Blu-ray player for Xbox 360 on the way?

[HEXUS]

Following the news that Toshiba is planning to halt production of HD-DVD compatible equipment, a rumour that Microsoft is now looking to revert to ‘plan b’ and release a standalone Blu-Ray player for the Xbox 360, has hit the net.

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[j.o.s.h.1408]

thats good news but i may end up buying a ps3 for blu ray and grand tourismo 5 or 6

[gtech]

Oh how the tables turn... big fat LOL

[j.o.s.h.1408]

LOL how? MS always stated that they would consider jumping into blu ray if it won. why do you think MS did a STAND ALONE player to begin with?

[TheAnimus]

MS haven't really invested much in backing HD, but have been careful in ensuring both work with their platform.

Its not in their intrest to push one format or the other, so why would they>

[kalniel]

Quite.

Of course they would prefer a solution that didn't require them to purchase drives from a rival console manufacturer, that's only prudent, but they didn't build the drive in for very good reasons. Can you imagine what would happen to the PS3 if it had worked out differently?

[Funkstar]

They don't have to buy BluRay drives from Sony, they could get them from Asus, LG, LiteOn, Pioneer or even Plextor.

And in the coming months, expect to see all the other optical vendors either OEMing those drives or producing their own.

[Ferral]

Thing that gets me with all format wars (previously betamax and vhs) is that the only people that end up losing out is us the consumer. Can anyone be certain yet what is going to end up on top, my guess is that it is going to be Blu Ray with the backing and momentum it is now getting from so many different companies. Thing is though, all he people that have spent hundreds on a HD DVD player will end up losing out.

[kalniel]

Originally Posted by Funkstar

They don't have to buy BluRay drives from Sony, they could get them from Asus, LG, LiteOn, Pioneer or even Plextor.

Ah my mistake, I thought those third parties still licensed/purchased sub-components from Sony.

Originally Posted by Ferral

Thing that gets me with all format wars (previously betamax and vhs) is that the only people that end up losing out is us the consumer. Can anyone be certain yet what is going to end up on top, my guess is that it is going to be Blu Ray with the backing and momentum it is now getting from so many different companies. Thing is though, all he people that have spent hundreds on a HD DVD player will end up losing out.

Why would the average punter buy either HD DVD or Blu-ray though? Most people still have standard def TVs.

It's only early adopters who will loose out, but they always loose out comparitively because they 'waste' hundreds in the premium for getting technology early anyway.

[Ferral]

Don't get me wrong, it is completely right what you are saying. I do own a 42" HD plasma that can do 720p and 1080i. Havn't gone for a HD player of any sort yet though, bout a Wharfdale upscaling DVD player from Argos just before Christmas and everything looks great in 720p. Great thing is that it cost me £35 and will definately do until this whole format war has blown over.

What we need is a player that does both formats, at least that way its a win, win situation for us regardless of the outcome.

[gtech]

LOL how?

On all the backpeddling that MS are doing at the moment, it was only a few years ago that there was this...
Microsoft to muscle HD-DVD fate - Engadget HD

Microsoft WILL support Blu-ray? In Vista at least (maybe?) - Engadget HD

All of this comes just after Microsoft denied Blu-ray plans for the Xbox 360, so the question remains: Does Microsoft really hate Blu-ray, or do they really like it and are just playing hard to get? Be true to your feelings Bill.

and more recently
Microsoft backpedals on Blu-ray for Xbox 360 comments | Reg Hardware

I'm enjoying the kick in the teeth that microsoft have got, some of you will say it isnt but after everything MS have said in the past...it is.
But tbh MS probably wants both formats to fail, so they can try and become king of media downloads.

[Barrichello]

Plan "B" - lol

Plan "B" should also consist of MS refunding peoples HD-DVD drives. Doubt they will go that far.

[kalniel]

Originally Posted by Barrichello

Plan "B" should also consist of MS refunding peoples HD-DVD drives. Doubt they will go that far.

Why? Have the HD-DVD drives suddenly stopped playing people's HD-DVDs?

[menthel]

I find the sony trolling quite sad personally. When I buy my PS3 in march will I turn in to one?

I think MS' plan of using an add on drive was the best that could be done at the time. It was the format that they supported BUT there was no clear winner. I am not sure that a blu-ray drive will appear and I would not buy one as I think that the noise created by my xbox is not conducive to movie watching but I applaud their forward planning.

What would have happened to sony's multimedia plans if HD-DVD had suceeded? They would have been relegated to purely a game player with networked media capabilities and not the hub they had hoped for...

[kalniel]

Originally Posted by menthel

What would have happened to sony's multimedia plans if HD-DVD had suceeded? They would have been relegated to purely a game player with networked media capabilities and not the hub they had hoped for...

Actually I had a think about that - it might have been a smart business move afterall - if your format fails then you force everyone to buy the refresh model and throw out their old ones. Again as early adopters are quite likely to be 'brand loyal' (to use the polite term for it) they probably would stump up again for their favourite console, especially if the costs were lowered to bring it in line with the competition.

[menthel]

Originally Posted by kalniel

Actually I had a think about that - it might have been a smart business move afterall - if your format fails then you force everyone to buy the refresh model and throw out their old ones. Again as early adopters are quite likely to be 'brand loyal' (to use the polite term for it) they probably would stump up again for their favourite console, especially if the costs were lowered to bring it in line with the competition.

Interesting point and when you think about it quite possible! I guess MS have done themselves out of that one with prople only having to buy an add-on!