[360] $1.99 360 HD-DVD Player

Originally Posted by Guru

direct download HD content will become the norm.

It already is for me

Seriously though, I don't think either format is much of a deal at this point (and I don't really see the reason for a separate thread about a $20 pricedrop for the 360 HD-DVD player). They're both quite overpriced at this point, and their functionality is quite limited since the Playstation 3 is the only platform where they can actually use the disc format for non-movie related purposes, as opposed to DVDs which found their place on PCs and other devices (which I don't see happening with HD-DVD or Blu-ray).

It is quite nice to see competition driving the prices/features down. Blu-ray offers 5 free movies, HD-DVD offers 5 free movies, etc. About the only GOOD thing about having competing formats like this is that one doesn't have a complete monopoly on the market...yet.

Quote:

Blu-Ray is also owned by Sony, who also own a movie studio themselves. There's a little bit of an unequal advantage that they have.

Sony is part of the Blu-ray consortium, but they don't "own" the format. Like with DVD, it's made up and run by a large conglomerate of different companies. Sony obviously has a large stake in the Blu-ray format, but they don't have complete control over it. Even Microsoft is one of the corporations that holds sway over the format, they could make a Blu-ray drive addon for the Xbox 360 if they want (although right now they're backing HD-DVD more).

Jam it back in, in the dark.