Microsoft Bows Xbox 360 HD DVD Add-on

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Microsoft Bows Xbox 360 HD DVD Add-on
Author: ERIK GRUENWEDEL
Posted: May 8, 2006

As expected, Microsoft May 8 at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles announced it would offer an aftermarket HD DVD player drive for its Xbox 360 video game system.

The yet unpriced accessory, which had been widely speculated to be in the works for some time, would connect to the 360 game console via a standard USB cable. Microsoft didn’t announce delivery dates for the HD DVD drive.

"We decided to save that good news for another day, but we're clearly out to make this an affordable option for Xbox 360 owners," said Albert Penello, director of global marketing at Xbox, in a statement.

Penello said comparing HD DVD video quality with rival Blu-ray Disc is awash, and that the primary advantage for HD DVD for consumers is affordability.

"The major difference is going to be price, and all the leading indicators point to HD DVD winning,” Penello.

He said that despite declarations in the press about HD DVD “as DOA” in comparison to Blu-ray, Microsoft believed ongoing technical problems with Blu-ray were more serious than previously thought, as evidenced by Sony’s delay of its PlayStation 3 game console launch and the first Blu-ray player slated for late June.

“Now that both sides are laying their cards on the table, the word is getting out that HD DVD is the best value,” Penello said. “The momentum is with HD DVD. Eventually, we feel all the studios will support HD DVD, perhaps not exclusively. But the studios are too savvy to leave money on the table.”