HD DVD - It's officialy over.

[Mark_G]

Reports coming in that Toshiba are ceasing production of HD DVD players..

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/16/toshiba-pulling-the-plug-on-hd-dvd-already/

It's not suprising considering the events of this week.

Netflix going Blu-ray.
BestBuy promoting Blu-ray over HD DVD.
Walmart going Blu-ray.

All we wait for now, is the official English translation from Toshiba, and what Universal and Paramounts plans are.

[CJ]

HD DVD has been forced out of market due to retailers etc choosing a side, even though I reckon they've made this decision far too early. But that's just a personal opinion. Now let's see how Blu-Ray takes on DVD. That will be the real 'war'.

Now, where can I buy a multi-region, finished profile, Blu-Ray standalone? Oh yeah, I can't. And with Samsung being sued by disgruntled Blu-Ray owners I won't be buying any of their products!

[Mark_G]

Don't give us the multi-region crap.  As already pointed out, HD DVD spec has provision for region coding, and if they had won the format war, don't think for a second that region coding wouldn't have started to creep in from some studios.

As it is, less at 25% of the current crop of Blu-ray releases have region coding, so it's hardly as big an issue as you make out.

As for a Profile 2.0 standalone (I note you mention standalone, as you know that PS3 is already Profile 2.0 complaint), but if you really want one, look no further than the Panasonic DMP-BD50

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/12/panasonics-dmp-bd50-gets-specd-released-in-europe/

It's already out in Europe and Japan, with a US release planned soon.

[CJ]

Don't give us the multi-region crap.

Why the hostility, Mark? So I'd like a region-free player, just like my other players are. I buy discs from all over the globe, so I don't want to be denied that with the next-gen format. Why is that so hard to understand?

If, as I've already stated, importing/exporting wasn't an issue, then why bother with region-coding at all? It's obviously enough of a concern for some studios to want to rigidly enforce it.

I'm not looking for a fight here, just expressing what I'd like to see in a Blu-Ray player.

[Mark_G]

and over 70% of Blu-ray releases are region free.  In addition Profile 2.0 has been finished for over year now..

[CJ]

So when will we see Profile 2.0 players? I'd like one of those, when prices fall after people start buying them up.

70% still leaves 30% of content inaccessible to me - and I know for a fact that some Blu titles I want are region-coded. So yes, I still want a multi-region player. It's not up to you to decide what I need or want, okay?

[Mark_G]

You can buy Profile 2.0 players TODAY.

PS3
Panasonic BD-50

I find it amusing you think region-free releases are somehow YOUR RIGHT.  DVD region protection was always implemented in the spec, as was HD DVD and Blu-ray.

Sure there are workaround for DVD, but don't be fooled for a moment into thinking that HD DVD would not have started using region coding had it suceeded.  Infact, Toshibas insistance that media releases should be region-free is what destroyed HD DVD and the reasons studios abandoned them.

[CJ]

Well, when we are repeatedly told we are operating in a global market, then yes, I should be able to buy what I want from wherever I want. Are you saying you support region-coding? Because, to me, that's anti-consumer and restricts my buying choices. Saying all that, I have no doubt that region-free players will emerge eventually at a decent price point.

Region-coding has always been about price fixing - do you think it's right that we are forced to pay more for UK releases than their R1 counterpart? Similarly, Blu-Ray discs cost considerably more here in the UK than from abroad. And you agree with this, right?

[Mark_G]

And that's because we live in Europe, nothing to do with studios selling them for more.

Sales taxes are considerably higher here, and thus everything is.  That's how it is, live with it, or move

[CJ]

So you do agree with higher pricing and being denied the ability to buy cheaper from abroad? You're a strange one, for sure.

And if you're a diehard European, then why the American spelling of 'math' in your sig?