Tuning Fork - Gizmodo

or why MS chose HD-DVD over Blu-Ray...
I'm curious about how this format wars pans out, and how it compares to the old VHS-BETA war that Sony lost.

...I learned the real reason for Microsoft’s sudden change of heart regarding Blu-Ray and HD DVD.

It wasn’t that HD DVD has Mandatory Managed Copy, which is supposed to as about forcing Sony to delay the release of PlayStation 3, the game machine/home entertainment hub with built-in Blu-Ray playback capabilities.

“If it’s true, it’s very clever and shows Microsoft can still be aggressive on a number of different levels,” says Roger Kay, analyst and founder of Endpoint Technologies. “And it is in the mold of Microsoft’s style.”
[snip]
Then there’s the threat the PS3 could become a home’s entertainment hub. With all the money Microsoft’s sunk into Media Center, do you really think they’d stand for losing that position to Sony? Unlikely.

At the outset of the Blu-Ray/HD DVD snit, Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter told the Los Angeles Times, “If you hear Blu-ray wins, it’s over for Xbox. It’s not that [Microsoft] did anything wrong on the gaming side,” he said. “Sony is exploiting its position as one of the dominant consumer electronics manufacturers.”

There's more info at the link, check it out if you're interested in following the battle. I may hold a grudge longer than most, but I'm still furious at Sony's attempt to take over your computer without user input. Past posts from us here, here, here, and the rest are here.
--MissM
Tuning Fork - Gizmodo