Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[DaViD Boulet]

anybody see this latest about Toshiba dropping HD DVD?

It lacks the "rumor" tone of previous reports:

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssC...27196120080216

[aygie]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

anybody see this latest about Toshiba dropping HD DVD?

It lacks the "rumor" tone of previous reports:

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssC...27196120080216

Everywhere is saying Tosh has dropped HD-DVD. This is gonna explode.

[Uxi]

So they're dropping out entirely? They still plan to sell in stores? What stores? Who would buy at this point?

Dropping out entirely would be cutting off their nose to spite their face. They need to make Blu-ray to stay in the game. They can add HDDVD support as a feature of their BD players, unless they don't mind giving the finger to their supporters...

[Slec]

Originally Posted by Uxi

So they're dropping out entirely? They still plan to sell in stores? What stores? Who would buy at this point?

Dropping out entirely would be cutting off their nose to spite their face. They need to make Blu-ray to stay in the game. They can add HDDVD support as a feature of their BD players, unless they don't mind giving the finger to their supporters...

Bill forgive me for answering in your thread....

HD DVD and Blu-ray use different laser apertures so they are not compatible. So dropping HD DVD will allow them to concentrate on making 1 format (BLU BABY!). They won't be leaving the game completely but the two formats cannot coexist. Toshiba would be wise to offer some combo players so their current installed base doesn't have to have multiple players... My opinion there...

Toshiba is getting beaten on their home turf (Japan) and needs to get with the blu camp before the put themselves in the unenviable position of having nothing to offer. Stockholders would NOT be happy with that..

[fronn]

Originally Posted by Slec

...
HD DVD and Blu-ray use different laser apertures so they are not compatible. It's why all dual format players have 2 disc slots...

Just a minor correction...

While the normal lasers aren't compatible, they do make laser heads that can read both formats (much like they have lasers that read CD, DVD, and BR -- they all have different apertures and wavelengths, but it's still one pickup head that does them all).

There aren't any dual format players that have two disc slots, at least none I'm aware of.

[Slec]

Will gladly defer to you on this one Fronn...updated post

[LovingHDDVD]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

There's nothing like a clear message and 100% Hollywood studio support to spur sales. I'm guessing you're going to see a HUGE retail and industry push for Blu-ray this holiday season. There will be lots of new titles announced, player prices will continue to drop, you'll see LOTS more HDTV/Blu-ray player bundled sales. More importantly, I think you're going to see a lot of people who were sitting on the sidelines get off the sidelines this holiday season.

Good to know this because i will never buy a Blu ray over 20 dollars. PERIOD

[kjacobs03]

Bill,
If a certain CE company were to discontinue HDDVD, would a certain software provider still be obligated to release through the end of May, or could they stop "cold turkey"?

[mattym]

Originally Posted by kjacobs03

Bill,
If a certain CE company were to discontinue HDDVD, would a certain software provider still be obligated to release through the end of May, or could they stop "cold turkey"?

i'l second that question, it seems to me that if toshiba pull hddvd then it gives uni and paramount a 'saving face' way out, rather than look like they drop HDDVD, they can say hddvd dropped them...whats your take on in Bill??

[DaViD Boulet]

I'll venture a logical guess and say that if Toshiba officially folds HD DVD, all HD DVD contracts are null and void.

[mattym]

if the they offically fold it yes, tht would make sense

[NoQuestion]

Bill,

No question from me, but I would like to thank you and all the insiders who have kept us in the loop and have taken time to come here and answer as many questions as possible for us crazy blu fanatics. Major props to all of you.

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

I'll venture a logical guess and say that if Toshiba officially folds HD DVD, all HD DVD contracts are null and void.

What are you, a lawyer or something?!

[LeoneFan]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

I'll venture a logical guess and say that if Toshiba officially folds HD DVD, all HD DVD contracts are null and void.

No no no!!! But.. but.. it's not over because the chinese HDDVD players are coming and M$ is going to buy all the studios. Blu-ray better watch out!

Gotta love those butt hurt HDDVD fans.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

anybody see this latest about Toshiba dropping HD DVD?

It lacks the "rumor" tone of previous reports:

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssC...27196120080216

Nope. It's real. Someone at Toshiba HQ apparently leaked word of this to the Japanese media on Saturday afternoon (Tokyo time) and at appeared in their NHK nightly newscast. It's also being carried in every major Japanese news outlet today. They're closing plants, stopping development, the works. Word is they were going to make the decision in a few weeks, but all the retailer news last week pushed up the timetable. Now I'm hearing that the only delay is allowing their studio partners to make their own announcements first. Speculation is that the leak was done deliberately so as to ease the blow of official announcements, which could come as soon as Monday. The studios seem to be in a news blackout mode, so something is definitely afoot.

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

Nope. It's real. Someone at Toshiba HQ apparently leaked word of this to the Japanese media on Saturday afternoon (Tokyo time) and at appeared in their NHK nightly newscast. It's also being carried in every major Japanese news outlet today. They're closing plants, stopping development, the works. Word is they were going to make the decision in a few weeks, but all the retailer news last week pushed up the timetable. Now I'm hearing that the only delay is allowing their studio partners to make their own announcements first.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by kjacobs03

Bill,
If a certain CE company were to discontinue HDDVD, would a certain software provider still be obligated to release through the end of May, or could they stop "cold turkey"?

They could absolutely stop cold turkey. The key question is, how does a certain CE company and certain software providers deal with their current HD-DVD base of customers? That's going to be the sticky wicket.

[NoQuestion]

Bill,

Once all the studios (big and small) switch to bluray will there be an issue with movies being pressed at the plants? I'm worried that the replication plants will get swamped with titles and we wont see an increase in movies released weekly. Do you feel that the plants will be able to handle the increase in titles or do you think more replication plants need to be opened? Also, do you see the weekly release schedule increasing in the next few months once all studios have switched to blu or will we continue to see the same amount of titles weekly?

Thanks,

[elwaylite]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

Nope. It's real. Someone at Toshiba HQ apparently leaked word of this to the Japanese media on Saturday afternoon (Tokyo time) and at appeared in their NHK nightly newscast. It's also being carried in every major Japanese news outlet today. They're closing plants, stopping development, the works. Word is they were going to make the decision in a few weeks, but all the retailer news last week pushed up the timetable. Now I'm hearing that the only delay is allowing their studio partners to make their own announcements first. Speculation is that the leak was done deliberately so as to ease the blow of official announcements, which could come as soon as Monday. The studios seem to be in a news blackout mode, so something is definitely afoot.

Thanks for the update Bill. I can't wait for the last TWO pieces of the puzzle to make a statement.

[aristotles]

Originally Posted by LovingHDDVD

Good to know this because i will never buy a Blu ray over 20 dollars. PERIOD

So you did not buy HD DVD's either? Before HD DVD started losing badly this year, HD DVD did not have any Bogo sales. Did you rent an HD DVD more than once? If so, how is that saving money over buying a movie?

There are plenty of Blu-rays on say for less than 20 bucks right now and there were bogos on Amazon and brick and mortar stores last year which resulted in an average price of less than 15 bucks per movie.

I've got one title from Echo Bridge on order for 8.95 from Amazon.com and out of all the BD's I have on order, only the import from Amazon.co.uk is over 20 bucks but even then it is under 30 bucks.