Toshiba Halts HD DVD Player Production

[Jason Dunn]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/200..._pcworld/142579

"Toshiba has halted production of HD DVD players and recorders and is close to making a decision on whether to throw in the towel on the high-definition movie disc format, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported Saturday evening. The decision, which NHK said will likely cost the company several tens of billions of dollars, is being made in the face of flagging support by movie studios and major U.S. retailers. "We are making considerations following the impact on sales of Warner's announcement but we haven't made any decision," said Keisuke Ohmori, a spokesman for Toshiba, when reached on Saturday evening. He was referring to the January decision by Warner Bros to stop issuing movies on HD DVD and go solely with Blu-ray Disc. Other local media reports on Saturday said an official announcement from Toshiba is likely in the coming week."

The fat lady? She's singing.

[Jason Dunn]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/200..._pcworld/142579

"Toshiba has halted production of HD DVD players and recorders and is close to making a decision on whether to throw in the towel on the high-definition movie disc format, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported Saturday evening. The decision, which NHK said will likely cost the company several tens of billions of dollars, is being made in the face of flagging support by movie studios and major U.S. retailers. "We are making considerations following the impact on sales of Warner's announcement but we haven't made any decision," said Keisuke Ohmori, a spokesman for Toshiba, when reached on Saturday evening. He was referring to the January decision by Warner Bros to stop issuing movies on HD DVD and go solely with Blu-ray Disc. Other local media reports on Saturday said an official announcement from Toshiba is likely in the coming week."

The fat lady? She's singing.

[Chris Gohlke]

Bring on the clearanced movies (especially if they are the dual disks).

[Stinger]

Toshiba's share price is up 6% on the news and rightfully so.

It takes a smart company to admit defeat and cut their losses. It's the right thing to do in the long run.

Hopefully the entire industry can learn from this mess. Somehow I doubt it though.

[Ed Hansberry]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

The decision, which NHK said will likely cost the company several tens of billions of dollars,

It is actually hundreds of millions of dollars, or tens of billions of yen.

I am glad the war is over. I am very sorry Sony won though. I am still in no rush to get a blu-ray device.

[onlydarksets]

The Yahoo article does say tens of billions of dollars, but you're right - it's yen:
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsO...43184420080216

[Stinger]

Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry

I am glad the war is over. I am very sorry Sony won though. I am still in no rush to get a blu-ray device.

It's not just Sony who won. It's also Apple, Dell, HP, Hitachi, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sun, TDK, Thomson, Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney and Warner's baby. You shouldn't have a problem picking up a non-Sony player.

Don't forget that Microsoft's VC-1 codec is part of the Blu Ray spec too.

I'm hoping for a Blu Ray add-on drive for the Xbox 360.

[MarxMarvelous]

Ah well... too bad.

Let me know when I can buy a standalone BR player for the same price that I paid for my HD-A2 (under $150).

Whenever that happens, I'll evaluate the state of downloadable content and make the decision on whether I want to get on board with another generation of shiny discs

[Ed Hansberry]

Originally Posted by Stinger

It's not just Sony who won. It's also Apple, Dell, HP, Hitachi, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sun, TDK, Thomson, Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney and Warner's baby. You shouldn't have a problem picking up a non-Sony player.

http://www.euronews.net/index.php?pa...e=470726&lng=1

This is a Sony win. Everyone else was just along for the ride. I guess after they lost with Betamax, DAT audio tapes, the memorystick and probably a few other formats, it was their time to win one. Bleh.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry

This is a Sony win......... Bleh.

I share your pain. :-(

At least the bad guys don't win very often. ;-)

[Stinger]

Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry

This is a Sony win. Everyone else was just along for the ride. I guess after they lost with Betamax, DAT audio tapes, the memorystick and probably a few other formats, it was their time to win one. Bleh.

Sony used to have a pretty good track record with winning. Don't forget both the CD and 3.5" floppy were developed by Sony. They also had a very large hand in making DVD the success that it has become.

I don't think they're any more evil than any of the big companies (Microsoft and Apple included). They've lost their way at times but the market always makes companies see the errors of their way eventually.