Microsoft "firmly stands behind the HD-DVD format"
by Ross Miller 
{ Jan 16th 2006 at 11:15PM }
We reported earlier statements
from Peter Moore regarding the Xbox 360 and possible Blu-Ray support, suggesting it would be smart of Microsoft
"not to be diligently supporting a dead format (if HD-DVD, indeed, loses)." We were not the only ones
speculating, of course, and in an effort to curtail confusion, Microsoft has issued a press release reaffirming their
support of the HD-DVD format. Furthermore, they want to make clear that offering an external Blu-Ray drive is not
"a back-up plan...at this point, we're fully committed to HD-DVD and have absolutely no plans to support other
optical formats."Judging by the previous article's comments, there are some very strong opinions on the matter of formats, but Bill Gates made a very interesting observation in his recent interview with Engadget: "I often say that this is the last format battle there will ever be, because everything is going online." To what extent do you feel he's right?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
syed peer @ Jan 16th 2006 11:23PM
this is the same guy who said, no one would need more the 512 K of ram ...
cyberfelon @ Jan 16th 2006 11:37PM
The idea of downloadable content sounds great and everything, but when optical media is about to offer dozens of gigabytes of information I just can't imagine there being an online service up to the same standard for a long, long time.
Sentience @ Jan 16th 2006 11:40PM
Ah, Peter Moore made the original comment regarding Blu-Ray, not Gates.
Zieb @ Jan 17th 2006 12:00AM
I like the HD DVD, it will be a good transition, because there able to put a regular DVD ontop of the HDDVD, so that even if you didnt have a HD DVD player you could still watch the DVDs now, but later watch them on your Disc. Much better.
http://www.toshibahddvd.com/ check it out.
sensay @ Jan 17th 2006 12:10AM
Hideo Kojima has an interesting view on this topic in the new OPM interview...he talks about the need for packaged items. Something tangible with a cover- he likes going to the store and browsing through games, music, books. I think there is a decline in interest in packaging- but i loved when i pre-ordered ocarina of time, i got a gold bag, the gold cartridge, a shirt, a poster, tatoos...plus instruction manuals used to be entertaining too- remember the Zelda manuals for the NES- maybe im just old fashioned.
Eric @ Jan 17th 2006 12:12AM
I do believe it will be the last format war, however that does not mean the eventual winning format will not last. Gate's statement is nothing new. When I hear Microsoft making those statements, it's like saying "downloadable movies will be the norm soon so why not go with HD-DVD's in the meantime since they are the quicker, cheaper, easier option." Just like music, there will always be two markets for movies. Downloads will satisfy consumers only interested in affordable, average quality "iTunes" type downloads, but for those that want all bells and whistles will still opt for a physical disk giving them the highest resolution picture and features. Plus, there is still a LARGE percentage of people that aren't comfortable with computers and online services. There will always be consumers that want the ease of popping a disk into a device and watching a movie that don't want to be bothered by networking a media center tv to enable streaming movies. The challenge for HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is convincing those consumers to upgrade from their DVDs to a HD format.
2again @ Jan 17th 2006 12:17AM
Digital distribution is the future. It's possible now, but with some newer technologies being developed, it's gonna make a lot more sense later on.
Anyone familiar with Internet2? It's certainly not a requirement, but it's pretty cool.
How about some of the newer flash technology that's on the horizon that's as large as a hard drive? Hmm... wasn't Microsoft rumored to be working with a flash vendor?
What about streaming technology?
2mellow @ Jan 17th 2006 12:24AM
This is stupid who is gonna buy an hd-dvd add on for there 360. I own a 360 and i think its stupid. I would buy a stand alone player before i got that. HD-dvd should have been added from the begining or they should have made it so u can swap out the drives.
Nick @ Jan 17th 2006 12:28AM
syed peer: No. The fake quote actually states: "640K ought to be enough for anybody." Yes, you read that right - fake quote. Have a read: http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,1484,00.html and http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/gatesivu.htm.
Nick
kizza @ Jan 17th 2006 12:29AM
This wont happen anytime real soon. Little ol' bette johnson, hardly knows how to turn on a computer, let alone download Fried green tomatoes. What are people gonna do, just go round to a relative or friends place for thir birthday or xmas & say "yeh, argh I got you a gift, it's still downloading on my computer, I'll write it to a disk & give it to you".
Or are they expecting us not to buy each other movies or games for these events. Would kinda take the fun way from chrissy & birthdays for kids into games & movies (nearly all kids).
It will take more than the lifespan of next gen consoles to get less computer literate people on track, let alone convince them and all others, that this is a safe, viable way to get these things.
I've never bought a dvd that has had corrupt files or given my dvd player a virus.
