Microsoft rep: HD-DVD possibly next Beta-Max

[Fran]

http://www.gametab.com/news/779096/

Ben Kuchera from Ars Technica just got to live the dream. With two Microsoft reps around for tea and biscuits (under the auspices of a demonstration of the 360's 1080p capabilities) he exchanged niceties, locked the door and shook 'em down.
The reps were hit with questions about the 360's HDD (as in, why's it still so small, and where the hell is a bigger one?), the microtransaction "debate" (as in, rape is not fun) and HD output. On the HDD, they were sadly coy and evasive. On microtransactions, they were smugly offensive, offering the frankly patronising quip that "this is a new market".
But it's when they get talking about HD, 1080p and HD-DVD that we get the money shot. When asked whether there'd be a future 360 with an internal HD-DVD drive, one of the reps, Scott Hensen, had this to say:

We don't want to charge customers $200 extra for something that may be the next Betamax.

​

Uh...oops. Oops indeed.

I read somewhere else that it isn't too late to commit to Blu-ray, or possibly the new Warner Bros. disc format. Here's hoping for the best

 

[imdaly]

Oh come on now, ff, you're smart enough to know what the rep meant.

 

[Benstamania]

He was taking a shot at Sony, who charged an extra 200 on the system for Blue Ray.

[Speaking with Ars Technica, Microsoft Director of Platform Strategy Scott Henson explained that the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive would likely never be internalized into a future version of the console because "[we] don't want to charge customers $200 extra for something that may be the next Betamax." While Henson's frank remark is definitely a PR no-no (though it could easily be interpreted as a shot at Sony), it simply echoes the current state of uncertainty: No one knows which format, HD-DVD or Blu-ray, will prevail. Microsoft has clearly aligned itself and the Xbox 360 with HD-DVD, but it's left open the possibility of a Blu-ray switcheroo -- Peter Moore openly acknowledged as much during CES last year.

Early HD-DVD add-on adopters might eventually get burned (if the format fails), but this certainly won't affect all, if even a majority, of Xbox 360 owners. On the flip side, if Blu-ray flops, 100% of PlayStation 3 owners will feel the burn. Sony is still the bigger risk taker.

On a side note, I HATE how next gen has become "which DVD format will come out on top!" IMO, there shouldn't even BE a Next Gen dvd format, not yet anyway.

 

[Fran]

Edit-- never mind

 

[amazingfantasy15]

He was taking a shot at Sony, who charged an extra 200 on the system for Blue Ray.

[Speaking with Ars Technica, Microsoft Director of Platform Strategy Scott Henson explained that the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive would likely never be internalized into a future version of the console because "[we] don't want to charge customers $200 extra for something that may be the next Betamax." While Henson's frank remark is definitely a PR no-no (though it could easily be interpreted as a shot at Sony), it simply echoes the current state of uncertainty: No one knows which format, HD-DVD or Blu-ray, will prevail. Microsoft has clearly aligned itself and the Xbox 360 with HD-DVD, but it's left open the possibility of a Blu-ray switcheroo -- Peter Moore openly acknowledged as much during CES last year.

Early HD-DVD add-on adopters might eventually get burned (if the format fails), but this certainly won't affect all, if even a majority, of Xbox 360 owners. On the flip side, if Blu-ray flops, 100% of PlayStation 3 owners will feel the burn. Sony is still the bigger risk taker.

On a side note, I HATE how next gen has become "which DVD format will come out on top!" IMO, there shouldn't even BE a Next Gen dvd format, not yet anyway.

This is exactly how I feel. I truthfully think both formats (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD) will flop. The next format will most likely be On-Demand/Downloads. Sony's already 0-1 on trying to get consumers to use a new disc system through a video game system (I'm counting the DVD player in PS2's since DVD were gaining a lot of ground with mainstream consumers during the Christmas before PS2's release.)

 

[dusk20]

Sony should have learned their lesson with the PSP.

That piece of **** used UMD. Sony was backing UMD at the beginning just like they're doing with Blu-Ray right now...and what did UMD do to the market? Nothing. What's Blu-Ray going to do to the market? Unsure at this moment...but if its anything like UMD, nothing.

 

[Avalanche]

Sony should have learned their lesson with the PSP.

That piece of **** used UMD. Sony was backing UMD at the beginning just like they're doing with Blu-Ray right now...and what did UMD do to the market? Nothing. What's Blu-Ray going to do to the market? Unsure at this moment...but if its anything like UMD, nothing.

UMD was different. It was a lot more limited.

Whilst HD formats aren't taking off yet, there is an explosion in interest of all things HD, and eventually Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, or both, will take off.

 

[Deleted User]

UMD was different. It was a lot more limited.

Whilst HD formats aren't taking off yet, there is an explosion in interest of all things HD, and eventually Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, or both, will take off.

But not if consumers deem them too expensive and a waste.

 

[Zenien]

Early technology appeals to the hardcore base, it's not like DVD was considered awesome by the average consumer until it it mass market in a cheaper way. And it's not liek Blu Ray and HD-DVD aren't following a similar pricing trend to the curve DVD was on years before.

So saying that HD discs aren't going to take off because they're too expensive for the average consumer NOW like isn't taking the near term future into consideration.

 

[GoldenAgeHero]

HD disc are'nt going to take off becaue no one really cares for the format unless your tech junkie. the only way i see it taking off is if HDTV's become alot cheaper and grow in market share. and makesure HDdvd players are backwards compatiable with DVD's.

