...it really doesn't rain mostly on the plain in Spain?

Microsoft, we're on to you!

I'll buy one if they put one out...eventually. If not, oh well...no loss.

An XBox 360 BD add-on, just like the HD DVD add-on was, would be great for only one thing.

It would be a great cheap entry into a high def format (so long as it really was cheap) for PC users as a ROM device.

That's the only thing I can really think of.

We already saw the 'regular' XBox 360 gamers didn't really go for an add-on (even if the old HD DVD add-on was the best seller of it's type, so far).
They just didn't buy enough of them.

So why does anyone seriously imagine the story would be any different with a BD version or that MS would want to try again
(particularly when it would be such an obvious PR boost to a direct competitor)?

Other than the usual PS3/Blu-ray fanboys being desperate to clutch at any old straw & dream up & spread around any old fantasy to big-up & aid their ailing preferred game console corp's products, I just do not see this happening.

Undoubtedly this PR BS will rear it's head again in a few months, that's how desperate the PS3/Blu gang are to make it seem as if Blu-ray has a solid future - something which even Samsung (only one of BD's biggest backers) does not see happening - they give BD 5 more yrs.

What's wrong with blu-ray being around another 5 years? That sounds great to me....5 years of hi-def enjoyment. When the next thing comes around, I'll get that. For now, I'll enjoy my blu-ray to the fullest.

I can understand why Microsoft wouldn't want that rival tech matched up with their machine, but I still feel like they may be missing out a little bit. There would definitely be a market for that add-on.

For a product that has not achieved mass-market adoption - and which was already struggling with this pre-the looming slump/recession - a 5yr 'life-expectancy', from now, is abysmal.

That in itself will now become another one of the reasons why the mass-market will stay away.

It would mean that even if it ever did begin to lift-off those later adopters would get screwed.

Which pretty much now guarantees that they won't move to adopt it.

Which is very bad news for the movie lovers that have bought in.

Blu-ray always was the really dumb blind game console fanboy's choice and has ended up making sure that high def movies on disc never gained mass- adoption.

Way to go guys. Not.

Microsoft would make a killing if they made the USB device since BD won the battle. There are a lot of Xbox's out there and I'm pretty sure I would buy one to view physical hold in your hand type content that disks provide.

Quasar

.. ppl don't start saying that direct downloads of 4K or whatever the next HD is going to be, is the way of the future, which is BS since most ppl hardly have enough bandwidth to watch youtube.
5 years plus the two so far in its adoption make out at what, 7 years. Not bad at all, really. I mean sure, the cd has been around, so has the dvd. But whats not to say the BluRay will only just take a second seat to the next portable entertainement format, and maybe become a nice way to back up files and carry data for bigger and bigger, more awesome looking games.

I dont see a foreseeable end to optical formats. I've seen the internet reality of the rest of the world, and trust me, streaming HD, might never become as widespread as we might hope. Besides. I like having hard copies of everything.

The mass-market would still get screwed.
Cos the bulk of whom would not be buying for some time even if they were to become so inclined.

Which, knowing it's only got 5yrs (from now), is why they will not bother.

That and the coming economic slump.

The days of funding anything you like on loans is drawing rapidly to a close.

Watched IronMan in Blu-Ray over the weekend... honestly I couldn't tell a difference and it would have looked just as good on an upscaled DVD. If my friend hadn't brought his PS3 over to watch it on I wouldn't have missed out on much. The Blu-Ray experience lacks any impressive 'wow' factor to motivate me to buy in.

Microsoft doesn't currently let me BUY HD movies even though it lets me buy HD TV shows so the technology is all in place it's just a DRM issue. The funny thing (i.e. "sad" thing) is that Sony lets me buy movies on the PS3 store now, and they're the ones pushing BluRay! Admittedly Sony doesn't offer HD movies for sale because they don't want to hurt BluRay sales, but there's NO excuse for Microsoft not to do this. I would pay $25 for an HD movie as long as:

1. I OWNED it and could download it in the future if I wanted to

2. I had access to extra content such as Director's comments and deleted scenes

3. Closed Captioning was available


I'm all for embracing Microsoft's view of HD movies via download, but they're not letting me!