Making memory, the situation in 1993.

[Urian]

Number of computer platforms with a CD-ROM

-MS-DOS PC (DOS, Windows, OS/2): 2.550.000-2.750.000
-Multimedia PC (or equivalent): 2.300.000
-Apple Macintosh: 1.100.000-1.250.000
-Unix Computers: 200.000

To the total of this sales you must substract 625.000 units from people that have replaced their drives. We must remember that the difference between Multimedia PC and MS-DOS PC disappeared forever with the introduction of Windows 95 in the OEM Market.

Independant Systems with CD-ROM

-Commodore CDTV: 11.000
-Philipps CD-I: 73.000
-Sony Data Discman: 34.000
-Kodak Photo-CD: 95.000
-Sony MMCD: 26.000
-VIS: 11.000
-Sega MegaCD: 970.000

You can see how a videogame platform like the MegaCD was the most sold CD-ROM independent device in the early 90s. I know that the system was a failure but this shows indirectly how good is that Sony have included a BluRay drive built-in inside the PS3.

BluRay players are expansive for the general public and the BluRay drives won´t enter inside our PCs and Macs until the drives are cheap enough to be included in every computer for a low cost.

Where is the difference between Playstation 3 built-in BD Drive and Toshiba Add-on HD-DVD for 360? Simple, in PS3 is the powerful videogame market who moves the format, in 360 HD-DVD isn´t mandatory for gaming. If I want to play MGS4 I have to buy a device with a BluRay player inside, if I want to play Gears of War I can discard from the beginning the HD-DVD add-on.

[Guinness7]

Yes but i think that microsoft is coming out with a new 360 with a bigger hard drive and the hddvd built in

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Guinness7

Yes but i think that microsoft is coming out with a new 360 with a bigger hard drive and the hddvd built in

Where did you hear that, I heard about the Zephyr which supposedly has HDMI, but no internal HD DVD, it would be like admitting defeat if MS put a HD DVD drive into the X360 this early/ever.

Also MS are very serious about digital distribution, so the bigger HDD is a given, but putting a HD DVDdrive would go against everything that they have been fighting for.

Back on topic, I agree with the OP that the way this war is going to be won is through use in the PC, Blu-ray has a big headstart there and have developed 4x R/RE drives while HD DVD only has 1x HD DVD-R to SL, plus the drive is very expensive, and you can get a 2x Lite-on BD drive for nearly $500, the internal HD DVD-R dive is more than that and doesn't to rewrite or DL.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Where did you hear that, I heard about the Zephyr which supposedly has HDMI, but no internal HD DVD, it would be like admitting defeat if MS put a HD DVD drive into the X360 this early/ever.

They already are going to have a nightmare with current owners when they release that HDMI unit. At that point the lie will be clear, and the class actions will fly.

Gary

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

They already are going to have a nightmare with current owners when they release that HDMI unit. At that point the lie will be clear, and the class actions will fly.

Gary

Definitely, as it is impossible to just release a VGA to HDMI cable (as you need a analogue to digital signal modulator) for all of the lder X360s, I don't think people will be happy.

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by Guinness7

Yes but i think that microsoft is coming out with a new 360 with a bigger hard drive and the hddvd built in

yea there was a test unit leaked . but microsoft did say its a possible unit for future release. now if the xbox360 started useing HD-DVD for games also than that would be very good. but the problem is the consumer will feel slighted who already bought a xbox360.

i think its a little too little too late for microsoft to start useing HD-DVD for anything other than a movie format. an the fact even than the BLU-RAY format will all likely be the future because of what microsoft did'nt do.

more than likely the upgrade will if anything be 120 GB harddrive that you can add just like the 20 GB, as for the HDMI in the new xbox360, with a smaller 65nm scale processor would likely be the extent of an upgrade , because anymore upgrades would realy drive up the cost.

[Urian]

Usually Microsoft filters some rumours before any keynote that they give to the public.

I believe that Zephyr wasn´t in Gates conference only because they have 2.4 milions of 360 (minimum) in the stores that must be sold to the people. Imagine now that Microsoft announces Zephyir and the people prefers waiting.