Michael Dell reaffirms commitment to Blu-ray

While showing off the expanded XPS line, Dell CEO Michael Dell also commented that the company remains committed to Blu-ray, despite Microsoft and Intel's decision to line up behind rival HD-DVD. When asked how the Microsoft/Intel decision would affect the company's ability to execute the strategy, he quipped, "here's a question for you. Anybody know which version of Windows was the first to support DVD drives?" After a few moments of silence, he answered: "None. PC makers have always had to include their own codecs. That's how we did it for DVD drives, and that's how we'll do it for Blu-ray." However, Dell didn't answer another question, on when the company's first PCs with Blu-ray drives would ship. Perhaps the door's still open at least a crack for HD-DVD after all.