Toshiba President Hints at Supporting Blu-ray

At the annual shareholder meeting of Toshiba Corporation today, outgoing president Atsutoshi Nishida did not rule out the possibility of selling Blu-ray products. In a new pragmatic vein, Nishida said: "It makes no sense to decide not to enter the Blu-Ray market simply because we lost the DVD-format war. We cannot change the fact that we lost, but we would like to keep our options open." Nishida said that BD recorders, in particular, appear to be a viable option. They are quite successful in Japan. When Toshiba conceded defeat in the format war in February 2008, it said that it would not make any Blu-ray products and has reaffirmed that position several times since. But Nishida's latest remark appears to indicate that Toshiba is considering reversing that decision in light of the significant growth in the market for these products. Nishida is to step down as President today. As expected, the shareholders approved the appointment of Corporate Senior Executive Vice President Norio Sasaki as the new chief executive.
Source: Nikkei | Permalink	Relevant for:

Irrob  » Jun 24, 2009
Finally someone showing some brains in that operation.

jk1138  » Jun 24, 2009
no, no wait a few more years to make sure HD-DVD is really dead.

Hanzaki  » Jun 24, 2009
I think it IS really dead...

jk1138  » Jun 24, 2009
thats my point

frank_t  » Jun 24, 2009
keep your options open? what the hell does that mean? probably another upscaling technology that pretends to be HD.

Stuart_Larkin  » Jun 24, 2009
despite all the hate toshiba gets on this board, I think in the past they made the very best of the best dvd players. I think very well on the company. I couldn't back them with HD-DVD because Blu-ray was clearly the better product. The moment they start releasing blu-ray players I believe they will be making the best.

tru blu  » Jun 24, 2009
I'm sure they know the future is full HD, not up conversion and they will lose even more money by not going Blu with all the other companies.

Rainman208  » Jun 24, 2009
If you can't beat 'em (and they didn't) join 'em. To quote Lord Beckett "It's just good business".

Scooby Blu  » Jun 24, 2009
Rotel and Integra make the BEST dvd players! Microsoft created a lot of confusion with Toshiba's hd-dud player. I will NEVER EVER OWN ANYTHING TOSHIBA MAKES EVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bluflu  » Jun 24, 2009
It was a dumb move by Toshiba to not make Blu-ray players in the first place. See you later Atsutoshi Nishida, I'm sure there's a corner office for you somewhere at Microsoft.

The Big Blue  » Jun 24, 2009
*places article in 'Who Gives A Flying ****' file*

fettastic  » Jun 24, 2009
I used to LOVE Toshiba. I bought a Toshiba HDTV, I bought 2 Toshiba DVD players and I bought an HD-A1. After the childish bullcrap and outright lies and misinformation they spread throughout the format war, I will NEVER buy Toshiba again. They BLEW IT! They lost the trust of a loyal customer and they will never get it back.

Branden  » Jun 24, 2009
sounds like toshiba finally came to the realization that their SUC technology sucks when compared to blu-ray.

Scooby Blu  » Jun 24, 2009
Well said fettastic !

nathanp  » Jun 24, 2009
I wouldn't buy a friggin toaster from Toshitba. I hate that Nishida clown!

Paul.R.S  » Jun 24, 2009
They could release an outstanding deck that upconverts DVD and plays both HD DVD and BD. It could be a better upconverter and have fewer problems and better firmware support than Samsung's efforts in these regards,

gekke henkie  » Jun 24, 2009
@Scooby Blu: Never own anything Toshiba makes? Do you own a PC? If so, you can start removing the parts Toshiba (and subsidiairies) made, but don't be surprised your PC won't start-up again

hc666  » Jun 24, 2009
Toshiba rules! Amazing TVs... I think everything I have is Toshiba except my BD Player but hope that changes in the future.

TheRealBob  » Jun 24, 2009
Why would they do this now when that super-reliable poll showed HD DVD has outsold and will continue to outsell Blu-ray Disc for the next six months? :P

steve1971  » Jun 24, 2009
If you cant beat them join them. It appears that Toshiba is headed in that direction with Blu ray. They make great HDTV's from what I have read and heard so why not just suck it up and start making Blu ray players and supporting the format? I think its time.

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