Toshiba Quits HD DVD Business, Handing Victory in Format Battle to Blu-Ray Disc Technology
TOKYO (AP) — Toshiba’s decision to no longer develop, make or market high-definition HD DVD players and recorders will mean consumers can start feeling more confident about buying the victorious rival technology — a Blu-ray disc player.
Analysts say competition is expected to heat up among the manufacturers of Blu-ray players and recorders, which include Japanese makers Sony Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Sharp Corp. as well as Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea.
In making the announcement, Toshiba Corp. President Atsutoshi Nishida said he wanted to avoid confusion among consumers.
The decision was relatively quick, coming just several years after the competing technologies arrived.
In the last video format battle, between VHS, backed by Matsushita, and Sony’s Betamax in the 1980s, it took a decade before Sony stopped making new Betamax products.
“We concluded that a swift decision would be best,” Nishida said, appearing proud and unapologetic.
For some consumers, no apology was necessary……..