MS and Toshiba..Closer than I thought

[Spankey]

Without saying what company I work for, I had a meeting today with people from Microsoft. It was an IT meeting, and the representatives were all very friendly and helpful. I laughed walking in, thinking, I hate your freaking company, I just went Apple and I fully support Blu-ray. So what caught my eye?

EVERY ONE HAD TOSHIBA LAPTOPS!

There is definitely a close relationship between the two companies, and I am sure it is Microsoft keeping HD-DVD afloat. Even when Toshiba says that they paid off Paramount, I know for certain the cash came from MS. Come to think of it, MS and Toshiba could be furnishing HD-DVD laptops to employees which would also create a little bump in sales.

[Seretur]

My Vaio is sexier.

[clyon]

Originally Posted by Spankey

Without saying what company I work for, I had a meeting today with people from Microsoft. It was an IT meeting, and the representatives were all very friendly and helpful. I laughed walking in, thinking, I hate your freaking company, I just went Apple and I fully support Blu-ray. So what caught my eye?

EVERY ONE HAD TOSHIBA LAPTOPS!

There is definitely a close relationship between the two companies, and I am sure it is Microsoft keeping HD-DVD afloat. Even when Toshiba says that they paid off Paramount, I know for certain the cash came from MS. Come to think of it, MS and Toshiba could be furnishing HD-DVD laptops to employees which would also create a little bump in sales.

Next time tape a BIG Blu Ray sticker on your notebook

[w_tanoto]

oh, that ugly laptops..... not for me. I'll go for HP Pavilion or VAIO

[Blu-Nightingale]

i though Toshiba only make technologies that are unusable... they make laptops now???

[dtrush]

I have a HP now - DV8000. I have too many problems with it. My last lappy was a VAIO 10" & I really loved it. I will switch back to Sony next time IF they get their act together and produce one with a friggin 10 KEY on it. That's the only reason I went with the HP. Plus, the lappy better include a Blu-Ray drive, right?

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by dtrush

I have a HP now - DV8000. I have too many problems with it. My last lappy was a VAIO 10" & I really loved it. I will switch back to Sony next time IF they get their act together and produce one with a friggin 10 KEY on it. That's the only reason I went with the HP. Plus, the lappy better include a Blu-Ray drive, right?

i have hp zd7000 and HDX (new 20 inch)..... it comes with HD DVD (HP has BD exclusively on business line only, while HD DVD exclusively for home user line).

I swapped the HD DVD with BD drive. It worked perfectly.

[frenchglen]

Many years ago I heard that Toshiba are the highest-regarded and most reliable for professional laptops.

And Sony VAIO's are more aimed at consumers? (more media-focused)...

Well I use a Dell Vostro anyway, but I ain't in no "company"... I just got it because of the great price . Vista Business is just fine for me.

[Carbon_Le]

I dunno y people buy toshiba laptops they're so fugly.

[Brain Sturgeon]

Sorry-- I'll take my 15" MacBook Pro over any other laptop around. It just works and performs-- Mac OS or Vista/XP, has great battery life, is very portable, and just looks great.

[frenchglen]

Sorry - forgot about Mac. I'll specify then - for businesses using Windows! Anyway, I was posting in relation to why Microsoft employees would be probably using Toshiba laptops...

[blu2]

Originally Posted by Spankey

Without saying what company I work for, I had a meeting today with people from Microsoft. It was an IT meeting, and the representatives were all very friendly and helpful. I laughed walking in, thinking, I hate your freaking company, I just went Apple and I fully support Blu-ray. So what caught my eye?

EVERY ONE HAD TOSHIBA LAPTOPS!

There is definitely a close relationship between the two companies, and I am sure it is Microsoft keeping HD-DVD afloat. Even when Toshiba says that they paid off Paramount, I know for certain the cash came from MS. Come to think of it, MS and Toshiba could be furnishing HD-DVD laptops to employees which would also create a little bump in sales.

They've worked together on other things beside HD DVD.

Toshiba built the "Zune" for them for example.

Of course Toshiba worked with Sony as well on the PS3's "cell".

Don't think though that Microsoft is keeping HD DVD afloat. Toshiba is a huge company in it's own right. They can easily subsidize HD DVD all by themselves (witness player pricing).

[Marcusarilius]

They are as close as two companies could get and still be two seperate companies. The colusion, shared software application and "technology" is so intertwined, they should just get a room!

[ESUNintel]

...they've got a poor taste in laptop design. Sony and HP rule!!

[frenchglen]

Originally Posted by blu2

They've worked together on other things beside HD DVD.

Toshiba built the "Zune" for them for example.

Of course Toshiba worked with Sony as well on the PS3's "cell".

Don't think though that Microsoft is keeping HD DVD afloat. Toshiba is a huge company in it's own right. They can easily subsidize HD DVD all by themselves (witness player pricing).

