backtop

Print E-mail del.icio.us 98 comment(s) - last by Belard.. on Jan 9 at 3:32 AM

Toshiba Qosmio G45-AV690  (Source: Toshiba)
Despite the recent string of bad news, Toshiba introduces new HD DVD-based products

Toshiba recently suffered a crippling blow by the hands of Warner Bros. The film studio announced on Friday that it would phase out the introduction of new HD DVD titles in May 2008 and instead will focus on standard definition DVDs and Blu-ray titles.

While the news was enough to make Toshiba and the HD DVD Group to cancel a CES press conference and 1:1 meetings with reporters, it hasn't stopped the introduction of the company's latest HD DVD-equipped notebook computer.

The new Qosmio G45-AV690 was announced today as the world’s first notebook with an HD DVD-R/RW drive.

“The Qosmio continues to lead the computer industry in terms of high-definition capabilities by bringing many of the most advanced technologies together into a solid and cohesive machine,” said Toshiba's Jeff Barney. “In a digital world that is driven by power cloaked in simplicity, the Qosmio G45-AV690 is the central hub of a user’s personal Digital Ecosystem, providing users with the ability to enjoy their HD content, while expressing themselves more fully in a digital world, and using HD DVD as a personal means of doing so.”

In addition to the headlining HD DVD-R/RW drive, the Qosmio G45-AV690 features an Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 processor, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT GPU, 3GB of DDR2 memory, a 320GB HDD, 17" 1080p display, 5.1 surround sound, HDMI output, an OpenCable (OCUR) HDTV tuner and four Harman Kardon stereo speakers with an integrated subwoofer.

The Qosmio G45-AV690 is available now with at a price tag of $3,199 USD.

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
HD-DVD
By InternetGeek on 1/6/2008 7:13:46 PM , Rating: 3
HD-DVD might die after WB reversal. It's sad because we will have to keep putting up with content region and what not.

But I don't think converging on one format will help sell HD better. Civilians (Real people) don't know/don't care/are not interested in the tech the disc is made. Only hobbyist/fans/professionals do because they stand to make a difference/make money by adopting early.

The studios fear Digital Downloads.




RE: HD-DVD
By masher2 (blog) on 1/6/08, Rating: 0
RE: HD-DVD
By Chiggs on 1/6/08, Rating: 0
RE: HD-DVD
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 1/6/2008 8:23:00 PM , Rating: 4
The BBC (due to European Laws) is required to release in both formats, I suspect we will see this enforced upon other companies as well that operate in europe. So HD DVD might not be the premier format but its not going to go extint if the EU has anything to say about it.


RE: HD-DVD
By rudy on 1/6/2008 9:02:00 PM , Rating: 4
I wish the US would adopt such a rule. Put the war back where it belongs in competitions hands. Not in who can get in bed with the right people or who already happens to have a console which they can lose money on to ensure blue ray succeeds.


RE: HD-DVD
By Chiggs on 1/6/2008 9:04:37 PM , Rating: 1
Microsoft could have done the same thing if they had wanted to. In fact, Toshiba begged and pleaded for them to do so.


RE: HD-DVD
By danz32 on 1/6/2008 9:28:35 PM , Rating: 5
Although I would like that for HD-DVD's sake, I don't think its the governments job to get into business matters like this. But maybe with those supposed $500 million dollar checks floating around, someone has to step in


RE: HD-DVD
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 1/7/2008 8:47:49 AM , Rating: 2
That's why the EU is getting involved. It's the fat checks and behind the doors dealings that they are after. They are trying to figure out why studios are alligning with specific formats and it will come down to money sooner or later, and the EU will impose penalties for it.


RE: HD-DVD
By WilsuN on 1/6/2008 11:03:09 PM , Rating: 2
How is forcing companies to distribute in both formats encouraging competition between HD-DVD and Blu Ray? If anything, it is ensuring the less successful company an untouchable income source.


RE: HD-DVD
By rudy on 1/7/2008 2:38:24 AM , Rating: 5
If their format really sucks it simply will sit on the shelves and they will not need to make more. Eventually it will die because it will be more costly to make the disks and distribute them at such low volumes then to just end the whole line for toshiba. It creates competition because the companies will actually need to fight for customer choice not get an in bed deal with another movie company. It in no way makes an untouchable income source, if they can't sell plenty of HD DVDs there will be no income other then the initial sale for each movie.

The reason MS did not put the HD DVD in the xbox is obvious why would they stick their neck out for someone else on billions of dollars. Where as in sony's case they could do it cause it was all internal. If MS had been the primary developer of HD DVD you bet it would have been in every console. Yeah toshiba begged to put it in there but im sure they did not make it worth MS's money cause they had no way to know the xbox would be beating the PS3. both companies were making big gambles on the other company doing well and so they could not do it. But as said sony was not in that position since they made both products.

