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Sony Calls Current Blu-ray/HD DVD Format War a 'Stalemate

Posted by Zonk on from the feeling-a-touch-insecure dept.

unger814 writes "Sony CEO Howard Stringer says that Blu-ray and HD DVD are currently in a 'stalemate' and is 'playing down the importance of the battle.' Stringer addressed a crowd at Manhattan's 92nd Street Y cultural center Thursday, where he said that 'it was a matter of prestige' which format wins. Stringer pointed to the switch by Paramount from producing movies in both formats to only HD DVD as a turning point. 'We were trying to win on the merits, which we were doing for a while, until Paramount changed sides,' Stringer said."

6 of 547 comments (clear)

  1. From a purely technical standpoint... by Bryansix · · Score: 0, Troll

    BluRay should win. It has more space to store data. Of course when you take into account Microsoft and their underhanded acts and all the marketing hype then HD-DVD might win. It will be a sad day though because the technically better format should win.

    1. Re:From a purely technical standpoint... by jdgeorge · · Score: 0, Troll

      The parent (quoted following) was modded "Troll"?!?

      BluRay should win. It has more space to store data. Of course when you take into account Microsoft and their underhanded acts and all the marketing hype then HD-DVD might win. It will be a sad day though because the technically better format should win.

      From looking at the posts in this artical, I conclude that, as long as the post is Sony-bashing, it's okay or modded up, but if it's HD-DVD/Microsoft bashing it's a "Troll"?

      Seriously, what does this reflect? Does this reflect the number of Microsoft or Toshiba employees on Slashdot? Or does this reflect the number of people who are emotionally attached to their belief that the Xbox360 is superiour to the PS3?

      The first point in the parent is founded on this perspective: I have never heard a coherent technical argument that HD-DVD is superiour to Blu-Ray. The only advantage I know of (a significant one for many people, perhaps) is that HD-DVD does not have region coding. Otherwise, HD-DVD, from a consumer perspective, has zero advantages over Blue-Ray to the best of my knowledge.

      The second point in the parent post is this: Microsoft is known for unethical and illegal business practices. The illegal ones are among those which caused it to lose its antitrust cases in the US and Europe. Personally, I have no knowledge of any bad behaviour by Microsoft in regard to HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray, but speculation along those lines is not unprecedented and certainly understandable considering that Microsoft does have a vested interest in HD-DVD's success because it provides development tools for HD-DVD, not Blu-Ray. The suggestion that Microsoft, in order to protect this business, is engaging in business practices which have previously landed it in legal trouble is not trolling. It may be unfounded speculation, but it is certainly understandable.

  2. Re:A pox on both their houses by getnate · · Score: 0, Troll

    These 2 sentances seem to contradict each other. What do you mean? A) "To this day, I still can't see much difference between HD and regular TV on my 50" LCD" B) "I must say one thing has impressed me, though: Over the Air HD broadcasts" First you said that you can't tell a difference between HD and regular TV. Then you say you were impressed with HD and regular TV sucks.

  3. Re:Hmm by samkass · · Score: 1, Troll

    Blu Ray never gained momentum, for that matter, neither did HD DVD. However its looking more and more that HD DVD is slowly gaining momentum. Paramount Switch, 100$ HDDVD players.

    HD DVD has stopped falling further and further behind, but they're not exactly in the same ballpark with Blu-Ray yet. Blu-Ray still outsells HD DVD 2 to 1, Blu-Ray discs tend to be cheaper, and the player cost doesn't seem to be that big a deciding factor right now. There are still more PS3's out there than all the other HD DVD or Blu-Ray players combined.

    --
    E pluribus unum
  4. Re:After the rootkit...... by sanosuke76 · · Score: 0, Troll

    While I despise Microsoft with my entire being, and am a devoted Sony/Blu-Ray fan, I am compelled to point out that Toshiba is the HD-DVD pusher. Microsoft does have an HD-DVD add-on for the 360, but that's where their involvement ends in the HD-DVD format wars. HD-DVD isn't Microsoft's invention.

    --
    My 229 is all the Sig I need http://thegunwiki.com/
  5. Re:After the rootkit...... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Another person brainwashed by Microsoft(TM).