From an HP news release issued Friday:

"In order to provide consumers with the best possible high-definition experience, HP today announced it will support the HD-DVD high-definition DVD format, in addition to the Blu-ray Disc format, and join the HD-DVD Promotions Group.

"Previously, HP supported the Blu-ray Disc format exclusively. The company had requested the Blu-ray Disc Association adopt two customer-friendly technologies, Mandatory Managed Copy and iHD, which are already included in the HD-DVD format.

"Only Mandatory Managed Copy, which permits consumers to make legal copies of video content, was formally adopted by the association. iHD, which allows content providers to offer greater interactivity on next-generation DVDs and helps ensure a more compelling user experience when recording HDTV programs or moving digital content throughout the home, was not approved for launch."

What is the meaning of this? Well, HP had been exclusively supporting the Sony Blu-ray format. Microsoft and Intel are supporting HD-DVD, which Bill Gates says is more consumer-friendly than Blu-ray. Hollywood, proving Bill's point, has been behind Blu-ray. HP said it intends to be neutral in the likely format war that's ahead of us, as two formats go after customers who really only want one format. I'm on the HD-DVD side.

Here's a column I wrote back in October foir eWEEK.com.:

Opinion: Bill Gates says Blu-ray will be the last physical media format, ever. That makes David Coursey ponder how far we've come and the "real" broadband that will drive our post-DVD future. It's a story with a very happy ending.

(BTW: MSN has been running an incorrect headline that says HP dumped Blu-ray).