Matsushita Lowers Production Costs For Blu-Ray Discs

[TheBigL]

This was translated by the site stuff members, so if someone knows Japanese he can read the source here (http://it.nikkei.co.jp/digital/news/index.aspx?i=2005100207152ea) while we read the translated version here (http://www.ps3focus.com/archives/130).

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd (owners of the Panasonic brand) have established a new technology which will lower the production costs of next generation Blu-Ray discs (BD) to almost the same level as current DVD production costs.
I was afraid of the price tag of Blue-Ray discs, but now...

[AspectVoid]

Wow, I gotta say, I'm impressed. I wasn't expecting an announcement like this for another year or two. This certainly makes the next-gen format wars a bit more interesting. I still think they're gonna go the way of Laserdisk, though.

[Mr.Green]

This was translated by the site stuff members.
Looks like the stuff is better at Japanese than english. ;)

Thank you! Thank you! I'll be here all week! Enjoy the buffet!

[Chalex]

That was basicly negates the last argument for HDDVD superiority, now it really just comes down to content/hardware providers which Blu-ray has gathered significatly more of.

[bapenguin]

Wow. Awesome news. Now please...UNIFY the god damn formats.

[Kelegacy]

Good news for the Blu-Ray boys, that is for sure.

[Roc Ingersol]

That was basicly negates the last argument for HDDVD superiority
Actually, the last argument for HDDVD was "What Blu Ray promises, doesn't exist". Or rather, that was their latest argument. They pretty much stopped comparing press release specs.

When Blu-ray gathers manufacturing support, then we can finally get this format war off the ground.

[kickmybum]

Of course, this "production cost" is on a per unit basis once all of the machinery and technology is purchased by the pants and in place. I'm sure that plants having to buy all new equipment will want to get some of that cost back via the price of their product. So I still don't expect these to be close to DVD pricing.

[TrackZero]

"have established", meaning it's not in production.

I'll be impressed when I actually see the price of a blu-ray disc is the same as DVD, no more. Until then it's just all talk.

[Heretic Machine]

How conveniant that this would come just after their format got pwned by Microsoft...

[Twigz'N'Berries]

Matsushita will use trial manufacturing lines in their American labs to accumulate manufacturing knowledge, with the prospect that in only one year from now, Blu-Ray disk mass production will be possible at almost the same costs as current DVD mass production.

If anything, this supports the argument that Blu-Ray isn't a completed format. It seems like it is still in development and has a few bugs to work out to maintain (achieve) consistency. If in a year from now we will start seeing BR costs near today's DVD costs then the PS3 Blu-Ray hardware seems like it will be more expensive now as well as each disc being sold.

[mister_slim]

Eh, go Blu-Ray.