|
Monday February 11, 2008
|
A few people suggested that hybrid drives would effectively signal the end of the high-def DVD war--but most of us were predicting a much less peaceable solution. Still, watching this battle unfold is like seeing some poor, haggard mutt get mangled in a dogfight, only to wander into the street and get flattened by a Mack truck. Which is to say that the news just keeps getting worse for HD-DVD.
Netflix announced today that its little red envelopes would no longer be carrying HD DVD discs, dropping Toshiba's floundering format in favor of Sony's surging Blu-ray. The video rental company had previously been a neutral party, supporting both formats since they were introduced in 2006.
Four of the six major studios have abandoned support for the poor, malnourished puppy that is HD DVD. Netflix, for its part, will phase out the format entirely by year's end.
|
|
|
February 11, 2008 4:41 PM
The only reason I use Netflix is for HD DVE. I don't have a Blu-Ray player and i'm not planning to buy one until they drop to $150 or less. So until then I don't see another choice but to cancel my Netflix account. I'm sure I'm not alone.
February 14, 2008 2:50 AM
This is incorrect. The "red envelopes" will still carry HD DVD discs. Netflix will, however, stop buying or producing HD DVD discs. People can continue to rent HD DVD discs from their current collection until the end of the discs' life cycle which is expected to last til end of 2008.