SonyNEC Optiarc, a joint collaboration between Sony and NEC, predicted that Blu-ray drives for PCs could go below the $100 mark by the end of 2008. Internal Blu-ray drives, capable of reading Blu-ray discs, which could do a lot for consumer adoption of the format.
PC Blu-ray burners, capable of writing to Blu-ray discs, will be in the $150-$200 price region. Notebook Blu-ray drives could also drop to the $150 level. These lower prices will make the format more accessible to computer manufacturers as long as customer demand keeps growing. Those wanting to add Blu-ray drives to their existing systems will have a more affordable option to do so.
[Yahoo! News]
Tags: Blu-ray Drives, Blu-ray News, NEC, Sony, SonyNEC
Sony CEO, Howard Stringer, at “The All Things D” conference said the Blu-ray format will ‘more than hold up’ against growing consumer interest for internet-based digital downloads. Stringers comments were directed at the new battle Sony faces as more consumers download videos from the internet.
Stringer went on to say that historically there has been a long lead-time in format evolutions like physical to digital media. He believes it will be a long time until people start migrating away from Blu-Ray to digital downloads.
On a funny note, Stringer mentioned that if Sony had lost the format war, his gravestone would have read “Betamax 2.”
We think Stringer is right on this one because people still like to see they physically own a movie. There is still no feeling that replaces showing friends your collection of DVDs or Blu-rays as opposed to showing them a list of movies on your computer or television.
[CNN Money] and [D6 All Things Digital]
Tags: Blu-ray News, PS3, PS3 Games, Sony
