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Last-Minute Delays Looming for HD-DVD Launch?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the almost-there dept.

An anonymous reader writes: "No official comment from Toshiba or Warner, but both Best Buy and Amazon revised ship dates for initial HD-DVD hardware and software on Friday, suggesting that high-def DVD enthusiasts chomping at the bit for next Tuesday's arrival of the first HD-DVD players and discs may have to wait a few days more."

5 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Someone has to say it: by DingerX · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Universal's "launch" title for HD-DVD is 'Serenity'. Mind you, I like Firefly and all that, but have I missed something? Is Serenity selling DVDs like hotcakes? Or is this Universal's way of announcing mediocre 'wait-and-see' interest in HD-DVD as part of the current format wars?

    Then again, I might consider an HD-DVD player to watch Serenity. If, of course, I could afford a TV that would play it back.

    1. Re:Someone has to say it: by smithberry · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'd say they have simply picked a title likely to appeal to early adopters of new technology.

    2. Re:Someone has to say it: by SEE · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Is Serenity selling DVDs like hotcakes?

      It sold solidly in DVD upon release (extremely well in comparison to its box office) , and is popular with an audience that is relatively high on early adopters. It's a reasonable choice for an early HD-DVD release.

  2. Re:Will we ever be able to fit a large HDD on a di by SEE · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Hard disks, unlike removable discs, have the advantage of being able to have the relation of the heads and media very, very precisely engineered, which means data can be laid more densely on the media. So unless there's a major breakthrough on optical density that has no magnetic denisty equivalent, fixed-media disk systems should always be able to handle more data than removable-media.

    As a result, the right medium for backup, assuming a willingness to make the investment, is and always has been tape. Because it packs much more surface area into a single reasonably-dimensioned package than can be done with a removable disc, it will always be better at holding bulk data.

  3. Re:Something I've thought about in the format wars by VikingThunder · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Oh you know Sony and it's Blu-Ray bretheren are going to start plastering the Blu-Ray logo on all their HDTVs.