HP Tells Blu Ray add new toys and fix it or else move to HD

[harrisonford]

Full Story

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/20/technology/20bluray.html

[ebenton]

Geez, this whole High-Definition Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD thing is looking more and more like a cluster-f***. Anybody who buys anything that supports either format *exclusively* is rolling the dice, and likes to gamble.
Theoretically, things could get resolved before next spring, but unless they do...
I took a somewhat similar chance back in 1998 when I bought a DIVX DVD player. However, it would play both regular DVDs and DIVX DVDs. At the time, I thought it was sort of like being able to buy a combination VHS/Betamax VCR back in the early 1980's.
DIVX crapped out fairly quickly, but because I had registered my DIVX player, DIVX or Circuit City or somebody sent me a check for $100 after DIVX failed. $100 was the price difference between a regular DVD player and a DIVX one.
I know that neither HD-DVD nor Blu-Ray probably have the potential to make as much money as DIVX did back in the late 1990's, but unless somebody comes up with some kind of money-back guarantee, or standards issues get resolved, I don't think I am going to be buying any hardware right away.

[edDV]

Full Story

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/20/technology/20bluray.html

The key issue as stated at the end.

"The showdown is emblematic of a broader struggle between the computer and consumer electronics industries. Computer companies are trying to make inroads into the entertainment industry by making it easier for consumers to copy, store and transfer music and video.

In general, consumer electronics manufacturers, backed by movie studios and music companies, have resisted those efforts and created technology that tries to limit what consumers can do with their content."

[jpconard]

Guess it is time for Microsoft to start fighting and stop caving. Especially if they want to keep their MCE product.