Blu-ray group, HP at odds
Hewlett-Packard says it may back the rival next-generation DVD standard because Blu-ray group won't adopt an HP proposal.
That would leave HP, the No. 2 PC maker, splitting support between the two leading standards, Blu-ray and HD DVD.
Long a supporter of Sony-led Blu-ray, HP said last month that if two technologies it considered important to PC users were not included in Blu-ray's specifications, it would consider HD DVD, championed by Toshiba.
Billions of dollars are at stake as the electronics, computer, movie and television industries gear up for a technology change expected to send consumers back to the stores for equipment and discs that will play high-definition pictures and stores many times the data of current discs.
But the competing technologies may end up in a war reminiscent of the VHS-Betamax debate decades ago, which confused buyers and was an expensive loss for many companies.
HP has championed two technologies known as iHD and mandatory managed copy. Mandatory managed copy lets people legally copy DVDs and store the digital file on a home network, while iHD provides for new interactive features and is slated to be implemented in Microsoft's new Windows Vista operating system.
On Wednesday, Blu-ray said that it will incorporate mandatory managed copy in the spring 2006 launch. But Blu-ray also said that the interactive features included at launch will be built on Sun Microsystems' Java software.
"Mandatory managed copy will be part of Blu-ray format, but while HP's request (for interactivity) is being considered, at this point in time, the Blu-ray group is still proceeding down the path of Java," Blu-ray spokesman Andy Parsons told Reuters.
"We are taking their request seriously, but are not willing to delay the launch and are going to go forward with the Java-type option," he added. "I'm not saying we would not implement what they've requested, but it's not going to stop the format at this time?HP is still a valued member of the Blu-ray Disc Association and I expect to see them supporting Blu-ray in upcoming promotional events."
Microsoft and Intel support HD DVD. HP has said its move reflected its desire to ensure customers are not forced to choose between competing formats for DVDs.
Maureen Weber, general manager of personal storage in HP's personal systems group, said Wednesday that if Blu-ray remains committed to this stance, the computer maker will indeed adopt a more neutral position versus being an exclusive Blu-ray supporter.
"If they are unable to incorporate technologies we think are critical for the PC architecture, we'll be more neutral. We'll think of cost and implementation across the board. Potentially, we could support both HD DVD and Blu-ray," she said.
"You'd see us supporting both formats in various trade show booths," she said.