Sony defends Blu-ray as pressure mounts

[korsjs]

'No impact' from decision by Intel and Microsoft to back rival format

Ken Young, vnunet.com 28 Sep 2005
ADVERTISEMENTSony has defended its Blu-ray DVD format following the news that Intel and Microsoft are putting their considerable weight behind Toshiba's HD-DVD.

Sony insisted that there would be "no impact" from Microsoft's and Intel's decision, and that Blu-ray offered better copyright protection, according to a report in the Financial Times.

But Toshiba now believes that the endorsement of Microsoft and Intel is likely to make HD-DVD the standard for the next generation of DVDs.

Analyst firm Gartner advises caution, however, predicting that DVD recorders and games consoles will be a major factor in determining the preferred format.

The company pointed to the importance of Sony's intention to put a Blu-ray player into the forthcoming PlayStation 3 console.

For the moment at least, Blu-ray appears to have public support. In a July poll in the US 58 per cent indicated that they preferred Blu-ray, 26 per cent were undecided, and 16 per cent preferred HD-DVD.

A selection of Blu-ray players, recorders and computer drives are in development from leading vendors such as Sony, Hitachi and Sharp, as well as PC hardware from HP and Dell.

HD-DVD players are expected to be available by end of this year and recorders will be due in the first half of next year. Sony expects Blu-ray recorders and players to be out in the first half of next year.

In June the HD-DVD camp narrowed the gap between the two specifications by announcing plans for a 45GB triple-layer disc, bringing it closer to the dual-layer 50GB Blu-ray disc under development.

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2142909/sony-defends-blu-ray-dvd

 

[liquidnw]

'No impact' from decision by Intel and Microsoft to back rival format

Ken Young, vnunet.com 28 Sep 2005
ADVERTISEMENTSony has defended its Blu-ray DVD format following the news that Intel and Microsoft are putting their considerable weight behind Toshiba's HD-DVD.

Sony insisted that there would be "no impact" from Microsoft's and Intel's decision, and that Blu-ray offered better copyright protection, according to a report in the Financial Times.

But Toshiba now believes that the endorsement of Microsoft and Intel is likely to make HD-DVD the standard for the next generation of DVDs.

Analyst firm Gartner advises caution, however, predicting that DVD recorders and games consoles will be a major factor in determining the preferred format.

The company pointed to the importance of Sony's intention to put a Blu-ray player into the forthcoming PlayStation 3 console.

For the moment at least, Blu-ray appears to have public support. In a July poll in the US 58 per cent indicated that they preferred Blu-ray, 26 per cent were undecided, and 16 per cent preferred HD-DVD.

A selection of Blu-ray players, recorders and computer drives are in development from leading vendors such as Sony, Hitachi and Sharp, as well as PC hardware from HP and Dell.

HD-DVD players are expected to be available by end of this year and recorders will be due in the first half of next year. Sony expects Blu-ray recorders and players to be out in the first half of next year.

In June the HD-DVD camp narrowed the gap between the two specifications by announcing plans for a 45GB triple-layer disc, bringing it closer to the dual-layer 50GB Blu-ray disc under development.

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2142909/sony-defends-blu-ray-dvd

I'd take those "surverys" with a grain of salt. They could of asked playstation owners, etc. I woudl think most people don't even know about either yet. One thing for sure if what Microsoft said is true about blue-ray players not being backward compatible to todays dvds then thats goin to be a huge problem.

 

[Van]

Short of microsoft having a mole how are they going to know what blu ray can and cant do? Im putting more faith than salt into this survey because there are more people out there who dont play game consoles that dont like microsoft much if at all. If the linux group had a greater presence in its market then I would be a more consistant user, same goes for apple.

 

[DarrellP]

Or maybe they polled people who frequent AVSForum?

 

[riffjim4069]

What's not to like about Blu-Ray? For backward compatibility, and a second standard DVD drive and viola...instant compatibility for just a few extra dollars.