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Blu-Ray is like Betamax and HD DVD is like VHS, say Microsoft

by Steven Williamson on 19 April 2006, 09:29

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Microsoft make a good analogy



In an interview with Spiegel Online, Xbox's European Manager,Chris Lewis, has compared Sony's Blu-Ray technology to Betamax, whilst comparing HD DVD to VHS.

Betamax, the videocassette tape recording format introduced in the 1970's, rose to a peak in the early 1980's, where it controlled a third of the UK video recorder market.

The Video Home System (VHS) then showed up and fought a vicious war with Betamax in the 1980's. VHS came out on top, and the Betamax format disappeared without a trace, in fact it became embarrassing to own a Betamax video player.

Lewis had clearly thought hard over his analogy, he said, "Blu-ray right now reminds us of another technology from Sony: Betamax. A bit like VHS -- we think that HD DVD is the format that consumers, film studios and publishers will embrace. As you're mentioning the cost of Blu-ray -- we think it's about giving consumers choice, we think it's about not necessarily asking them to pay over the odds for a technology that, at the moment, is unproven. It's an interesting bet to play -- we're watching what goes on, but I think we're offering a broader, more flexible choice that doesn't burden the consumer with a cost element that may be wasted."

The battle rages on! It's a good job that Nintendo and Sony are next to each other at E3, otherwise there could have been fireworks.

Source: Read the interview here


HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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So basically they're saying blu-ray is the better product in every way, but they'll use marketing clout to make sure no-one buys it? :p
We'll have to wait to see if HD-DVD becomes the more domenant player, but one part of this is right. BluRay is the technically superior, just like Betamax was.
It's a good analogy - but nothing new..most of us been using this analogy for months now :) I happen to think that HD-DVD will come out on top, purely because afaik it's players wil be cheaper than blue-ray and it has a name that will be easily recognised by consumers (moreso than blueray) - both those factors should help the standard sell well initially.

Who know's what will happen though :)
Spud1
It's a good analogy - but nothing new..most of us been using this analogy for months now :) I happen to think that HD-DVD will come out on top, purely because afaik it's players wil be cheaper than blue-ray and it has a name that will be easily recognised by consumers (moreso than blueray) - both those factors should help the standard sell well initially.

Who know's what will happen though :)

Yeah, he must have picked up the analogy of those people who've been saying it. Very sneaky!
At least with 12cm optical disks it is feasable to make a universal player, something that was never possible with magnetic tapes.

I really like BluRay as a data disk, especially if they can get the multi-layer recordables down to a reasonable price. One of the big manufacturers (i'm thinking TDK, but could be wrong) is working on 200gig disks which is 8 layers. No idea if this can be used for recording, or is just for pressed disks though.