Pioneer has NO Current Plans for HD-DVD/Blu-ray drives

[marzetta7]

Pioneer has no Current Plans for HD-DVD/Blu-ray Drives

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/13904

On September first, we reported, along with many other websites, that Pioneer would provide hybrid, Blu-ray/HD-DVD blue laser drives, in the near future. This was of course very exciting news, however, sadly, it has turned out to be false.

We have received a mail this morning from a representative of Pioneer, he has told us stories originating during this years IFA in Berlin, were incorrect and do not reflect their current plans. The Pioneer representative, stated to CD Freaks that his standard response to this question: "Does Pioneer have any plans to support HD DVD?" is as follows:

"Currently we have no plans to do so..... however, Pioneer will monitor the market situation with other formats and will "consider" to adopt those formats as and where the market is demanding it".

He went on to say that his comments to some press people at IFA have been taken totally out of context and that it has been concluded by themselves that Pioneer would be introducing HD DVD support into their 3rd generation BD writer model.

Pioneer has clarified the statement further by saying this..... "Currently we have no plans to do so....."

Now, this makes more sense... Just more fantasies of HD DVD fanboys was all this turned out to be.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by marzetta7

Pioneer has no Current Plans for HD-DVD/Blu-ray Drives

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/13904



Now, this makes more sense... Just more fantasies of HD DVD fanboys was all this turned out to be.

Wow, well I guess there goes any hope for a decent HD DVD player.

[AV_Integrated]

I find it interesting that there seems to be news release after news release about a combo HD-DVD/BD drive of some sort. While it hasn't been 100% confirmed, rumors seem to support the concept that Blu-Ray and/or HD-DVD licensing prohibits the two technologies from existing within a single drive. Not that there aren't people who want it, or that there isn't money to be made, but as far as I can tell, one format specifically believes that it can win this format war, and knows that if a dual-format drive exists, then the format war will effectively be over.

DVD- and DVD+ formats are the perfect example. A format war that became obsolete when the first -/+ drive was released.

This format war will wage for no less than another year and a half I expect. It will take several CE manufacturers to switch to HD-DVD and a few studios to switch sides for HD-DVD to come out ahead... Or, it'll take Universal switching sides for Blu-ray to nail a coffin shut as far as I can tell.

[hmurchison]

Bummer

I would have loved to use a Pioneer drive for a HTPC in the future.

[Psiweaver]

You can use a pioneer drive for a HTPC in the future it'll just have to play blu-ray.