[Intrepid Homoludens]

Originally Posted by undeaf

Microft being seen as respecting choice, oh the irony. Why would microsoft even want to force toshiba's format onto their customers?

Who will want such an add on device anyway? Not only will the combination cost more and not have HDMI(and HD DVD is said to be stricter about DRM than Blu ray), but the drive also can't be used as part of the console. If they really wanted to give a choice about whether to have a hddvd console, they'd make two versions of the console, one with an HD DVD drive and one with two DVD drives(the games could be distributed by having one of the discs be a double sided or double/tripple layered DVD&HDDVD disc).

I really don't give a damn, undeaf. Since I will have a choice no matter what, I choose to get a completely separate, standalone HD-DVD player (or a combo Blu-ray & HD-DVD player). Fuck Sony, fuck Microsoft. No one is forcing me to buy either package at gunpoint, my hard earned money is my greatest weapon.

Now, seeing as the two formats are far too new and un-ubiquitous for the next few years, why the hell should I waste hundreds of dollars now? Just for the petty bragging rights as one of the early adopters? Puh-LEEZ! I got better things to do than that.

You can keep 'fanboying' one format or another, undeaf, but in the end I, as a savvy consumer, will win. I know no loyalty, I choose whichever product suits me best.

[insane_cobra]

Originally Posted by undeaf

Who will want such an add on device anyway?

Some people will, some people won't, just like PS3's Blu-ray drive.

Not only will the combination cost more

We don't know that.

and not have HDMI

It can be added later ("we will provide an HDMI for our customers when it makes sense" - Todd Holmdahl, Corporate Vice President of the Xbox Product Group).

and HD DVD is said to be stricter about DRM than Blu ray

Where did you get that? It's completely the opposite, both HD-DVD and Blu-ray use HDCP, but the Blu-ray Disc Association included an additional layer of protection called BD+ after being pressured by Fox.

but the drive also can't be used as part of the console

That's great, but it's very debatable whether that will provide PS3 with any significant advantage over the next couple of years.

If they really wanted to give a choice about whether to have a hddvd console, they'd make two versions of the console, one with an HD DVD drive and one with two DVD drives(the games could be distributed by having one of the discs be a double sided or double/tripple layered DVD&HDDVD disc).

Um, what? Two DVD drives? Why?

Anyway, that would've been a bad idea on so many levels. It would confuse people. It would delay the launch of Xbox 360. It would be a technological risk because neither Blu-ray nor HD-DVD aren't exactly mature formats yet. Finally, it would make the production of discs more expensive.

[RLacey]

I'm curious as to why people are so adamant that a 360 and HD-DVD drive will cost more than a PS3. Not if the rumours are to be believed...

[undeaf]

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

I really don't give a damn, undeaf. Since I will have a choice no matter what, I choose to get a completely separate, standalone HD-DVD player (or a combo Blu-ray & HD-DVD player).

You know, there's also a third choice: getting a HD DVD/Blue ray drive for your PC(which is what I'd prefer over the other options). Unfortunately, that will require running windows vista. And that's probably the main reason ms doesn't want to include an HDDVD drive in the 360, to pressure their customers into getting the latest version of their ultra high margin product and to build up a user base for it so they can put the squeeze on users of other OS's better.

But I don't watch movies anyway, so the only use I'd have for one of those would be as a data drive.

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

No one is forcing me to buy either package at gunpoint, my hard earned money is my greatest weapon.

Your money is not a weapon. Unless you're using it to buy things that cost money to sell you, like if you were to get a PS3 but not get any games for it, and not get anything by sony pictures.

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

Now, seeing as the two formats are far too new and un-ubiquitous for the next few years, why the hell should I waste hundreds of dollars now?

I told you, so you can have bigger games. Although you wouldn't need to in the scenario I brought up in my previous post.

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

You can keep 'fanboying' one format or another, undeaf, but in the end I, as a savvy consumer, will win. I know no loyalty, I choose whichever product suits me best.

Okay you're "savvy". And I'm downright cheap, so what?

[Dasilva]

This thread makes my head hurt.

[undeaf]

Originally Posted by insane_cobra

Some people will, some people won't, just like PS3's Blu-ray drive.

Not really, most of sony's customers will trust that the blue ray drive is neccessary.

Originally Posted by insane_cobra

Um, what? Two DVD drives? Why?

To double space and throughput, and also speed up seeks. Then again, the 360's DVD drive is already insanely loud.

Originally Posted by insane_cobra

Anyway, that would've been a bad idea on so many levels. It would confuse people. It would delay the launch of Xbox 360. It would be a technological risk because neither Blu-ray nor HD-DVD aren't exactly mature formats yet. Finally, it would make the production of discs more expensive.

Then they could originaly make it just a dual DVD system and later shift it to HD-DVD.

[insane_cobra]

Originally Posted by undeaf

Not really, most of sony's customers will trust that the blue ray drive is neccessary.

Not really, I've already seen many people give up on PS3 beacuse of its Blu-ray drive, ie. price and delays, which are both directly linked to its inclusion.

To double space and throughput, and also speed up seeks. Then again, the 360's DVD drive is already insanely loud.

Sorry, but that's one of the most ridiculous ideas I've ever heard.

Then they could originaly make it just a dual DVD system and later shift it to HD-DVD.

Except for that silly dual DVD part, that's exactly what they'll do in 3-4 years, when they launch their next console. Doing it sooner would enrage their whole user base.

[Rayvielle]

Nintendo is totally sneaking in the backdoor, this gen.

<3 it!

[Dasilva]

=D

Preach bruta!

[Kolzig]

Was it today or tomorrow that they are supposed to do that Wii release info conference?

[Dale Baldwin]

Tomorrow.

[stinking_dylan]

I think people are going to be much slower upgrading to HD-DVD or Blu Ray. DVD is still a new media which the vast majority are happy with. And as most people remember the Betamax fiasco, they'll hold back and see what happens.

Well, I will anyway. =)

[Lucien21]

I'm waiting for the holographic discs which can hold 3 terabytes or the protein coated discs which can hold 50 tb of info.

[insane_cobra]

Protein coated discs? Mmm, make them chocolate coated and I'm sold.

[Lucien21]

http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/12/p...tb-capacities/

Doubt they would taste all that great.

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Unfortunately we won't see this technology come to market anytime soon, and even when it does, 50TB capacities will still be a ways off, so it looks like we'll have to settle for those disappointing 200GB Blu-ray discs for the foreseeable future.

Disappointing 200GB Blu-ray discs. LMAO!!!

[Dasilva]

Does this mean I have to keep my Discs in my fridge so they stay fresh?

[Intrepid Homoludens]

No, it means you better not be licking them.

[Stiltzkin]

Is the industry intentionally trying to come up with ways to make it easier for kids to ruin our movie collections?

[Melanie68]

It's fascinating stuff! Using an organic compound in an industry dominated by the inorganic.

The protein in question, from Lucien's article, is bacteriorhodopsin which is similar to the rhodopsin found in the rods in our retina.

It would be interesting to know how they dealt with the protein to either minimize or eliminate eventual degradation?