Semi OT: Microsoft and Intel back HD-DVD over Blu-ray

[DanSlagle]

I, for one, am happy

[Case]

I wish they had agreed on a single format. Now I'll have to do the long wait for expensive dual format drives...

[terryj]

Great, Dan...back the guys who want to WATERMARK our discs
and force us to buy a lousy DRM for our VOD....

[thoughton]

Dan, how could you possibly be happy with this pathetic decision?

It appears that MS is doing this solely to avoid 'following Sony's lead'. It's 30GB vs 50GB - hmmm lemme think like Bill Gates for a second - I know! I'll choose the smaller capacity disc. Flippin' idiotic

The annoying thing is that once MS made this stupid decision, HD-DVD's chances of winning this 'war' increased dramatically. I think Universal are the only studio supporting HD-DVD, everyone else is with Blu Ray.

[DanSlagle]

I dunno I was "thinking" that it would be easier to move my H.264 data to it but perhaps I was wrong. Anything M$ backs can't be "good"

[terryj]

"Good" can be translated a gazillion ways,
but with M$, "good" always means :

"On the surface the consumer will win by having
cheaper media, recorders, and integration with Windows.
On the underbelly, we'll screw you over with our lousy
DRM and greedy sticky fingers."

[DanSlagle]

LOL ahh you are so right. One of the many reasons I choose a Mac.

[willrob]

It looks like HD-DVD might get out the door first:

http://www.hardmac.com/news/2005-09-27/#4537

http://www.hardmac.com/news/2005-09-27/#4540

[willrob]

more current info;

http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=13767&hed=HD-DVD+Launch+Delayed+Until+2006

[londor]

Microsoft decision to go HD-DVD was expected. The new XBox 360 comes with a normal DVD drive while the new PS3 will have a Blu-ray drive backwards compatible with DVDs and CDs. Xbox division is as of now 4 billion dollars in the red and I am sure they do not want to jeopardize sales of the new console.