So now it turns out that the DVD format wars aren’t completely over after all. Viacom’s (NYSE: VIA) Paramount Pictures is denying earlier reports (see our post here) that the studio is preparing to quit its home video agreement with Toshiba’s HD DVD format to follow Warner Bros. Entertainment in favor of Sony’s (NYSE: SNE) Blu-ray technology. Bloomberg quotes a Paramount rep’s e-mail saying: “Paramount’s current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format.”
Paramount, which signed on with Toshiba last summer, has a clause in the deal that allows it to pull out of the contract if WB goes with Blu-ray. On Friday, WB, after months of fence-sitting, elected to go with Sony’s Blu-ray format; up until then, WB had released home video for both technologies.
I am glad Sony is winning this fight, as BluRay is clearly the better format – especially when it comes to data storage.
Both formats deliver stunning visuals and sound. I own an HD DVD player and approximately 50 HD DVD movies, but I have nothing against Blu Ray. I may invest in the LG BH200 dual format player, which received excellent reviews, so that I can continue watching my HD DVDs and be able to expand my collection to Blu Ray. Apparently, even with the recent announcement by Warner to support Blu Ray exclusively, the HD DVD format is not going anywhere anytime soon. I would rather be able to slect any movie title and not worry about what format it is on.
I don't like sony or most of what they stand for or there tacticts, I think toshibas HD will be around for a long time mainly becasue they have the bigest player of them all on there side Microsoft. If it wasn't for HD you would be still paying sonys crazy $ for players. Might sound personal but i always said sony sucks microsift rocks.
HD DVD WOES, With the recent news that Toshiba may well throw in the towel after major defections in USA, one of the worst mistakes that Toshiba made, I think, was not releasing to the mass market a HD DVD Recorder with HD ATSIC TV Tuner from the outset . In Japan they had such a model, but given how hard and dirty Sony came out fighting, Toshiba should have raised the bar and switched streight to HD DVD Recorders with North Americian/ European HD Tuners. At the end of the day, no one really wants to go thru the upgrade path "player model "to "recorder model" to "recorder with built in TV Tuner/PVR Hard Drive". Given that I'm no fan of the greed sony has shown, I built a Media PC with VISTA O/S with Blu-ray burner, HD DVD ROM, Twin HD TV Tuners, HDMI Output….I got my "bang for my bucks" by doing this! PS: Yes I know that Sony get a royality from the Blu-ray burner but I have to live with that.
As outdated as my comment is…When I bought my Satellite 200 with the hd dvd player I thought I was on the bigger side also. Two weeks after I bought the laptop I saw that toshiba was to discontinue hd dvd. Which is later than the last couple of comments left about hd dvd sticking around for a while. After owning this 'laptop/notebook' I can see why hd dvd didnt stick around. My drive quit working after less than one year and stupid me didn't call to claim it on my warranty. No my notebook isn't the only "computer" i own.I figured it wasnt worth the trouble. Now I can't watch the two hd dvds I own. Wasted money. Now I love Sony and all its high quality products. I enjoy all of my home entertainment, computing, and photography products from sony. May Sony live forever!!!
I all ways liked sony but I too bought my Satellite 205 with HD DVD thinking that it was winning the platform war. I still thought Sony was just as good if not better. About a month after I bought it Toshiba discontinued HD DVD. After using the HD DVD and then having the opportunity to try blu-ray I can see why HD DVD called it quits. I just wish I could upgrade my HD-DVD to Blu-ray.