There’s nothing quite as unpleasant as monitoring the death rattles of a dying technology; HD-DVD has been bed-ridden with a severe case of inadequacy for a while now. Apparently its time to put the old dog to rest, because Toshiba has decided to let bygones be bygones and stop producing HD-DVD.

This comes from NHK, who reports that Toshiba is dumping the less than competitive format due to the overwhelming success of Blu-Ray, both in Japan as well as America. Blu-Ray achieved success to the tune of 90% market share due to lower high definition players…bad news for HD-DVD.

Then there’s that little-known competition between Microsoft and Sony in the next-gen console war. Blu-Ray players in PS3s have squelched any competition from the add-on HD-DVD player that is available for the Xbox 360; additionally, the competitive pricing of the PS3 as a Blu-Ray player and game console has undoubtedly benefitted the success of Blu-Ray over Toshiba’s HD-DVD format.

Though production is being discontinued, sales of current HD-DVD products will continue (presumably until all those products have been sold) for a while. Toshiba is closing one if its DVD manufacturing plants in Japan as a result.

Adieu, HD-DVD; parting is such lackluster sorrow.

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Related:

HD DVD is dead - Now Blu ray needs to beat DVD and downloads

New format war on the way? - HD VMD vs Blu-ray

Why the Blu-ray vs. HD DVD war is a repeat of VHS vs. Betamax

Nuclear reactor maker Toshiba says Warner ended fomat war against Blu-ray

Microsoft ditches HD-DVD add-on for Xbox 360

Stumble It!

Entry was posted on Saturday, February 16th, 2008 at 1:07 pm under Blu-ray, HD-DVD.  Print

Read more entries by Triston McIntyre.