about 20 HDDVDs. I had intended to pick up the Samsung 5000, but they are not available at Best Buy (cannot even be ordered at the store - I asked today at Magnolia and they could not get it up on the computer to order). Even CC's sale price makes it less attractive because of CES this week and potential announcements of new DF players.

I can't believe Toshiba didn't even try to put a positive spin on things. The article said that the speaker's mood was somber?! Are you kidding me? Why even have new units in the background and not even mention them?! Are you kidding me? I own plenty of movies in both formats. I also own the 5000. While i'm not ready to throw in the towel yet (although it seems painfully clear that it may soon be time to do so), I can say this much for sure...I will not be purchasing any new HD-DVD's for the near future...I'll rent 'em, but i ain't buying 'em...

There must be some behind the scenes animosity between the two companies. How could you do more damage than springing this thing at the CES?

--- CHAS

I'M glad to hear Toshiba is keeping the lines open.It's no surprize they are trying to regroup, but given they've only had two days to devise a new strategy, i think it'll be a little longer before we see what they come up with.I certainly hope they try and fight at least because i intend to back them up as long as they do.

No, it's more like your woman leaving you for another woman and then both of them kicking you in the nuts as they leave the house. Ouch.

:eek::D:D:D

There must be some behind the scenes animosity between the two companies. How could you do more damage than springing this thing at the CES?

--- CHAS
I don't think it's hard to figure this one out (and in fact if you read the WB press release they are pretty clear about it). The studios all want the format war to be over. Backing both formats may prevent a studio from being a loser in the war, but by prolonging the war keeps them from being a winner since Joe Average Consumer appears to be sitting on the sidelines until the war is over. WB decided against straddling the fence and made the move they felt would produce the quickest end to the format war. So of course WB is going to time things for maximum damage.

WB probably realizes that the "next big thing" in HD is going to be movie downloads. In which case having a physical disc player is going to be obsolete. Regardless of format, SD, HD-DVD, or BR. The same thing happened to the music industry when downloads killed CD's.

They probably want to sell some movies quick over the next few years before that happens, and if the format war continues and people ride the fence on formats, eventually people will just say the heck with it. And wait for downloads, and not buy either player or any discs.

Having this announced days before CES really drives a nail into the coffin for HD-DVD. It is going to get the most media attention that way, and finish things off quickly.

It gives Toshiba no time to prepare, other than look like idoits during CES.

WB probably realizes that the "next big thing" in HD is going to be movie downloads. In which case having a physical disc player is going to be obsolete. Regardless of format, SD, HD-DVD, or BR. The same thing happened to the music industry when downloads killed CD's.

That is a very very long ways off, at least for high A/V quality HD downloads. Until we get to the point where someone can download 30 GB in under two hours, this isn't happening. The best consumer broadband can do now is about 5 hours (on the fastest fiber connections) but the average is more like 48 hours. While crappy quality downloaded HD may acceptable for some people, it isn't for many others, a large portion of which are the types of people who frequent these boards.

There are about 8 full aisles of CDs in my local Best Buy. Not sure downloads have killed them off.

And here on AVS, downloads are not the way we might go for listnening enjoyment of audio. For certain there is no HD download alternative. Heck even HDTV programming is jammed up by the Satellite and Cablecos. I am fortunate to be able to get OTA and it is very good indeed. So OTA for programming on Series 3 Tivos and HD DVD and Blu for movies. It don't get no better than this.

I don't see (legal) downloads replacing disc media any time soon. Bandwidth is the lesser worry (though still a big one). Can you imagine the DRM system studios would require before permitting such downloads? If you think the RIAA is being unreasonably hostile with respect to downloading, just wait 'til the MPAA gets involved. You'll probably have to supply a retina scan each time, with playback through tamperproof hardware encased in kryptonite.

IMO, there will be no "Second coming of DVD', rather people will have many options available to get thier HD from...like music today. Which still means studios will make money but nnot like when the DVD was born as we have many options to get HD from.

I remember when CD's first came to market. I owned five discs before I even bought my first player. I swore I'd never download any music, and to this day I still haven't.

The idea of physically having it (be it a record, tape, cd, dvd whatever) in my hands is very powerful. It makes it more real to me. I believe this is a big reason why DVD took off (currently own more than 300).

I'm the same with the software installed on my computer. I have all the original discs (I own 4 legit copies of MS OS's).

The idea of having to wait for a movie to download seems alien to me when I can hop in my car, drive to BB or where ever, buy the movie, and take it home and enjoy.

Waiting is just not an option.

Having to wait months for movie titles to appear on disc has almost become a religion. "Hey, what comes out on Tuesday?"

