08.23.05

Sony, Toshiba Hold Ground On DVD Formats

By David Utter

Forget about unification, compromise, or concessions; both tech firms refuse to budge on next-generation blue laser DVDs.

Consumers lose another round of the DVD war, as the two competing standards groups, Blu-ray and HD DVD, have again failed to find a way to work together and put one standard aside in favor of the other, according to a new report in the Yomiuri news.

Earlier this summer, both sides had publicly distanced themselves from each other. The talks were done, can't see eye to eye on this, no compromise could be reached, etc. It appears the groups were talking anyway, but it didn't do much good.

One possible compromise rumored a few months ago had Blu-ray becoming the standard, with Toshiba (and probably Microsoft) providing the embedded software to handle playback of the new high-definition DVDs. Toshiba said that the deal wasn't happening and they were going to move forward and manufacture HD DVD players.


That leaves consumers, especially the ones who have bought into the high-definition hype machine and purchased expensive HDTVs, facing the prospect of purchasing two different players, one for each blue laser DVD format. Hollywood studios that have chosen a format have split their support between the two. Others haven't publicly decided yet.

September arrives soon, and retailers certainly don't relish the prospect of stocking two different format DVD players for the holidays. Customers may see the prospect of one format winning out over the other, and not wish to be stuck with the modern equivalent of the Betamax. They may choose not to buy either one.