Keep talking Bill, your just proving to half educated people, how out of touch you are with normal consumers reality.
At this stage blu ray is for me, but regardless of that, the PS3 is getting my money for the games alone........not the format.
nick @ Jan 17th 2006 12:30AM
Reminds me of music CDs. You have the option of buying CDs or purchasing and downloading the digital version.
Nick @ Jan 17th 2006 12:32AM
God damn it Joystiq. Fix your god damn comments system already; it has been HORRIBLE since the downgrade ... I mean upgrade.
Here's my link AGAIN: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/gatesivu.htm
I also meant to include a third link: http://tafkac.org/celebrities/bill.gates/gates_memory.html
Let's see if that one messes up somehow. And God, the excess line returns are annoying as hell. FIX IT JOYSTIQ WEBMASTER.
Nick
Ruben @ Jan 17th 2006 12:36AM
ive never bought any media online i refuse to pay for the same price, online should be cheaper than in store bacause you dont get anything material like a Dvd and a box. besides i rather have the Material object than just some MB. also not everyone has high speed internet if everyone went online some people would be left out
Nick @ Jan 17th 2006 12:40AM
Wow. Just ... wow. I've never seen a comments section of a blog so horrid - ever. Just screw it; I don't care to try any more. If you want to read my links, you'll have to highlight, copy, and paste.
Nick
Richard @ Jan 17th 2006 12:55AM
I find it funny how Microsoft's exec's are on totally different pages. You have Gates saying Halo 3 will launch the same day the PS3 launches (then retracts the statement in an interview at CES), Peter Moore saying MS will put a Blu-Ray add-on for the 360 if HD-DVD loses (not a bad move considering they'd alienate customers simply to push their own agenda on a weak format if Blue-Ray did infact win). It's not all that surprising I guess, but at the same time it is a bit funny.
dapperdan79 @ Jan 17th 2006 1:22AM
nobody wants to read your links....quit bitching. you act like you are the most important poster here for some reason.
Zero_ @ Jan 17th 2006 1:35AM
If Bill says "This is the last format war ever", then shouldn't the victor be the one with the larger capacity, considering it's going to last, well, forever?
serialtoon @ Jan 17th 2006 1:49AM
I dont think this will be the last format wars as if everything was online, then we would have extension wars and compression wars. So no, this is NOT the last format war.
James Sun @ Jan 17th 2006 2:19AM
"No plans" in the B.S world of P.R does not mean will not, nor never will. Just as months ago when they lied to our face and said that they "currently" have no plan on including HD-DVD drive. It didn't mean that it will not, it just meant that "we have that ready to make more money out of you, we just have no plan on telling you idiots about that yet. Take thier words with grands of salt if I were you.
dan @ Jan 17th 2006 3:27AM
Personaly I think digital delivery is coming. No one thought it would work for music or with games, now iTunes is happily raking in cash and steam is, well it's still going. Live arcade, well I've got more marketplace games than disc games for my 360 so far.
Video delivery will work when you can watch it while you're downloading it. No one's going to wait a few hours for something to finish downloading before they can watch it (although they will wait 2-3 business days, go figure) Of course, it'll take the general public a while to get hip to the technology but they always get it sooner or later. After all how many people are recording their TV on hard disk recorders now anyway? Would it realy be that big a leap to store the movie they just bought there as well?
Oh yeah Ruben, I'm not mocking you because it's obvious what you meant, but it's hilarious the way this came out.
"if everyone went online some people would be left out"
funny stuff ^_^
Gareth @ Jan 17th 2006 4:06AM
Just a couple of weeks ago they stated that there would be no HD-DVD player.
Take this latest statement with more than just a pinch of salt.
#1. And I believe it was 64K of RAM Gates said you would need.
John @ Jan 17th 2006 4:34AM
IPtv Anyone??
new*allusion @ Jan 17th 2006 5:18AM
Maybe Bill Gates is right. Maybe everyone will get there content from the 'net. He's still got a problem though, why does the premium Xbox 360 pack comes with a measley 13GB of space? Thats not enough for a HD-DVD or Blu-ray movie. Whatever happens, if people are to enjoy High Definition movies on the Xbox 360 they will have to buy an add-on to do it.
And I've not even discussed the fact that most people have connections far below 512kbps. Imagine downloading a 20GB HD Movie and how long it would take and how long it will be until everybody has a suitable connection.
