With our powers combined... Blu-ray + HD-DVD [UPDATED]
by Adams Briscoe 
{ Jun 27th 2006 at 12:00PM }
Some want it, others don't. Either way, Sony is going to get Blu-ray into your home one way or another. That's their plan anyway, thanks to the PlayStation 3. Like we've said before, it's not just about the games this time and Sony is in it for the long haul.That's what makes this little bit of information so intriguing. What would happen if a Blu-ray partner like Samsung, who is technically not supposed to mess with HD-DVD, decides to foster a partnership with Toshiba in an attempt to make a hybrid player? Everyone is talking format wars with HD-DVD and Blu-ray going head-to-head. But what happens when you have a machine that can play both?
Having a dual-player would essentially take the "war" out of the formats. And with Sony trying to smuggle their medium into homes via the next-gen PlayStation, how is this move going to affect their strategy? It gets even more interesting with talks about making an HD-DVD/Blu-ray hybrid disc to go along with it. The kicker is this: Sony knows the PS3 is a good deal, as a Blu-ray platform, as they're trying to appeal to non-gamers with it as well. But would non-gamers still want to invest if they can have their cake and eat it too with a hybrid machine that can play both formats?
[UPDATE: Well, looks like you can cut through this rumor like a knife through warm butter. Check this out for the skinny on the mess. So all of the above is more of a hypothetical scenario. Yeah, that's it-]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Vultaro @ Jun 28th 2006 3:18AM
Hmmmm.. Well most of the people out there are buying the PS3, because it IS THE PS3, and whatever Sony may say, it is still primarily a gaming console... Who would ever buy a PS3 if it wasent one ?
The only edge the PS3 has over XBOX 360, are exclusive titles nad sequels, which is the reason most ppl will fork over 600$, even though all the information we have right now leans towards the fact that both the machines will have similiar performances.
That doesent change with the fact that Samsung/Toshiba may be on the works of a Hybrid format/player...
The very, very small percentage of ppl going to buy the PS3 for its blu-ray movies, might change their mind, but that is not going to affect Sony by much....
I also believe that the Blu-ray player on the PS3 will not be up to the mark of stand alone players, so even if Blu-ray wins the format wars, ppl are going to want to buy a stand alone player...(just like how ppl have a PS2 and a stand alone DvD player..)
derf @ Jun 28th 2006 8:09AM
What games are exclusive (other than MGS4) that are worth playing. None. In general a majority of the games you can get for the PS3 you can get for the 360.
Wesley Hester @ Jun 28th 2006 11:17AM
Why couldn't the short sighted, creedy and stubborn companies camping on each side (especially Toshiba and Sony) of the high def format reach a compromise solution BEFORE releasing players and discs like all of us customers wanted (pleaded) them to do.
Talking about HD-DVD/Blu-ray hybrid disc NOW is complete b@#sh%t. The "universal" DVD-Audio/SACD players I have "really" helped those formats.
yubaduba @ Jun 28th 2006 11:45AM
It would still be a problem having two formats. It would be dumb to walk into a store and have two formats of every movie on the shelf. I don't think most retailers would have the space for it all.
sputnik @ Jul 2nd 2006 10:10AM
I was at Best-Buy this week and was able to see Samsungs Blu-Ray drive using a Samsung flat panel display in action side by side with a Toshiba HD-DVD drive using a Westing House flat panel display.
Now the Westinghouse display has nothing on the Samsung in terms of visual quality so keep that in mind.
I watched several movie clips on each screen and was very unimpressed with either format with live action clips (thats real people like any nomral movie). The Blu-Ray player had a clip of Chicken Little which is a CG movie...and wow! Looked absolutely amazing. Everything was so sharp and clear. It was very impressive.
I have also felt the same about my current setup, I have an Sony 34" CRT HDTV and use my 360 for 480p DVD playback. Incredibles looks better than any other movie I've seen on the TV. Something about CG that just looks great even at 480p.
But since most movies I would watch on HD-DVD or Blu-Ray would be live action, I'm very unimpressed. Truthfully I intend on purchasing the HD-DVD add on if it's less than $200. But the slight improvement in live action visuals does not warrant a penny more of investment in my opinion.
Oh and I am both a video and audiophile. I obsess over visual and audio quality perfection. I've calibrated my own TV set to get it just right...etc.