Why Microsoft wants HD DVDs to win

[videonut]

The reason why Microsoft, who is one of the the biggest HD-DVD supporters is willing to do anything to win is because if it does win then Microsoft would make money off of every HD-DVD sold. Microsoft created the inferior programing code that is used in HD-DVD's while blu-rays use a Java based code which is harder to program but far better. Microsoft has a patent on the code and every HD-DVD that is sold Microsoft makes a small percentage of the sale. So Microsoft is supporting a inferior technology so they can make some extra money.

[Blue]

Not quite have a look at numerous other posts here, it's all about onlne download

[videonut]

Why would Microsoft make money off of online downloads? itunes has the market cornered with online movie downloads and itunes is made by Apple.

[MOONPHASE]

they just want to have more ways to make money it probably has nothing to do with hd-dvds in particular its all about making money for them

[seanjohn21276]

Microsoft's only propping up HD-DVD so that the average consumer will be more confused than they already are about Blu-ray and HD-DVD. They're hoping to prolong the format war between the two so that the average consumer will throw their hands in the air, say the hell with both of them and stick with dvd. Then when DVDs become obsolete and with neither Blu-ray or HD-DVD emerging as the next media format, Microsoft can offer downloads of high def content which they've already been doing with XBox Live. Now unless people are willing to pay out the ass for bigger bandwidth and higher Internet speeds, it's not going to go well for Microsoft as far as downloading movies is concerned. Hell, I downloaded a movie off of iTunes and it took damn near forever. Even downloaded a season of a show takes forever sometimes on iTunes, considering my fiancee's laptop, my laptop and my PS3 are all fighting for the bandwidth.

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by videonut

blu-rays use a Java based code which is harder to program

Proof?

[WickyWoo]

Why would Microsoft make money off of online downloads? itunes has the market cornered with online movie downloads and itunes is made by Apple.

"Thank you for installing Windows Vista 2.0! Link into Windows Live now for exclusive access to Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures films, and the best in TV!"

Combine that with Windows Home server, and stream it through your Xbox. Live offers (horribly compressed) HD, decent quality standard def while all the iTunes stuff is "pocket size" and looks like ass on a TV.

[Mr.Neutral]

Originally Posted by Blue

Not quite have a look at numerous other posts here, it's all about onlne download

I totally disagree with this. Right now, MS's competition from online download is cable, Satellite and other TV providers. It will be a very long time before any kind of media is replaced (even on a small scale) with downloads.

Remember, their current download process is no better than Video On Demand.

[Dadds]

And someone like me (and i know alot of you are the same way) like to physicaly see the case and the disc.

[Shadowself]

Originally Posted by Mr.Neutral

I totally disagree with this. Right now, MS's competition from online download is cable, Satellite and other TV providers. It will be a very long time before any kind of media is replaced (even on a small scale) with downloads.

Remember, their current download process is no better than Video On Demand.

Microsoft knows that online downloads are "not there yet". That is why they are pushing the loser in the dual format war. If they can keep either format from being a clear winner then it is more likely that neither will become a "standard". If one were to become a "standard" then people would get used to 1080p and very good image and sound quality.

If Blu-ray wins then we can probably expect data rates for video and audio combined to be over 30 Mbps. Even if HD DVD wins (which I doubt) then we can expect data rates (video and sound) in the mid to upper 20 Mbps to become the standard. 20+ Mbps download rates won't be come the "standard" data rate for many years. Add to this the convenience of having the disk at home and being able to transport it to a friend's or relative's house for viewing and the prospect of either next generation format becoming the next standard for movies and such just pushes Microsoft's download plans out until 2015 or later.

Microsoft would be happy if they can get people to accept highly compressed 720p and low bit rate sound as "good enough". Then they could get the public to accept downloads are "fast enough" for anyone with a 5 Mbps or faster downlink. This data rate won't become "standard" for a few more years (though it is available in many places now).

So the bottom line for Microsoft is "stall for now". How? By making sure no next generation disk becomes the accepted standard. How? By using their checkbook to make sure the weakest format does not die.

Why Microsoft and not Apple? Well, Microsoft makes significant monies off of the music stores and video downloads today. Virtually every online media store uses Microsoft software. IIRC only Real and Apple don't. While Apple's store is the largest today, I'd wager significant amounts of money that Microsoft's profits off of their own store and the royalties on software licenses to almost all the other stores is significantly greater than Apple's profits.

If Microsoft can get a similar pervasive structure going for videos and such (and as far as they're concerned, the sooner the better) then they stand to make huge profits. If they can keep a physical medium from winning they might be able to ramp up that profit machine by 2010 or so. If a physical medium becomes the accepted standard then that date could easily be pushed back by 5 years or more.