I do tend to have that cynical view at the back of my mind, that Microsoft is deliberately trying to make HDM fail so that downloads can then come onto the scene (and funding good old pal Tosh no matter what happens). However the blu-ray contingent, the industry and consumers are strong enough to hold sway.

Either way I hate both corporations, and apart from the operating system I am using right now - I haven't bought anything from those two companies. Opps - I have microsoft mouse!

[mystiksuicide]

Mac person here and Blu-ray lover. I would have puked in that meeting. YUCK

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Spankey

Without saying what company I work for, I had a meeting today with people from Microsoft. It was an IT meeting, and the representatives were all very friendly and helpful. I laughed walking in, thinking, I hate your freaking company, I just went Apple and I fully support Blu-ray. So what caught my eye?

EVERY ONE HAD TOSHIBA LAPTOPS!

There is definitely a close relationship between the two companies, and I am sure it is Microsoft keeping HD-DVD afloat. Even when Toshiba says that they paid off Paramount, I know for certain the cash came from MS. Come to think of it, MS and Toshiba could be furnishing HD-DVD laptops to employees which would also create a little bump in sales.

Not surprising. I think they've made an unholy pact that they're going to see through to the bitter end, regardless of consequences.

[CptGreedle]

My 6 year old Apple laptop is still better than those POS PCs.
Employees don't need HD-DVD... especially if they can't burn data with them. HAHA.
BD is going to take over the computer market and already has a head start, all we need now is for Apple to jump on board fully.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by JTK

Not surprising. I think they've made an unholy pact that they're going to see through to the bitter end, regardless of consequences.

Quick addition for proof:

If you download the PDF file for HD-DVD's 5 free movie giveaway, take a look at the address you send it into.

Clear as day, right at the top it says: "Toshiba and Microsoft 5 Free HD-DVD offer"

Clear as day.

MS has always been the key to this whole thing and everyone knows it. With their m.o., I think we all know they never surrender, never admit if they're "in the wrong" and they'll simply continue into attrition until the bitter end.

[McBain]

Some background:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/p...engthenPR.mspx

Microsoft and Toshiba Strengthen Relationship

Companies announce significant expansion of global relationship.

TOKYO — June 27, 2005 — Microsoft Corp. and Toshiba Corp. today announced a significant expansion of the companies’ global relationship to enhance the development and delivery of innovative digital consumer electronics products and personal computers by sharing each other’s respective hardware and software technologies. The expanded collaboration is designed to accelerate the availability of new devices for the benefit of customers, while demonstrating mutual respect for each company’s intellectual property rights.

“Microsoft values our strong relationship with Toshiba, a company we admire for its long-standing commitment to innovation,” said Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft. “This agreement demonstrates our desire to share our innovations with other companies in ways that promote the spread of new ideas — and benefit customers by accelerating the development of exciting new products.”

The two companies have agreed to investigate development of HD DVD players using Microsoft® Windows® CE technology, by bringing together Microsoft’s expertise in software and PC technologies with Toshiba’s expertise in consumer electronics and computing. The companies also plan to strengthen their collaboration on iHD, the DVD Forum’s latest interactivity format.

As leaders in the PC industry, Microsoft and Toshiba promote joint ongoing projects in an effort to deliver breakthrough mobile PCs and expand the mobile market, showcasing integration of the key software features of the Windows operating system with the cutting-edge hardware technologies from Toshiba. The companies have been working closely to promote Windows XP-based Tablet PCs and Media Center PCs on a worldwide basis, offering customers new PC work styles and benefits. Microsoft and Toshiba also expect to develop and deliver compelling mobile PCs with the next version of the Windows operating system, code-named “Longhorn.”

In April 2005 the companies signed a cross-licensing agreement to promote the exchange of innovations developed by each company. The licensing agreement covers developments in computer and digital consumer electronics areas. Microsoft and Toshiba both have traditions of investing heavily in research and development, a fact reflected in the depth of their respective patent portfolios and diverse products.

“We are very excited to take our long-standing partnership with Microsoft to the next level. Our companies have worked together since Toshiba launched the world’s first laptop PC back in 1985, and we enjoy a relationship rooted in mutual respect and understanding,” said Atsutoshi Nishida, president and CEO of Toshiba. “We look forward to extending the scope of our relations to encompass HD DVD, a major driver of the next-generation consumer electronics.”

Microsoft and Toshiba will continue to introduce new breakthrough innovations that will bring about new scenarios for years to come.

About Toshiba

Toshiba Corporation is a leader in the development and manufacture of consumer products, information and communication systems, electronic devices and components, power systems, and social infrastructure systems. The company’s ability to integrate wide-ranging capabilities, from hardware to software and services, assure its position as an innovator in diverse fields and many businesses. Toshiba has 165,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of over US$54 billion. Visit Toshiba’s Web site at http://www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.