So Microsoft has announced that they will be releasing the HD-DVD drive as a stand alone accessory, while Sony continues to insist that the PS3 will come with the superior Blu-Ray technology built in and damn the cost. The general consensus seems to be that MS goofed, and I'm inclined to agree, but I don't think they've dug themselves as deep a hole as most people are thinking, for two reasons:
1. The Nintendo Effect - How did Nintendo sell as many N64 memory expansions as it did for their dying system? They simply made it a requirement for some of their AAA titles, namely Zelda: MM. After which, for what was left of the life of the console, developers were less afraid of utilizing it (i.e. Perfect Dark). Microsoft can, and likely will, try to pull a similar stunt with some of their titles to get more people to buy the add-on *cough*Halo*cough*.
2. The Windows Effect - Its only a matter of time before one or both of these technologies migrates to the PC world, and if Microsoft is smart they can use their leverage in the desktop market to push the HD-DVD standard here. If they make their external HD-DVD drive cross compatible with Windows PCs, they can increase their mindshare and add incentive for people to purchase the drive.
But this is all just idle speculation, only time will tell.
I agree.
Alternately, I disagree.
First, everyone seems to assume the add-on will be for games. It's not, it's for movie playing only.
Second, what does MS lose by doing this? Presumably the add-on will be cheaper than buying a HD-DVD player by itself so you are still coming out ahead.
Third, if HD-DVD fails MS is not committed to it long term. Hell, they could theoretically release a Blu-Ray add-on drive later on if that turns out to be the standard.
Fourth, I don't really believe Blu-Ray or HD-DVD will be widely adopted for some time anyway.
I have to disagree with this point. Or rather I would like to add a caveat - a regular DVD can only hold something like 20 minutes of HDTV on one side, and the big draw for the new storage formats, outside of games etc., will be to store HD video. I think the rate of adoption for HD-DVD/Blue-Ray will track the rate of HDTV adoption reasonably closely. Now as to how fast that will happen...Originally Posted by Sarkus
First look at the HD-DVD drive.
No HDMI or DVI, another power supply...
I reiterate my support for hardware companies flaking out on HDMI support for this generation. It de facto ensures the content owners will never be able to use the HDCP content protection flag.
But it looks better. :(
Are we sure there's another PS for the HD-DVD drive? That connector kinda looks like a cable that would go directly to the outlet.
$200 would be great, but I bet it's more.
Edit: bet not get
Last edited by Balasarius; 09-19-2006 at 05:40 PM.
I wont buy it at $200. I can get by with my free HD-DVR(especially since the only hd dvd titles for a long time will be the type of movies you can record off movie channels anyways, I doubt I can replace my cannibal holocaust dvds with HD ones anytime soon) and regular DVDs.
Hmmm, actually I'm not sure now. There's another picture going around that shows a regular DC connector on the back.
That second picture looks far less prototype-y... Either way, I don't care if it needs another PSU brick... actually I don't care at all because I have no interest in high def DVDs.
Especially the label on the sticker.
:) sorry, I couldn't help myself.
There's news out now that says you can hook up the Microsoft HD-DVD player to a Windows PC, but Microsoft will not release any drivers for it. Which means that it's reduced to being a regular DVD player.
I don't get this. Microsoft did the Live Vision Camera exactly right. I plugged it into my laptop, it downloaded drivers automatically from Microsoft, and it worked. Why wouldn't they do the same thing for a Windows PC and the HD-DVD drive? Is it a copy protection issue again? If so, one more reason to hate the stranglehold Hollywood seems to have over the digital media world.
Microsoft sold me an X360 video camera because it would work with my PC. They will lose an HD-DVD addon sale because it won't work with my PC. It's that simple in my mind.
copy protection issue. the sony vaio laptops that shipped w/ BR drives wont play BR movies either.
everything that has anything to do with any kind of HD video and movie studios will be gimped severely, and constantly, by copy protection. they are terrified of having high quality sources of their films easily copied.
It'll still read HD-DVDs, it just won't play the movies.
Going a bit off topic here, but 1080p encoded VC-1 (WMV9) video on HD-DVD bitrate averages start around 12mbps, roughly double DVD's SD 480i MPEG2. It's much better compression.
12mbps = 1.5MB/sec = 90MB/min = 8.1GB for 90 minutes
A dual-layer DVD can hold 8.5GB, so you could fit a 90 minute VC-1 movie on a single DVD, with no extras.
Blu-ray also supports VC-1 compression, but none of the discs currently out use it.
Yes they do. It comes with it's own version of PowerDVD. There was a report that BD drives couldn't play BD titles but that was because it didn't come with a software package like PowerDVD and it requires a HDCP compliant video card.
Yes they do. All of Warner's BD titles in stores now use VC-1 compression except for their first wave of titles. In fact there is even talk of Sony using VC-1.Blu-ray also supports VC-1 compression, but none of the discs currently out use it.
Last edited by Jazar; 10-17-2006 at 01:56 PM.
stop correcting my propaganda, you gangster!
I consider this a decration of war!
Ahh, I was a month behind. Cool!
I dunno how thats news, that the drive will connect to a pc via usb has been confirmed for quite a while.
The fact is, cyberlink and intervideo are not selling their hd dvd or blu-ray playback software without a drive. if you have no playback software...what will you be playing those movies with? Not windows media player.
unless someone hacks aacs and everything else not vlc/media player classic etc. etc.
The idea that the 360 drive is going to be a "cheap" add on is curious, since there no other read-only drives on the market period to compare price. we'll see what HPs usb hd dvd drive goes for and includes.
If some movies are released blue ray and some HD-DVD, do you think we'll see a blue ray hd-dvd combo drive at any point, like the dvd/vhs combo drives? That would be funny.
I seem to recall a company saying they intended to make one but it got killed pretty quick like.
Personally, I don't want either of them, but since the PS3 will come with BR I guess I'll end up owning one of them eventually.
Well I was poking around EB and I found the HD DVD drive there
http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product_id=802558
Its 199.99 and its supposed to be released on the 7th which is pretty friggin soon actually. I'd love to see it in action before I decide if its worth the addon or not.
I'm wondering if it will load faster than the standalone players. the reports from the demos so far have been very good in that respect
If anyone has been holding out on getting the HD-DVD player, now might be the time.
oh shits I am off today to find one!
If you live in LA, maybe.
Misprint and won't honor it. FYI. YMMV if you use it as a pricematcher.
I know it's been over a year since this thread started but when it was it generally assumed that MS goofed by not including HD-DVD with their console? Personally speaking, I *MUCH* prefer the MS approach over the PS3 approach - you know where whether you want it or not, it's included and you're paying for it.
Where did you get that impression? MS didn't goof by removing HD-DVD, it was the smartest thing they could've done at the time. It would have inflated price considerably and the extra storage isn't needed for games. When they do finally include it, it'll be because of a cost drop. MS kept sight of their primary target, to be a great gaming console and not a digital entertainment hub. That's why the 360 has been so successful. Playing movies and such has to be secondary to the games.
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