Why is Toshiba so anti Blu?

[mikejet]

I understand that they lost and it's not their format but why is Toshiba so anti Blu still? I mean shouldn't they support the format that will endup the standard in maybe 10 years? Seriously come on. I mean Sony knew when to bite the bullet on Beta.

[stockstar1138]

it has to do both with this gen and with last gen.

Toshiba holds the most patents for DVD technology. If they go and support blu, they are basically going to be supporting a format in which they have NO royalties whatsoever to takeover a format in which they have more royalties than any other company out there.

The more they support blu, the more money they lose from consumers turning away from DVD.

They have a very vested intrest in keeping DVD alive, while trying to promote random formats that might hurt blu from fully taking over the DVD market.

[eChopper]

Jealousy

[jadedeath]

Philistine Pig Ignorance?

Logan

[Elandyll]

I think it's a double thing.

On one hand, they receive a ton of royalties from the DVD patents (they even receive some from Blu Ray players sold, as they are DVD compatible).
so the longer the DVD is around, the better for them.
This being said, every Blu Ray player that sells that isn't a Mitsubishi player is also potential lost $$.

On the other hand, I am convinced they also do that out of spite.
Hence the research and Press releases that intend to minimise true HD, via their "it's almost as good as HD" SRT, XDE, and now the idiotic ramblings about SD cards replacing discs (right, when it obivously will never be as cheap to produce chip components rather than plastic layer based high replication capacity discs).
I do believe that rather than adopt the new standard and make money when it'll start replacing (in parts) DVD, they'd rather try to see it sink (not that it's going to happen, or that it would be thanks to them if it were to happen).

[Downhere]

It's all business. There are still other companies who support Blu but haven't even put out a player yet, same with Toshiba (except they don't support Blu). Honestly, there are enough other companies that are making players so it's all good either way.

[tron3]

Toshiba is a barking dog. They had to buy exclusive studio support the first time out. Second time out most studios probably won't even listen to them. I would hope Paramount learned something from that PR debacle.

Any new format to follow is just repackaged blu-ray because it will all be high def. Change for the purpose of change will simply confuse the unwitting consumer and piss off the rest.

I said it here a few years ago, "don't piss off the consumer". Someone from Sony must browse this site because an article quoting a Sony rep said the same thing!

I even posted a thread on Sony extending an olive branch to Toshiba. Behold an article of that title appears and Sony did exactly as I suggested. Naturally, Tool-shiba shot down a white flag.

Now, are these both coincidences, or is Sony listening to the consumer? I say they listen to the consumer.

[bluflu]

In a word, money! Toshiba's cash cow is DVD. Fortunately Blu-ray doesn't need Toshiba now that Warner, Universal, and Paramount have seen the light.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by tron3

Toshiba is a barking dog. They had to buy exclusive studio support the first time out. Second time out most studios probably won't even listen to them. I would hope Paramount learned something from that PR debacle.

Also...desperation has traumatized them into becoming gullible enough to actually BELIEVE half the cockamamie theories that Microsoft threw out to "strategically" sour-grapes the popularity of hard Blu disks--

They've already staked the company's future on downloads, upconverted-DVD and Smart Disk flash cards, and if MS told them that we'll someday watch movies on limburger cheese, they'd buy up three Wisconsin dairies...

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by tron3

Now, are these both coincidences, or is Sony listening to the consumer? I say they listen to the consumer.

You would never hear some of the diehard leftover HD-DVD fans over on HDD admit that.

They'd think that Sony screwed them again for making Blu-Ray the only High Def format and that Toshiba hadn't suckered them.

Logan

[Anthony P]

I understand that they lost and it's not their format but why is Toshiba so anti Blu still? I mean shouldn't they support the format that will endup the standard in maybe 10 years? Seriously come on. I mean Sony knew when to bite the bullet on Beta.

because it won't be in 10 years but in a couple of years. Toshiba was not ready to go past DVD they wanted to get their full 15-20 (?) years. But a few companies started BD and started selling recorders in Japan and they realised they where up the creek without a paddle and so threw together HD DVD hoping to stop the rush to a new format. The issue is that if BD takes hold and becomes the DVD replacement, the same way DVD replaced VHS, then they lose the DVD royalties and they can't introduce something new for the next 10-15 years (and maybe longer).


HD DVD was always just the initial volley (offensive) against BD getting established, it was no where strong enough to keep the war for a long stalemate (the way SACD/DVD-A where) that would have had HD disks dying by the time Toshiba would be ready with their new format.

[U4K61]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

it has to do both with this gen and with last gen.

Toshiba holds the most patents for DVD technology. If they go and support blu, they are basically going to be supporting a format in which they have NO royalties whatsoever to takeover a format in which they have more royalties than any other company out there.

The more they support blu, the more money they lose from consumers turning away from DVD.

They have a very vested intrest in keeping DVD alive, while trying to promote random formats that might hurt blu from fully taking over the DVD market.

Nothing like Toshiba's promise of up converting DVD to "Near HD Quality" to keep the horse they road in on alive and well. 480p Upconversion

[Uxi]

two words: sour grapes

[camper]

The quicker Blu Ray overtakes DVD, the more royalty revenue Toshiba loses. It's an exceptionally simple concept--the longer DVD stays in the game the more money they bring in.

camper

[tron3]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

You would never hear some of the diehard leftover HD-DVD fans over on HDD admit that.

They'd think that Sony screwed them again for making Blu-Ray the only High Def format and that Toshiba hadn't suckered them.

Logan

George Carlin had a joke about how people talk about the deceased they did not like. "Yeah, he was an @$$hole. .....But a well meaning @$$hole."

In short, people who lie to themselves and each other don't change the truth. I think people realize I can be pursuasive and educational. But I also know when a person is just holding to an agenda. I simply click the ticker and yell, "NEXT!" People who refuse to learn are worse than those who can't learn because they limit their own potential.

[fighthefutureofhd]

it's business plain and simple. don't think that any one of you wouldn't do the same. they stand to loose a lot of money here. i may not necessarily agree with their stance or tactics, but i understand why they're doing it and begrudge them of it.

[EricJ]

There is, however, a lot of truth in "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em"...

And Toshiba?...YOU CAN'T.

[Uxi]

Toshiba has the golden opportunity to make a good Blu-ray player and perhaps throw in HDDVD support, instead of sucking their thumb and giving the middle finger to the supporters of their dead format.