Toshiba's best way out

[LynxFX]

I'm a Blu-ray supporter, no doubt about it, and I know it will be the last format standing but I think one of the worst aspects of this format war is that when there is a loser, you end up with a large group of pissed off people on one side or the other.

Toshiba should come out with a lowcost dualformat player. They accept that Blu-ray is the winner, but don't alienate their current customers. This basically allows them to wean off HD DVD as they transition into all Blu-ray.

It's a win-win. We get a single format out there, and Toshiba joins up but still gets to hold onto a small market of consumers with their player until HD DVD is a collectable relic.

Otherwise, the longer this goes on, the more people are going to end up buying into the wrong format and the more disdain these people will have for the company that said "we are the next gen format, trust us with your money." This could go for Blu-ray as well, but if the entire year has signified anything, it is that that won't be happening.