NEC's new HD-DVD + Bluraychip

[Vinny]

http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/10/nec-ships-dual-format-blu-ray-hd-dvd-chip/

http://news.com.com/NEC+unveils+chip+to+bridge+Blu-rayHD+DVD+divide/2100-1041_3-6124799.html

Asking for $84 for the chip with decoding HD-DVD and Bluray :T

[gianni]

Finally a bit of good news about the format war. Not anywhere as good as one format but a universal player may move me an inch or two closer to the new formats. Now if I can only find something to nudge me the remaining three feet.

[Chris D]

Yes, DEFINITELY good news. So which manufacturer is going to step up and make the player to use that chip?

[aud19]

Yay! :banana:

[Brandon B]

The problem at present is th Blu-Day licensing prohibits dual format players.

Now the strong EU anti-trust consumer rights leaning which has given Microsoft so much trouble lately might make Sony and gang rethink that if they want to sell any BD hardware and software in the EU.

But at present, this chip gets us nowhere becuase it violates the rules for being a BD manufacturer to include it.

BB

[gianni]

If the BluDay folks rethink their stance on universal players at some point, it would in a way take the consumer out of the rift. The studios could then be the ones to determine if one format will win out or if they will both face a rightful demise.

[Chris D]

Mostly... consumers will still be choosing which format they're buying, although you're right in general.

[George Bellefontaine]

One step forward, two steps back. Will this mess ever straighten itself out ? In the meantime I am still buying the odd standard dvd and enjoying them immensely.

[Burke Strickland]

I am still buying the odd standard dvd and enjoying them immensely.

And I'm still buying the even ones. :>) DVDs still look and sound darned good. For comparison, I've watched HD and if I start to count the blades of grass in a scene, now that each one is individually distinguishable, then I know I'm watching a boring movie. IOW, it's still the movie that counts, not so much the medium it is presented on (I still watch the odd laser disk now and then -- "odd" being defined as "a title in my collection that has not been duplicated on DVD yet").

A pristine image of garbage is still just ... well, you get the picture. However, when Sony gets the chip off their shoulder :>) and lets someone make a true universal player (one that includes BD and HD-DVD rather than just one or the other, in addition to SACD and DVD-Audio rather than just one or the other), I might be tempted to "upgrade" to such a device -- if either of the currently available HD formats are still around by then.

Burke

[jim777]

I just want my movies and music shows to look as good as David Letterman on my PT-AE900... this format war is getting me sick.

[Chris D]

I've got a whole bunch of HD-DVD and BD movies saved in my Amazon wish list. Haven't bought any yet, buy you never know if somebody is going to buy me some for holiday presents. If I had gotten a PS3 on Friday, I would have picked up a bunch of BD's, too, to play. Couldn't find one, though.

Oh, well. We'll see if the PS3 happens as more inventory becomes available.

[Boombox]

Will this mess ever straighten itself out ?

Has anyone considered that the cheaper of the two formats will last...?

It's, at the end of the day, the masses that will decide.

With the PS3 selling for 600euros (60GB) and 500euros(20), it comes in at double the price of the XBox360.....this points me in the direction of the XBox360....now with respect to the HD-DVD or BR battle, I will buy the cheaper of the two if the better quality one (let's say the more expensive of the two) marginally improves on the cheaper one....

[Chris D]

Here in the states, top end PS3 = $599. Top end Xbox 360 = $399 + HD-DVD add-on = $199. Xbox total = $598 (but with connectivity limitations)

So for me, with the PS3 being newer, better processor, better graphics, full connectivity out of the box, plays all old Playstation games, the PS3 looks more attractive at the exact same price.

Now if I can only find one.

[aud19]

So for me, with the PS3 being newer, better processor, better graphics, full connectivity out of the box, plays all old Playstation games, the PS3 looks more attractive at the exact same price.

Now if I can only find one.

Except that from what I've heard, while the PS3 is supposed to be better, as yet, the differences between it and the 360 aren't all that great. Also there's a VERY LONNNNNG list of PS2 games that the PS3 won't play. So no it won't play all the old games. There also seems to be a lot of reports of faulty/malfunctioning PS3's, the limited availability etc. The 360 is also on sale cheaper than the prices you listed... looking to pick up sales from dissapointed people who couldn't get the PS3. A lot of reasons to look elsewhere IMO.....

[Hdale85]

How much is the 360 on sale for? I haven't seen it any cheaper. And as for the PS3 being better then the 360 spec wise is a load of crap. They are both just about equal other then the HD-DVD graphics wise they both have probably about the same possibilities.

[aud19]

Futureshop here in Canada had a pretty good deal on Holiday Bundle, Gears Of War and Ridge Racer 6 for $450CA I believe it was.

[Brandon B]

Also there's a VERY LONNNNNG list of PS2 games that the PS3 won't play. So no it won't play all the old games.

How does it compare to the list of XBox games the 360 won't play? I've seen claims both ways.

BB

[Chris D]

Hmmm... the PS3 is advertised to play all previous playstion games. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a bug with playing some of them, though. The XBox 360 right up front is advertised to only play a portion of old XBox games.

[Hdale85]

The reason that the xbox only plays some of the old ones is because the technology used in a lot of the old xbox games was specifically licensed by nvidia, well they switched to an ATI chip this time around and had to pay out the ass on each console in order to be allowed to use that technology from nvidia.

[Boombox]

and had to pay out the ass on each console in order to be allowed to use that technology from nvidia.

8O

What a way to make money grow from trees......

[Hdale85]

Some how I doubt they can get the blu ray copyright laws changed by early 2007 and have a unit in production and then on the shelves a couple months later.....doesn't seem possible.

[Chris D]

You're talking about a disc player that would play both formats?