Come on Ryu, according to you HD-DVD will win.. So what have you got to say about this?

Ryu is entitled to his opinions, just as you are Mr. Anonymous.

The HD-DVD -Vs- Blu-Ray 'battle' ought to be the last of its kind, once online digital distribution of movies catches on there will be no more of this 'firing lasers at plastic to get data off of it' nonsense.

From what I know both formats use the same laser but different codecs, you could probably update current hd-dvd add-ons with the new codes turning it into a multi hd-dvd and blu-ray drive.

You cannot define consumer choice when an industry decides to only give you one choice like with Warner and Newline.

I prefer HD-DVD I always will, my friends and family are buying into hd-dvd as well.

I own both formats but i favour hd-dvd.

Wow a calm comment from Ryu! I think blu-ray uses a blue laser to read the disks as well as using different codec. Hence why its called Blu-ray not red-ray hehehe.

Funny 'red-ray' lol yes it uses a blue laser the same one hd-dvd uses.

I made a mistake I think codecs as in mpeg-4, VC1 etc are used by both technologies I cant remember the actual term used to differeniate the 2 formats but they use 2 different something like codes or drm's or something.

We all have our preference and hd-dvd has sold very well and so has blu-ray especially since every PS3 is a blu-ray player as well as a gaming system.

This format war is one huge dibacle though lol but oh well.

Blu-ray uses a thin blue laser (hence the name) to read the data. DVD and HD DVD use a red laser that has a wider diameter. So no you cant just upgrade the drive with firmware to work. Microsoft could just release a blu-ray drive instead.

DVD uses a red laser, HD-DVD uses a blue laser as well

'Toshiba-led HD DVD and the Sony-led Blu-ray systems. Both technologies use a blue laser to write information. This has a shorter wavelength so more data can be stored. '

http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.5846&changeNav=9362" onclick="window.open ( this.href ); return false;" class="comment_url" >http://www.bcs.org...=9362

www.dvdexploder.com/BlurayvsHDDVD.htm

@6 - That's correct. Otherwise a PS3 etc. could just as happily play HD-DUDs too. As for digital downloads, that's just another thing Bill Gates wants to push our way and until broadband speeds allow us to download HD data we will be sticking with these plastic little discs. And from best guesses that's years away so there's plenty of time for BRs etc. And also, the digital downloads aren't exactly going to work in aeroplanes, coaches or any other place where you won't be able to download so there will always be a place for discs whether you like it or not.

Actually point 7 is right - my mistake. HD-DUD does use a blue laser but and I've not found my original source, it is different to the BR and so it would not be a case of firmware updates to get a drive to be multi format

Specifications of Blue-Ray vs HD-DVD shows that Blue-Ray is certainly the superior model in terms of capacity/security etc. They do share the same codecs:

MPEG-2
Microsoft Video Codec 1 (aka VC1, WMV HD, etc.)
H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC

As Reythor states though, online delivery will succeed eventually.

2008 will see an interesting battle between PSN versus LIVE.

Interestingly calm debate, wow :)

I don't think this counts as news though, I'm sure months and months ago Microsoft said they would happily look at supporting Blu-Ray if thats the way the consumer went.

I wouldn't like it if the next Xbox used a Blu-ray drive. But I don't believe Microsoft would ever allow it because it means they lost in a format war to a lesser business rival, and now have to carry the badge of dishonour!

No. Microsoft are too smart for that. They will use direct downloads, or a customised version of HD-DVD. Triple layer.Mark my words.

Yeah, the reason its such a calm debate is because the Sony fanboys have nothing to say.

HD-DVD isnt Microsofts format, its just the format they backed and if they choose to go with Blue ray now then thats all it is. Nothing more.

And yes, this whole format war is a debacle for the simple fact that HD and Blue Ray are both at this point in time, pointless.

VHS vs DVD - DVD had a better picture, offered menu's and special features and brought the purchase costs down for the consumer.

DVD vs HD and BR - Better picture..... just a little bit......

Let's stop this stupid fighting about which format will win. I bet you we will be having this discussion next year and the year after that because both formats will still be in the race.

The bigger question is will Sony license Microsoft to use a Blu-Ray drive on the Xbox 360? They can have Xbox by the balls by not letting them have BR and allowing themselves to be the real entertainment unit. I say Sony shouldn't let them have it since M$ is really wishy washy with their decision.

This would be VERY worrying for Sony. What reason would anyone have to by a PS3 then ?? Definitely not for the games.

I think overall Minidisc has more pulling power than DCC.

Josh, do you mistakenly think Sony own Blu Ray??
They have no say in who can and who cannot licence Blu Ray. If Microsoft was to release a drive, they would just pay Matsu****a ( Panasonic) to make it just like they do Toshiba with the Zune. The royalties for the BluRay patents would go to the owners of BluRay, of which Sony is one of many.
But releasing a drive would not make any difference to the games - its for playing movies. As a Games Machine, the 360 would still be the best.

