Toshiba quits HD DVD business

Tribune-Star ^ | Feb. 19,2008 | By Yuri Kageyama

[Military family member]

TOKYO — Toshiba's decision to no longer develop, make or market high-definition HD DVD players and recorders will mean consumers can start feeling more confident about buying the victorious rival technology — a Blu-ray disc player.

Analysts say competition is expected to heat up among the manufacturers of Blu-ray players and recorders, which include Japanese makers Sony Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Sharp Corp. as well as Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea.

In making the announcement, Toshiba Corp. President Atsutoshi Nishida said he wanted to avoid confusion among consumers.

[Military family member]

This is a victory for my hometown, which is home to the largest CD/Blu-Ray factory in the world. Word is SOny is planning on hiring hundreds of new employees.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I’m off the hook. I didn’t select the “Betamax” this time.

[goodwithagun]

I was waiting for the issue to be cleared up. I did not want to make the betamax mistake.

[NavVet]

Women and minorities hardest hit.

[Military family member]

Me too. Locally, we’re glad this bit of technology took off. Last month, we lost 660 jobs because Pfizer’s new inhaled insulin form, Exhubera, failed to sell.

[mmichaels1970]

Good news for this future PS3 owner.

[Hazcat]

Can somebady ‘slaine this to me?

I understand the two format battle but what exactly is going to be affected?

I have a dvd player and dvd extrnal drives for my pc.

Does this affect them or is this only for when I go buy a new dvd palyer for HD format?

[DoughtyOne]

Bought a Blue-Ray player around October of 2007. It seemd things were headed this way by then.

I want a Blue-Ray recorder NOW! LOL

[Phantom Lord]

By the nature of your question I can say this will not affect you.

Seriously though, this is only in regardes to those with HD TVs and wanting a high def video player. Blu Ray is the champ.

And as another noted, great news for a future PS3 owner.

[Digital Sniper]

I've been sidelining our high-definition DVD purchases until the whole Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD brouhaha was settled. Now time will tell whether we're stuck with a VHS or Beta winner.

[Bommer]

Its only for high definition DVD’s. The only impact will be in the future for starage since Blu-Ray can store much more data!

[Pontiac]

PING

[Hazcat]

Thanks guys.

Nope, don’t have a high def TV so no problem for me.

[GLDNGUN]

Does this affect them or is this only for when I go buy a new dvd palyer for HD format?

Correct. Blu-ray is the way.

[mmichaels1970]

have a dvd player and dvd extrnal drives for my pc.

Does this affect them or is this only for when I go buy a new dvd palyer for HD format?

Your existing dvd players and drives are unaffected, at least for now. Just like VHS tapes, as time goes by, you're going to start seeing a larger and larger selection of blu-ray movies on the store shelves. You'll start having the option of adding a bluray reader/writer drive on your computers. Eventually, it's believed that your standard dvd will become less and less available.

[Hazcat]

Thanks

[Prokopton]

Now time will tell whether we're stuck with a VHS or Beta winner.

Beta was technically superior to VHS but lost out.

Blu Ray is technically superior to HD and it won out.

[Richard Kimball]

Cue Jackson Browne "Make room for my 45s along beside your 78s"

I'll still hold off a little longer for the price to drop more, and may not jump at all if they don't come off that $40 per movie for a Blu-Ray. I'm sure it will come down, though.

[Digital Sniper]

Blu Ray is technically superior to HD and it won out.

I'm gratified to hear that and will certainly be looking forward to enjoying the high-def experience on my 50" HD TV! :-)

[Lady Heron]

LOL! We made that choice also.