Believe me if HD DVD dies you will all be in a world of hurt as sony has no competition. If it lives everything will be cheaper. Do you honestly think either company would be giving away all these free HD movies with players if the other did not exist. Do you really think that the players would have come down in price so fast.


RE: HD-DVD
By tomoyo on 1/7/2008 2:58:42 AM , Rating: 1
I'm really tired of people spreading utterly bullshit fud about sony having no competition if hd-dvd dies. DVD HAD NO COMPETITION AND IT CERTAINLY DROPPED IN PRICE. BLU-RAY WILL DROP IN PRICE BECAUSE IT COMPETES AGAINST EVERY OTHER ENTERTAINMENT FORM ALREADY. Hd-dvd is not keeping blu-ray cheap, blu-ray will keep itself cheap to a) keep warner and studios happy b) become mass market c) ALL other electronics companies will release blu-ray players even toshiba unless they completely leave media players. d) BLU-RAY MUST COMPETE AGAINST NORMAL DVDS.


RE: HD-DVD
By MBlueD on 1/7/2008 5:53:19 AM , Rating: 2
I don't think that it is correct to say that DVD had no competition - as far as I know, DVD wasn't a proprietary format. Companies manufacturing DVDs competed with eachother, driving the prices down (advances in manufacturing processes must've helped too). It was the same with CDs.
I think that what people are trying to say is not that Sony won't drop prices - just that, with no competition, they would have no incentive to drop them fast enough (for us).
I could be wrong of course...


RE: HD-DVD
By Boushh on 1/7/2008 4:29:44 PM , Rating: 2
DVD is a proprietary format, you need a license to make 'em (http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/license/l_howto.html). It's not Linux you know :)

And it would ofcourse help if anybody took the time to actualy lookup what a license would cost. Asfar as I can make out (I'm no expert on this) the maximum payment is $60,000 per 5 years . There doesn't seem to be a per 'item' charge.

You however need additional licenses for AACS, BD+, and other things like Dolby Digital and dts.

Now looking at the price of things, that $60,000 is nothing compared to the costs of actually developing/manufactoring players/recorders and making disks (which include digitalization of audio/video, authering, subtitles etc.). I fail to see how that amount would have any significant impact on the price of a player/recorder/disk.

Also, the fee's are collected by the Blu Ray Disc Assocation, not by SONY. Just like the DVD fee's are collected by the DVD Forum.

And thus, how would having only Blu Ray be any different from having only DVD (or CD for that matter) ?


RE: HD-DVD
By MBlueD on 1/8/2008 8:49:10 AM , Rating: 2
I didn't know that DVD was proprietary. Thanks.


RE: HD-DVD
By tmouse on 1/7/2008 2:18:02 PM , Rating: 2
WRONG. DVD did not really have to compete with anyone. It was mostly a matter of capacity. All you need to do is look at Sony's history: the Trinitron was always the most expensive television bar none, it had NO competition in their superior technology and they licensed it to no one. In all of their dealings (successful or not) their license fees are substantial. They do not have to keep anyone happy if they hold all of the cards. The "war" between formats is forcing the prices down on the hardware somewhat but I suspect this will soon stop, as HD is certainty not looking very good now and I feel things are about to get worse. The delay in the release of combo players is not a good sign. We will all pay in the end. The fact is most people do not even have HD sets and the majority of them are the 720 versions. The non HD versions of movies are still outselling the combined HD formats 10:1. Many people have large libraries of the older titles and with few exceptions will not get HD versions. The average Joe still sees TV's as a commodity item and is still balking at spending $1000 on a TV. This will change, BUT it will still be a few years. After HD’s demise I think there will be a small blip in sales as the early HD adopters switch but it will soon flatten out. Then I expect to hear how some major blockbuster (more than likely from Sony) will ONLY be released in Hi def because "it will be the only way to truly experience the film" within a year of HD's demise. Sure it will mean a loss but if its a big enough film they will still make money, then the other parties with vested interests will follow suit, after all if there is no other route to own a new movie what choice do you have? Also expect Sony to start giving big time to slow down the growth of net streaming and increasing its license fees on blue ray recorders to protect its investment.


RE: HD-DVD
By Pneumothorax on 1/6/2008 11:32:48 PM , Rating: 2
Sweet! Guess I'll be ordering plenty of HD-DVD imports from the UK. Too bad the dollar is taking a "pounding"


RE: HD-DVD
By cubby1223 on 1/7/2008 12:17:05 AM , Rating: 2
Not even close, buddy. Not even close.

Just buck up and take the news like a man.


RE: HD-DVD
By SavagePotato on 1/7/08, Rating: 0