 

[Deleted User]

Early technology appeals to the hardcore base, it's not like DVD was considered awesome by the average consumer until it it mass market in a cheaper way. And it's not liek Blu Ray and HD-DVD aren't following a similar pricing trend to the curve DVD was on years before.

So saying that HD discs aren't going to take off because they're too expensive for the average consumer NOW like isn't taking the near term future into consideration.

DVD didn't cost you $1,000+ to actually make a worthwhile delve into, though, which both of the HD formats DO. And the players (well, Blu-Ray that is) are ridiculously pricier than DVD when it came out as well as the media itself. $40 for a BR-DVD? That's not going to have many people running to go get one.

 

[hippie_hunter]

This is a smart move by Microsoft. What if HD-DVD fails and blu-ray succeeds? What if HD-DVD succeeds and blu-ray fails? What if they both fail? Microsoft doesn't know the outcome (and neither do Sony, Toshiba, Apple, the movie studios, the video game developers, etc), and they want to be prepared for it.

 

[Zenien]

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/9/1/p1-238-e.html

I'm pretty sure that hypothetical 40 dollars for an HD-DVD is consistent with what early DVD prices were.

 

[Deleted User]

Many of those numbers are estimates of what DVD players would cost when they came out. Not what they actually did cost, so those are a little more than useless. And eh, add inflation? Inflation from 1997 to now would probably equate to about 10-20%. The inflation rate would have to have DOUBLED to justify Blu-Ray's price.

I misread something horribly. Forget the first line that I edited out if you already saw what I typed.

 

[Zenien]

By all means find some historical data.

 

[Fran]

This is a smart move by Microsoft. What if HD-DVD fails and blu-ray succeeds? What if HD-DVD succeeds and blu-ray fails? What if they both fail? Microsoft doesn't know the outcome (and neither do Sony, Toshiba, Apple, the movie studios, the video game developers, etc), and they want to be prepared for it.

LOL, your sig is spelled wrong.

Darren Daring.

 

[Zenien]

How long does it take most households to download, 5 gigs? That would be the size of a movie on DVD that's not even HD. Ipod Video is IPOD and small for a reason. Let's wait another 15 years for fiber optics to improve to some insane level, and then true HD E-distribution can hold weight, though that's only for America and Japan, the global market would take MUCH longer to create an infastructure capable of supporting true WW E-Distribution for movies.

As is, HD-TVs are picking up steam, and people are going to want HD content. Next gen players and movies are showing healthy sales at this point, saying they won't take off is only slightly more misguided then saying they will.

Nearly 47% of TV households in the U.S. plan to buy an HDTV in the next twelve months. This increase would boost HDTV sales by 30% and HD video services by 38% by the end of 2006.

http://www.physorg.com/news7662.html

And next gen HD players are 500-700-1000 dollars NOW. They'll have fallen by next year.

HDTV sales have increased 52% in unit volume and 39% in dollar volume from January through September of 2006 compared to the same time period in 2005.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/ITFacts/?p=12252

Black Friday leads to record sales of HDTVs

http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/08/black-friday-leads-to-record-sales-of-hdtvs/

 

[hippy fascist]

If anyone can name a single new format sony have EVER managed to launch and turn into a success I'll give them my first child.

Every new format they've introduced has failed. They're in a bad way financially already. Blu-ray is gonna tank, end of story

 

[BatMatt]

If anyone can name a single new format sony have EVER managed to launch and turn into a success I'll give them my first child.

Every new format they've introduced has failed. They're in a bad way financially already. Blu-ray is gonna tank, end of story

Well they introduced the 3.5" floppy disk, and the Video8 format for camcorders

 

[lars573]

Also Sony developed DVD-.

 

[GhostPoet]

Honestly...I think Blueray is wayyyy over-rated. It's over-priced and doesn't offer any NOTICABLE better quality than HD-DVD. I've seen the comparisons...you have to pause the movie and do a freakin examination to tell any differences. :P

I think I'll go HD. For one...more people seem to be interested in it than blueray from what I've seen. (the average movie watcher, not the geek)

I think Blueray is going to turn out to be like Laserdisc. A small niche crowd will buy it, it'lll exist but not to the mainstream market.

 

[hippie_hunter]

If anyone can name a single new format sony have EVER managed to launch and turn into a success I'll give them my first child.

Every new format they've introduced has failed. They're in a bad way financially already. Blu-ray is gonna tank, end of story

Ever hear of the compact disk? You know the CD? That was developed by Sony and Philips. Sony also took part in creating the DVD after dropping their format for the Super Density Disk.

You now owe me your first born child.

 

[BatMatt]

Ever hear of the compact disk? You know the CD? That was developed by Sony and Philips. Sony also took part in creating the DVD after dropping their format for the Super Density Disk.

You now owe me your first born child.

actually I mentioned the floppy disk and video8 first so we should at least both get custody. I want Christmas day

 

[hippy fascist]

actually I mentioned the floppy disk and video8 first so we should at least both get custody. I want Christmas day

I'm getting the snip

 

[hippie_hunter]

actually I mentioned the floppy disk and video8 first so we should at least both get custody. I want Christmas day

IBM invented the floppy disk, Sony evolved the design with the 3 1/2 floppy. Video8 never went beyond the camcorder market.

Sony actually took part in inventing CD and DVD. Which are much more important than what you mentioned. Also, the MiniDisk is not a flop, it was a major success in Japan. I win, you lose. I deserve full custody.

The only true flop that Sony created was the betamax. UMD is still successful as a video game disk even though it failed in the movie market.