Don't Bug Me (article on Toshiba's HD DVD player)

[zombie]

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6332337.html

excerpt:

The question confronting Toshiba is whether it makes sense to ship more of the buggy A1s if, in fact, the second-generation models remain below the horizon.

Putting more dodgy players out there carries a serious risk of creating poor consumer experiences and damaging, perhaps permanently, the reputation of the format.

Without more players, however, Toshiba has no hope of bolstering the so-far anemic studio support for HD DVD.

Similarly, other would-be HD DVD hardware makers have little incentive to accelerate their own plans if the format’s principle backer doesn’t do more on its behalf.

Toshiba’s current dilemma underscores perhaps the most damaging aspect of the high-def format war.

In the race to gain first-mover advantage in the marketplace, both sides have rushed their development cycles and are bringing—or are at risk of bringing—players to market before the respective technologies are ready.

[Sony1]

The player is just ok. This is the problem when early adopters purchase new technology, you just have to live with it. I don't mind the load times, however I do have a problem with the error codes, HDMI, and the remote. Never the less I anticipate the Blu-ray consortium will have most issues worked out with their players, but will have a minor issue here and there. It's new technology and we as consumers must expect that. At least they are getting the stuff out to the consumer.

Sony will have a major announcement today at the E3 for the PS3. I hope the price will be revealed and it is somewhere below 500.$, but who knows, we will just have to wait and see, if it is not I will wait until X-mas before I get a Blu-ray burner for my computer, hopefully the price will come down?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Sony1

Sony will have a major announcement today at the E3 for the PS3. I hope the price will be revealed and it is somewhere below 500.$, but who knows, we will just have to wait and see, if it is not I will wait until X-mas before I get a Blu-ray burner for my computer, hopefully the price will come down?

4 PM PDT today. Don't miss it. Keep close tabs on a gaming site of your choice.

Sony needs to come out big with shock and awe today, no questions about it.

I really am hoping that they have a WORKING PS3 running and are able to show it off, running some real software.

They need to come out with concrete facts like a true MSRP price and so forth. They need to start eliminating and fighting back on the months' long Microsoft-backed propoganda,FUD and lie campaign that's been running against them.

Honest to God: I've NEVER seen such a concentrated effort made against ANY product like I've seen directed against the PS3.

Sony needs to come out with the nukes, starting today.

[GTP]

"Kill them All....and let the hd dvd fan boys sort them out

Anti Sony and PS3 rumours that is

[no_wei]

i really question how much of an advantage the "first-mover advantage" is.

look at all of the forgotten formats and technologies and ask yourself how important was it for whoever pioneered them to be the first to market. so i agree, the most important thing is to have a product that functions well. because, as much as the folks on this board might hate to hear it, the fate of a format will not be decided by early-adopters that are willing to put up with flaws and errors from technology in which they've invested thousands upon thousands of dollars.

and as far as the console market goes, i think that by the end of a generational cycle most households have multiple consoles from said generation. while people might initially pick sides, a couple of good games and price drops later any console starts to look appealing. in all honesty, what's drawing me toward ps3 and, in part, blu-ray, more than anything else is the promise of mgs4. that's it. i hear tell of possible ffvii-related games, as well, and they're also enticing, but they've already got me with mgs4. sony could have released a foot-controlled system that used recycled audio cassettes to somehow throw a blurry, monochromatic shadow onto a wall, priced it at 2000 dollars and then said: "the only thing this will ever be used for is to play metal gear solid 4," and i'd still end up with it. maybe not right at launch. but i would buy it.

/no

[JTK]

^^ It's all about the games.

And if Sony is lucky enough to have a game like MGS4 ready for the holidays? They're going to do just fine.

[thunderhawk]

You know what I'm wondering...

If the HD DVD fanboys are spreading propaganda, where's the BDA's propaganda?

[jmental]

I agree with you. The only thing we can tell the consumer is, you have to start with something. Technology is constantly going to new heights, and to keep up they have to start somewhere.