Thats why Blu-ray and HD-DVD are viable.
is @ Jan 17th 2006 5:59AM
optical media is definitely on its way out though. Anyone who thinks that there will be a tech-barrier is naive...look how far the large capacity memory revolution has come in such a short space of time? I personally much prefer having a dvdrip that i can watch on my pc/laptop/pda with ease than having to fiddle about with the disc that skips, scratches and has to be loaded manually.
the phenomenom of iPod is in the process of killing cd's as we speak. You dont think the same will happen for movies and games? Its coming. Coupled with paracy it could kill the entire entertainment industry. which would be a good thing, for as consumers weve spent too long only being able to enjoy whats profitable, perhaps once the finacial race has been eliminated from the arts, some kind of creative integrity will re-emerge.
gamer1 @ Jan 17th 2006 7:38AM
I agree with people who say there will always be format wars. There will always be a need to distribute and transfer data physically. Not only do people also like being able to buy their media at stores, as long as technology advances, there will always be a need to create more convenient, high capacity, storage medium. Because of this, companies will continue to compete to develop the next high capacity format.
In terms of movies, I believe that this could be possibly be the last format war for HD. It seems that 1080p for movies is extremely high quality for home televisions, even for HD. Most HDTVs currently dont even support 1080p. Are there even any plans for digital movie cameras to even record higher any than 1080p? In terms of converting analog film to digital for use with home televisions, anything higher than 1080p would seem impractical considering the size of televisions and the distance in which the television would be viewed. It seems that this digital standard could be the cap for home video, at least for a long time, just as 480i had been the standard since television was created. Until technology evolves to a better way to physically view more detailed digital content at home on a 60 inch screen, it seems that there is not need for anything greater. There could be another format for those who would wish to watch movies on a high resolution projector screen where the screen size exceed the norm of HDTVs, but this demographic would exclude the vast majority of users who own HDTVs, even at the maximum resolution of 1080p. So, because of this, it may not seem practical to develop a superior digital format to Blu-Ray or HD-DVD for home movies in a long while.
In terms of data access, I dont think that todays online technology is advanced enough for transferring multiple gigabytes of data in competition with the convenient physical formats that Blu-Ray or HD-DVD could offer. In a society where time is precious, no one will want to wait hours to transfer full games or movies in HD quality in comparison to picking up a disc with the same content at the store for the same price. Unless a discount is given, this isnt going to work well. The hard drive for the Xbox 360 is also not designed to handle this amount of data also. Mosty likely, this hard drive is designed to download Live Arcade games possibly up to a gigabyte, or HD videos up to half an hour of content, but not more without quickly maxing out the available space. It would also be bad to introduce a new larger hard drive so soon after the launch of the system by devaluing the current hard drive. Microsofts current Xbox 360 console could be considered a testing ground for their next console, where future online technology would allow full HD movies and games to be transferred online at a practical speed, and larger, more economical hard drives (or flash drives) would be able to hold this data.
Microsoft definitely has an upper hand in terms of online content for console gaming, especially with their plans for the marketplace. The marketplace concept is a great business tool that opens a gateway to unlimited content purchase options. The problem that I see with Microsofts online plan is their Gold membership offering, which, if their online plans were to succeed, the benefits of Gold membership should have been free. If Microsoft were to remove Gold membership costs in replacement for Microsoft point costs, this would keep the online system at one standard and allow people to pay for their new content with the same points used for Gold access. Separating the subscription fee from the Microsoft point system makes the subscriber feel like they have to pay extra fees. Microsoft should have started the online service payment plan for the Xbox 360 by charging Microsoft points, but since they opted to transfer their current Xbox subscriber membership to the Xbox 360, they had decided not to do this. Hopefully, Microsofts next console system will offer a completely free online system with the cost of the console, especially if their competitors decide to imitate the Xbox 360s centralized online system.
wearedoomed @ Jan 17th 2006 8:42AM
Gates is definitely wrong about this - he's just whoring himself out with intellectually dishonest statements so he can pimp Xbox Live. Yes, there will continue to be physical formats, and no, we (the US)does not have the infrastructure in place for total digital delivery f all movies, music, games, etc. etc. To add insult to injury, this infrastructure is unlikely to appear anytime soon, due to wide variety of forces such as market regulations, speical interest group lobbying and corporate power grabs.
Rocketboy @ Jan 17th 2006 10:53AM
Is it me, or does this just seem to show (yet again) that Microsoft jumped the gun with the 360 due to poor planning?
don_sf @ Jan 17th 2006 12:26PM
what you dont understand is that, buying or borrowing a dvd from your local blockbusters, sitting down with family or friends or both, with a pizza and chips CAN'T be beaten.
even if you can dload it, put it on disk etc, it would feel good to get a proper one. you dont get those nice covers and extra scenes.
you cant have this on your computer because computers will always have to have a smaller screen size because you cant do normal work with a 32" monitor.
but you could buy your bds and enjoy crisp sound and amazing hd picture in your living room.
and it gives people something to do, everyone knows at least one person who has a large dvd collection.
and whats more is, i get a free blu drive with my ps3.