@17 - but the games on PS3 v 360 argument is down to personal preference.... Yes if you like 1st person shooters get a 360 as they seem to be better on it than PS3 with the exception of COD4 (although I would argue that they are even better on a PC...) at the moment but PS3 has other great games like Uncharted, Ratchet & Clank and will have GT5 in '08.

Ryu Hayabusa - "...or a customised version of HD-DVD. Triple layer.Mark my words."

Why on earth would they do that?! Would the major film producers suddenly bail support for Blue-Ray for such a thing? I dont think so.

@ Scy
Sony dont "own" Blue-Ray, but I believe some of the technology is effectively owned by Sony.

@ Anonymous poster regarding Sony fanboys
I've read this website for months now and it is blatantly obvious the userbase of MCV are XBox "fanboys" as you call them. This I find most disturbing considering this is an industry website.

@19

As long as it's just the users and not the website itself which is biased I don't mind too much.

@19

I am the anonymous poster regarding fanboys and I totally agree with you.

My point was aimed at the tone of a majority of the posts I've seen from the PS3 supporters (which is often frustrated and bitter)

I dont own a PS3 or an Xbox 360 and I hate both Sony and Microsoft equally.

@19

I am the anonymous poster regarding fanboys and I totally agree with you.

My point was aimed at the tone of a majority of the posts I've seen from the PS3 supporters (which is often frustrated and bitter)

I dont own a PS3 or an Xbox 360 and I hate both Sony and Microsoft equally.

Seems daft for Microsoft to have released this statement. They should be backing the product they are selling for this machine and not saying we would quite happily dump it and turn to Blu-Ray in the future. Seems like bad PR to me. What about all the people who have brought it already?

bad pr Microsoft did not say they would dump HD DVD. They said thay would consider releasing Blu Ray if the consumers showed they wanted it. They could sell both.
As to the PS3 having great games, no doubt they will have in time, but a the moment they are very thin on the ground. As a games machine 360 is way ahead in Quantity, Quality and online play. Quoting Ratchet & Clank as one of the best PS3 games proves the point. Hardly a sales success was it? never got into the top 10. Unreal Tornament is like Gears of War outtakes with most of the fine detail missing. Uncharted? Looks interesting. If it stays PS3 exclusive I will miss out cos I sold my PS3. But I don't regret selling it. The 360 is used far more because of the much larger choice of games. Games that play better and look better.

all this blu ray vs hd bit is ridiculous as i consider both formats to largely be obsolete already.

My personal preference would be for more mobile hard drives as a media storage device, u could take ur hard drive into a shop and get the game loaded onto it or take advantage of online distribution

I think we all know its goodbye to Hd-dvd.
It is a shame for consumers who have been misled into purchasing HD DVD which I dont care what anyone says is an inferior spec to Blu ray. Sony have increased the Blu ray sales market by installing players into the PS3. If only Bill gates had the idea of doing this from the start rather than charging consumers extra to install HD DVD in the X box. I think this is why I will always favour Sony over Microsoft. Ok we had delays for the Playstation 3 but look at the figures now. Long live the King !

In case of the Bluray format winning, I would rather have M$ selling both HD-DVD and Bluray drives. That way, I wouldn't have to get a PS3!! Which is the major reason I would get one.

And since I can't buy all movies in HD-DVD, I would reallly like M$ to release that Bluray drive ASAP. Don't care bout the format war, I just want to be able to get any movie. Don't care about 2 formats, just give me one machine that does it all. A blue and red collection of movies should be cute ;-)

If all players would be combo drives (remember DVD+R/-R) WHO CARES? Let them fight! And leave us out of it.

Well with Toshiba now ending all speculation by the decision to stop making HD-DVD players the arguement has ended !
Its a well done to Blu Ray ! Not only is it by far the better format but it also comes with the far better games console ! its funny that X box fans tend to be very arguementative and tetchy over this debate ! If your happy with your machines then that is just fine ! At the end of the day Bill gates has finished off HD-DVD by not installing the Player at the selling point of the X Box ! plain and simple ! facts and figures do not lie. Long Live Blu ray ! ( Think if Sony sell Blu Ray to Microsoft it should be double the Price !! Harsh but fair ?

Well done to blue-ray! but at the end of the day i am not going to be running out to get a ps3, Ok the ps3 has a lot of potential but the 360 has so much more going for it. I have just got a Blu-Ray Writer for my pc witch means i can watch BR films through Media Centre, i also have the xbox 360 hd dvd player, ok they are not going to be releasing any new films on it but there are over 200 films out there for it.
I think online content is the way forward.

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