That wait used to be forever, but it seems a lot less these days (I guess the theater biz is sinking and the studios need to recoup costs ASAP).

I don't blame Warner for picking a side. Producing titles for both formats can't be cost effective.

I would say I lean towards BD (bought a Pioneer BDP-95FD). I also didn't want to have to be limited and picked up a Toshiba HD-A2 (floor model, $100).

I can see the writing on the wall for HD DVD, but that didn't stop me from buying 'F&F Tokyo Drift' on HD DVD last night! This was even reading about Warners defection.

Having Dual factions didn't bother me much as long as the titles kept comming. The BOGO offers at Amazon were awesome. Those days are really numbered.

I really hope for the consumers sake, one format will prevail, and we can get on with our faith.

"'3:10 to Yuma' comes out tomorrow right?"

WB probably realizes that the "next big thing" in HD is going to be movie downloads. In which case having a physical disc player is going to be obsolete. Regardless of format, SD, HD-DVD, or BR. The same thing happened to the music industry when downloads killed CD's.

They probably want to sell some movies quick over the next few years before that happens, and if the format war continues and people ride the fence on formats, eventually people will just say the heck with it. And wait for downloads, and not buy either player or any discs.

Having this announced days before CES really drives a nail into the coffin for HD-DVD. It is going to get the most media attention that way, and finish things off quickly.

It gives Toshiba no time to prepare, other than look like idoits during CES.

I don't think this is going to be happening in the near future. For those of us who pay thousands upon thousands of dollars for a nice home theater system, playing some low bitrate downloaded movie is simply not an option.

However, I don't think this move is going to really bring about a change in the current state of the bluray vs. standard DVD wars though. A $30 disney movie that I can't play in the car or in a kid's room when I can get the same movie for $15 or less on DVD? Bluray doesn't have enough flexibility built into it to allow an easy transition. At least dual format discs provided an eventual way for studios to force people to get them...by stopping standard DVD production. But not anymore.

Now I expect bluray discs to simply be a more popular "laser disc" niche product of this generation.

It gives Toshiba no time to prepare, other than look like idoits during CES.
I can't figure out why WB did what they did when they did it. There were several much better times.

It would have been better for consumers if they said something prior to Thanksgiving.

It would have been better for Toshiba if they waited until the eve of the contract expiration.

The only thing they did was succeed in annoying consumers who invested in HD for the holidays and simultaneously throw egg in the face of their partners. TW completely burned their bridge when it comes to any future partnerships with Toshiba.

As a result, I'm convinced Sony must have ponied up a cash-payment for exclusivity. There is no logical reason to explain such bad timing since it probably wasn't in their long-term best interests, unless it was offset with a significant short-term gain.

As for me, I'll be dual format once my Sammy 5K arrives, so I'm not too worried, but the whole situation is odd.

I can't figure out why WB did what they did when they did it. There were several much better times.

It would have been better for consumers if they said something prior to Thanksgiving.

It would have been better for Toshiba if they waited until the eve of the contract expiration.

The only thing they did was succeed in annoying consumers who invested in HD for the holidays and simultaneously throw egg in the face of their partners. . . .

While I am with you on most of this, the timing is actually OK for some consumers that purchased HD-dvd players (as I did for 2 friends from WLM) during the holidays, as it is within the return window for the players. Still sucks for me personally, as I purchased about 20 discs during the holiday BOGOs.

Wow...Simply wow,it's like your woman telling you she is leaving with some other dude, when you think all is good!

I didn't actually loose my woman, I mean I know where she's at but when I go there, she's doing it with somebody else. I'm glad I didn't buy her any HD's. At least I saved that much.

I just went Bluray last week with the Pany bd30/Onkyo NR905 and could not be happier. I figured, even before WB's announcment, that if HD made it, I could always go back and buy the movies I had missed. I am not shocked because BD has been outselling HD all year by 2 to 1. BD players have dropped in price and improved in quality significantly. I could not see BB and CC, etc wanting both formats for long because of the cost and space problems in the stores. We all know how cheap the Studios are. I am glad WB made the switch and hope the average consumers will begin to go BD and prices will drop to the SD levels.

I didn't actually loose my woman, I know where she's at but when I go there, she's doing it with somebody else. I'm glad I didn't buy her any HD's. At least I saved that much.

Did you 'lose' your woman, or is your woman 'loose.' I can't really tell :o

I didn't actually loose my woman, I know where she's at but when I go there, she's doing it with somebody else. I'm glad I didn't buy her any HD's. At least I saved that much.



Puerto Ricans have a special word for a guy who knows their woman is some where ,with someone else...And the least of the matter is, glad I didn't buy her any hd flicks:p Oh and that word is CABRON!;)


DJoel