Hell, it would not surprise me at all if (horrible thought coming) Blu-ray starts to look like it is going to die out then Microsoft pays one or more studios to commit to Blu-ray -- all in the line of "fairness" and "consumer advocacy" of course.

[jorg]

Originally Posted by Mr.Neutral

I totally disagree with this. Right now, MS's competition from online download is cable, Satellite and other TV providers. It will be a very long time before any kind of media is replaced (even on a small scale) with downloads.

Remember, their current download process is no better than Video On Demand.

im sorry but im almost pritty sure the cd is next to dead thanks to p2p and itunes and stores as such.

did u know xbox live has the largest selection of hd?maybe realy compressed but still "hd". and the proses is simple find what u want click download and there u go. the only otehr thing is for it to predict what movies u wanana rent/buy/donwload.

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by jorg

im sorry but im almost pritty sure the cd is next to dead thanks to p2p and itunes and stores as such.

did u know xbox live has the largest selection of hd?maybe realy compressed but still "hd". and the proses is simple find what u want click download and there u go. the only otehr thing is for it to predict what movies u wanana rent/buy/donwload.

It's been a long time since I purchased a CD. I've been using iTunes for a while, it's cheaper.

[Mr.Neutral]

Originally Posted by jorg

im sorry but im almost pritty sure the cd is next to dead thanks to p2p and itunes and stores as such.

did u know xbox live has the largest selection of hd?maybe realy compressed but still "hd". and the proses is simple find what u want click download and there u go. the only otehr thing is for it to predict what movies u wanana rent/buy/donwload.

That is quite a bit different though. Music is very easily portable and always has been. Video is a lot less portable, especially when downloaded.

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by Mr.Neutral

That is quite a bit different though. Music is very easily portable and always has been. Video is a lot less portable, especially when downloaded.

Not really, look at how many people have iPod videos, or the ugly-ass Zune.

[statikcat]

People do not spend 3k on a TV to watch some shit quality, over compressed, sad excuse for HD movie file downloaded from the net. Sorry just not going to happen. Maybe when next gen internet speed is more common but that is even 5+ years away. And by then there will just be an even better HD disc out that is even larger in size (maybe uncompressed video) and that internet speed will be inferior for it. Point is I doubt internet will ever catch up to video sizes as time goes on.

[Mr.Neutral]

Originally Posted by Aaron

Not really, look at how many people have iPod videos, or the ugly-ass Zune.

Yeah, but how many movies can you put on there? And its not high def. What if I want to watch my downloaded HD movie at my summer house? There's currently no way to do that.

[Mr.Neutral]

Originally Posted by statikcat

People do not spend 3k on a TV to watch some shit quality, over compressed, sad excuse for HD movie file downloaded from the net. Sorry just not going to happen. Maybe when next gen internet speed is more common but that is even 5+ years away. And by then there will just be an even better HD disc out that is even larger in size (maybe uncompressed video) and that internet speed will be inferior for it. Point is I doubt internet will ever catch up to video sizes as time goes on.

I've only watched one movie (Crank) from the Xbox Live Marketplace and it looked great. I only have a 720P projector, so I can't compare it to 1080P, but when you consider nothing broadcast is in 1080P - either 720P or 1080i, and that people aren't complaining about the quality of the HD the receive, its probably very good for the majority. After all, there's plenty of people here who won't listen to MP3's, because they aren't high quality, but obviously the majority do.

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by Mr.Neutral

Yeah, but how many movies can you put on there?

About 80 gigs worth.

What if I want to watch my downloaded HD movie at my summer house? There's currently no way to do that.

That's what this is for.

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by Mr.Neutral

I've only watched one movie (Crank) from the Xbox Live Marketplace and it looked great. I only have a 720P projector, so I can't compare it to 1080P, but when you consider nothing broadcast is in 1080P - either 720P or 1080i, and that people aren't complaining about the quality of the HD the receive, its probably very good for the majority. After all, there's plenty of people here who won't listen to MP3's, because they aren't high quality, but obviously the majority do.

I'm pretty much forced to listen to MP3 files becuase NONE of the albums I want are on SACD.

I'm against HD downloads though. The only things I download are songs and a few TV shows for my iPod.

[statikcat]

Originally Posted by Mr.Neutral

I've only watched one movie (Crank) from the Xbox Live Marketplace and it looked great. I only have a 720P projector, so I can't compare it to 1080P, but when you consider nothing broadcast is in 1080P - either 720P or 1080i, and that people aren't complaining about the quality of the HD the receive, its probably very good for the majority. After all, there's plenty of people here who won't listen to MP3's, because they aren't high quality, but obviously the majority do.

How big was the file in size? And how big is your tv?