Bill Gates Takes Sides

[Sean*O]

It's meaningless this announcement, especially considering Microsoft will be providing full support in the OS for Blu-ray also, considering Dell Inc., and Hewlett Packard Company, the two biggest computer companies are supporting Blu-ray.

Unless MS includes a HD-DVD player in the X360, they have ZERO influence in the consumer space, where this battle counts.

MS provides support for just about every peripheral hardware device in their OS' so I don't see how that's relevant? They have to support everything or they risk losing market share to someone else.

That does not by itself exclude them from having an interest in the adoption of, or the success of one format over another.

The point is you won't see Bill Gates making any appearances at any press conferences in support of Blu Ray as he has with HD-DVD anytime soon. They wanted this to make news because public and corporate perception will play a huge part in the coming format war.

By not fully committing, MS has a back door out in case HD-DVD ends up DOA. They will support both BR & HDDVD within their products, but they clearly have a preference as to which one comes out on top.

 

[-NakedZ-]

“The initial shipments of Xbox 360 will be based on today's DVD format,” Gates confirmed. “We are looking at whether future versions of Xbox 360 will incorporate an additional capability of an HD DVD player or something else.”

Source

It could mean the first initial shipments are non-HD-DVD. But they could equip later productions with HD-DVD or "or something else" could mean Blu-Ray. It's possible, but for movie playback purpose only. I don't think devs would risk switching over and alienate consumers (gamers). Which is exactly what MS would be doing "IF" they went ahead with it, IMO.

- Z

 

[Edge]

> "corporate perception will play a huge part"

I'm interested in hearing, how does that work?

 

[DemoCoder]

Nope, MS VC compression made it into the BR and HDDVD specs.

 

[scooby_dooby]

I think the sheer weight of MS's presence adds strength to the HD-DVD camp.

If MS gives the impression they are on-board with HD-DVD I think that adds strength to the position, both in the eyes of consumers, and the industry itself.

It's more of a symbolic thing than anything though, as MS doesn't actually control any content that would be released on these HD-DVD's. So, it's not a huge deal, but it does have an impact, even if it's mainly pyschological.

 

[Inane_Dork]

Well i guess that MS just doesnt have the balls...

The stupidity is more like it. Optical mediums are just not important to MS. They are lifeblood to Sony, however, and Sony's doing a pretty good job of hyping the need and potential of BD.

 

[jvd]

You may still see hd-dvd support for the x360 .

I wouldn't be suprised if instead of the third hd-dvd layer being for dvd copies , they are infact wmv copies of the hd-dvd content . Like the t2 special edition .


This would give x360 users hd movies and it would give hd-dvd a trojan horse to get into more homes .

If an x360 users has say 10-15$ wmv hd movies with the other layers of the discs being hd-dvd they will buy a hd-dvd player .

However i don't know if this will happen . But it would be the most likely part

 

[Sean*O]

I'm interested in hearing, how does that work?

Something like this:

I think the sheer weight of MS's presence adds strength to the HD-DVD camp.

Microsoft is one more ally to the HD-DVD camp for potential investors and partners to factor into their decision making process.

How it all works out is anyone's guess. But MS is a big powerful company who have for whatever reason taken an interest in HD-DVD, and that will influence things, only to what degree is unknown.

 

[Sean*O]

I wouldn't be suprised if instead of the third hd-dvd layer being for dvd copies , they are infact wmv copies of the hd-dvd content . Like the t2 special edition .


This would give x360 users hd movies and it would give hd-dvd a trojan horse to get into more homes .

If an x360 users has say 10-15$ wmv hd movies with the other layers of the discs being hd-dvd they will buy a hd-dvd player .

However i don't know if this will happen . But it would be the most likely part

I had not even thought of that.

My guess is that if they would use the 3'rd layer for additional storage of the HD-DVD movie or content, it would make HDVD more competitive on paper with Blu Ray, storage wise.

I have a hunch that MS interest in HD-DVD is solely to hurt Sony. Sony seemed to imply they would be gunning for Microsoft's OS market by including Linux with the PS3 HDD, and I think MS is now gunning back at Sony's hardware market.

 

[Teasy]

I wouldn't be suprised if instead of the third hd-dvd layer being for dvd copies , they are infact wmv copies of the hd-dvd content . Like the t2 special edition

Totally lost me there, what third layer are you referring to?

 

[jvd]

I wouldn't be suprised if instead of the third hd-dvd layer being for dvd copies , they are infact wmv copies of the hd-dvd content . Like the t2 special edition

Totally lost me there, what third layer are you referring to?

Toshiba announced tri layer discs . So they have produceable single , dual and tri layer . Dual layer is 30 gigs which is enough for hd video and then you can use the last layer for wmv hd video that u can use on the pc in a regular dvd drive or in the xbox 360

 

[PC-Engine]

Particularly

Gates said Microsoft retained its neutral stance on the format battle, not explicitly supporting either side.

No HDDVD in XB360

“The initial shipments of Xbox 360 will be based on today's DVD format,â€￾ Gates confirmed. “We are looking at whether future versions of Xbox 360 will incorporate an additional capability of an HD DVD player or something else.â€￾

Maybe not in revision 1.0

The alternative on the Blu-Ray side is Java / Linux based software, whose specifications include internet connectivity and 3 different levels of interactive content (DVD like, Super DVD like, and full blown Java applications)

From what I've read iHD is a lot more efficient than BD-J while providing everything the studios want/need.

 

[wco81]

Third layer is vapor. They haven't even put it up for vote to add to the spec. It's seen as a gambit by Toshiba in the unification talks.

MS has to be for HD-DVD. Besides IHD, they'd announced a deal with Warners for some HD-DVD titles using VC-1. Plus, they would want any effect BR has in selling the PS3 to be as muted as possible. BR winning the format war would be bad news for MS, plain and simple. Even if they added BR to the X360 or some future products, they'd be paying Sony royalties.

As for adding HD-DVD to the X360, wouldn't they have to add 1080p output capabilities as well as HDMI/DVI (unless by some miracle, the studios allow HDTV output via analog component)? Would that be a trivial change as simply swapping out drives?

They may be dangling the "we're looking into it" to diminish the perception as much as possible that the PS3 has an advantage in HDTV features over the X360.

 

[PC-Engine]

Third layer is vapor. They haven't even put it up for vote to add to the spec. It's seen as a gambit by Toshiba in the unification talks.

As for adding HD-DVD to the X360, wouldn't they have to add 1080p output capabilities as well as HDMI/DVI (unless by some miracle, the studios allow HDTV output via analog component)? Would that be a trivial change as simply swapping out drives?.

Actually Toshiba hopes to get the TL HD DVD approved by the DVD Forum by the end of the year.

4 and 8 layer BR is what I would call vaporware right Edge?

As for HDMI output that's pretty trivial considering MS designed the X360's output chip.

 

[Edge]

Whatever PC-Engine/Nec Avenue. I've learned there is no point in discussing anything with you, that has to do with a NEC product.

You like some kind of super-marketing person for that company.

 

[randycat99]

Nicely played, Edge!

 

[Sonic]

This thread does not belong in this forum. Post it somewhere else.

Realskywolf, this is your first warning. Do not make topics like this again in the console forum.