Man, this is getting interesting! We know that Microsoft has it's panties in a bunch over this next gen high def battle. We also know that they don't exactly relish the thought of Sony coming out on top with Blu-ray for a plethora of reasons. They have even called Blu-ray anti-consumer and PC unfriendly, due to it's agressive DRM measures. Yet, Blu-ray has garnered 80% of all movie content from Hollywood, that is said to be the key to launch success. So what's a cash flush giant to do? Read on!
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Many consumer electronics companies in the Blu-ray camp are scrambling to figure out, respond to and possibly preempt the next move by the world's largest '” and richest '” computer software maker. Microsoft would neither confirm nor deny such reports. Asked about financial incentives the company might be dangling in front of PC OEMs to lure them into the HD-DVD camp, a spokesman said, "Microsoft doesn't comment on the details of meetings we've had with our partners." One fact, however, is hard to miss: In the short span of two months, Microsoft has gotten through to Hewlett-Packard Co. HP, which still sits on the board of the Blu-ray Disc Association and previously supported the Blu-ray format exclusively, joined the HD-DVD Forum earlier this month. This semi-reversal came in the wake of a series of meetings with Microsoft, said Maureen Weber, general manager of HP's Personal Storage Business. |
No comment, translation: You damn right we are! Wow, looks like a real cat fight is about to ensue! Microsoft may have HP in their corner now, but what about Dell? Can Microsoft twist arms over there as well? Dell are firmly in the Blu-ray camp, but guess who's OS will be gracing the PC's they sell? Plus, we cannot forget about the Xbox versus the upcoming PlayStation 3! Microsoft is fighting on a couple fronts now.
On the other hand, Sony's stock has dipped nearly 46% in the past year or so and they are probably betting the farm on the PlayStation, especially after all the bad publicity with their music division, they need a killer product and they need it now. Even if it's just to help cover mounting legal fees and fines for the coming years thanks to their music CD DRM fiascos. They don't need this sort of thing at this moment from Microsoft. Looks like the money is going to be flying like bullets soon. How can the Blu-ray camp counter the almighty dollar? Be sure to check out the rest of the comments posted over at EETimes.
Source: EETimes
