Rock unfazed by fallout, still offering HD DVD as standard on laptops

While many stores are slashing down HD DVD player prices as much as management will allow, it seems that one diehard supporter is casting a blind eye to the whole format war meltdown. Rock -- which tooted its own horn after making HD DVD standard on many of its laptops -- hasn't changed its approach one iota. Even now, the firm is still offering up internal HD DVD drives (and writers) in a plethora of its machines, and curiously enough, there's not even an option to select a Blu-ray or combo player. C'mon Rock, we know you're just trying to clear out inventory, but at least give prospective buyers a choice in the matter, would ya?

Update: Looks like a DVD-RW "downgrade" option is currently available for those that inquire, and Blu-ray options should be added in due time. Thanks, Felix!

Read - Pegasus 670
Read - Xtreme 770
Read - Xtreme SL8
Read - Xtreme SL Pro

[ethan @ Feb 25th 2008 1:45AM]

BUY STOCK NOW! BUY BUY BUY!

HD DVD is apparently is making a come back!

[phanbouy @ Feb 25th 2008 1:49AM]

All those final nails are wiggling themselves loose

[E71 @ Feb 25th 2008 6:02AM]

Man, unsuspecting buyers are gonna be pissed.

[Flashpoint @ Feb 25th 2008 8:04AM]

FIGHT THE POWER !

-Krs 1

[J. Evans Turner @ Feb 25th 2008 2:22AM]

Guy #1: "We have a bunch of stock that we won't be able to sell. We'll have to take a huge loss!"

Guy #2: "No. We can minimize the damage by continuing to sell to people who haven't yet heard the news. We'll pretend like nothing has changed. They'll think that the HD-DVD drive adds value to the laptop, and will be willing to pay the premium. If we can move 100 more units, we'll be in the clear!"

[AlexP @ Feb 25th 2008 4:08AM]

You should see how small the articles about HD-DVD's death were in our newspapers, wouldn't be surprised if people weren't even aware of the format's death months from now.

Anyway, it's not the last laptop to hold on to HD-DVD, Toshiba's not giving up on the laptop front, either.

[james @ Oct 16th 2008 1:21PM]

Hell, there are still many people that never knew there even was a war between hd-dvd and blueray, or even know what those two things are. I'm sure there are still a few people out there that don't know what a dvd is.

I consider myself pretty tech savvy, but I never bothered to follow the battle. I heard years ago there were two technologies vying for dominance but I never took the time to weigh the pros and cons. At this point I have resigned myself to the fact that the industry will always have a large part to determin what technology I buy.

[Reader @ Feb 25th 2008 2:52AM]

That's right. As long as there's still hope... Okay not really.

[Montusama @ Feb 25th 2008 2:55AM]

Rock is HD-DVD's ace in the hole?, or is it better ROck will Rock you to HD-DVD? or something "cool" like that

[Peter @ Feb 25th 2008 3:27AM]

I'd buy one. I have a tv with built in betamax and thats just awesome . .

[Dustin @ Feb 25th 2008 4:13AM]

I understand that HD-DVD is defunct from a commercial standpoint, but from a technical standpoint it's established. I wonder if the HV-DVD recordable business will limp on. If so, using them for backups could be very economical.

Also, if you're unlucky enough to already have the player, you could author your own content.

[AlexP @ Feb 25th 2008 4:27AM]

The rarer it gets the higher the price gets.

Simple economics.

So stop saying "urr could save money" and actually buy a sh*tload before it's too late.

[Dustin @ Feb 25th 2008 4:49AM]

I agree there will be a time which the prices will increase due to rarity.. but this isn't going to happen tomorrow. Prices will fall drastically before they rise again.

[Archdoom @ Feb 25th 2008 5:08AM]

Seriously,t is like no-one in Australia actually knew the format war existed. I have seen like, 10 blu ray dvd's, and 5 Hd-Dvd's and nothing was heavily advertised. I bet most West Australians don't actually know this happened at all.
Anyway, I am sad to see something sony-backed actually win. Yeah, so I am shallow, but eh, if HD-DVD lost, there's probably a good reason.
Whatever, seriously, I am happy with dvd, but then again, I was ok with VCR, and now I can barely watch them, this will probably end up the same.

[haydio @ Feb 25th 2008 6:59AM]

I don't think many of us west aussies did know, Ive only heard one person talking about it (and they were a girl! :o).

[Archdoom @ Feb 26th 2008 1:51AM]

Today, I actually found someone that knew!!! although 30 other people near us didn't its still someone! (Yeah, he is into computers/technology too, unsurprisingly)
But yeah, the general public in WA seem to have no idea about it.

[J @ Feb 25th 2008 5:34AM]

Well...

Rock seems to have raised it in their Forums

http://www.rockforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=13126

[harry @ Feb 25th 2008 6:39AM]

hd players and dvd's cost a lot less to make.. hddvd is also scratchproof,hddvd also will play cd's.. i hate it that sony won this battle. makes no sense....now we will have to pay twice as much for the same quality. the only difference is bluray could be 5 hrs of content instead of 4. like i really need five hours..

[Mojo_Yugen @ Feb 25th 2008 9:20AM]

-HD-DVD players don't cost a lot less to manufacture - Tosh was just selling them at a loss to establish the format.
-While the cost to change a DVD manufacturing line over to make Blu-ray DVDs was higher than HD-DVDs once you get cranking and produce things in large quantities the actual manufacturing cost per disc is a pretty insignificant part of the total price.
-Blu-ray is the format with the more scratch resistant surface.
-Whether or not a player can play CD's is up to the manufacturer. As far as I remember there weren't any players on either side that couldn't play CDs.

[mattclarkie @ Feb 25th 2008 11:34AM]

Blu-ray is the scratch proof one, because the data layer is higher prototypes where in caddies like UMD to protect them. Then TDK developed a miracle coating that makes the discs almost indestructible under moderate conditions, and Sony and others have adopted similar tech which I understand is part of the Blu-ray spec. If HD-DVD use a scratch proof coating, it is only because they took the research for Blu-ray.

I heard that Blu-ray was marginally cheaper to make as they were made in much higher quatities, either way what is 1p in the cost of a disc sold for £15.

[Jherez @ Feb 25th 2008 9:26AM]

This is just what we need to breathe life into HD-DVD...

[mattclarkie @ Feb 25th 2008 11:27AM]

Well Rock clearly have a bunch of HD-DVD drives in the warehouse, and as they play DVDs there is no reason to ditch them. It is the same as some shops selling HD-DVD players and Upscaling DVD players, they can get rid of the stock they have.

[gork @ Feb 25th 2008 11:46AM]

It JUST happened. There's stock they got to burn through yet. With that said, eventually there will be a fire sale on this stuff. Besides, HDDVD will play DVD's and it upscales DVD's too.

[thethirdmoose @ Feb 25th 2008 7:25PM]

...EVERY computer upscales DVD's.

[John McLaggan @ Feb 26th 2008 6:41PM]

"Update: Looks like a DVD-RW "downgrade" option is currently available for those that inquire, and Blu-ray options should be added in due time. Thanks, Felix!"

You don't need to inquire, it's a downgrade option on the configuration page.

John