HP and Blu-Ray

Is HP still backing blu-ray, because in the dv9000t now, they only have the option for HD-DVD. I'm considering buying a laptop in the next couple of months, so do you guys think that HP's refresh will include a Blu-Ray drive?

 

I'm not sure but take a look at this article...it's old, but makes it sound as if they are moving towards neutrality...

EDIT: found a newer article here.

I'm interested if anyone has a more "certain" answer.

 

HP is still a member of the BDA. They showed off an external Blu-ray burner at CES, and there's a small blurb on their website at http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/447753-0-0-225-121.html#2 . According to http://www.cepro.com/news/editorial/16859.html the model number for that device is BD135.

I know that in no way actually answers your question, other than that HP supports Blu-ray. More to the point, I believe only Panasonic currently makes slim-type Blu-ray burners, and they seem to be constantly in short supply for the few manufacturers that use them. Another company, Optiarc, showed off a slim-type Blu-ray burner at Cebit recently, so hopefully such drives will become more available. A company with sales as high as HP can't offer options that would be nearly always out of stock.

As an aside, HP currently offers the HD DVD-ROM option as a $425 upgrade on the dv9000 series. That only writes to CDs and DVDs but can read HD DVDs. Both Blu-ray drive option are BD-R/RE devices that can write and rewrite Blu-ray discs, so I would imagine HP will price them in the stratosphere when they do decide to offer them.

 

The other funny thing is that I saw an external HD-DVD drive at Fry's for $400. I don't know who'd buy it though, the Xbox 360 external drive is practically the same thing. Someone's making a quick buck...

 

And that external HD DVD drive is by HP... go figure. But as for the XBOX360 add-on, the hardware is VERY similar (not sure if they're based on the same drive or not), but you would need to buy the software separately (WinDVD or PowerDVD HD-DVD versions... which sell for close to $100). Also, many believe that Toshiba was selling those drives at a loss to Microsoft to expand the HD DVD install base. But... who knows?

 

it seems that after several months, the answer is still NO. I am a bit disappointed with HP. In anout 90 days, I am getting a new laptop, and I am considering switching to Sony and Sony alone if HP does not provide that option.

Currently owned:
(HP) Pavilion zd7377EA
Pavilion 8628AP PC
iPAQ h2210
DeskJet 830C
DeskJet 340C
ScanJet 2300C
ScanJet 3400C
ScanJet 4200C

(Sony) PlayStation
PlayStation 2 (x2)
PlayStation 3
PlayStation Portable
Sony's Hi-Fi
Sony Plasma 42 inch
Sony CRT 29 inch
Sony 14 inch
Sony's DVD player

 

I am just going to wait a year to see what becomes industry standard. Why spend all that money and in a year you can't get any movies for it.

 

HP does support Blu-Ray but they also support HD-DVD. They have Blu-Ray drives in their business line and HD-DVD in their consumer line of notebooks.

Personally I am finding this high def crap more trouble than its worth. One second it works, next it doesnt and the issue appears to be the nvidia drivers. The fact that you have to have compliant drivers and hardware that is to this day suspect, is one seriously ridiculous demand.

If you value your money, don't waste it on any format right now, the industry is relying on this confusion to force you to purchase things which may or may not be around in 3 years time. Play the waiting game and you will win in the end.

 

I would gladly buy HDX with standard DVD writer, but in the UK, the only models coming out is with HD DVD. I wouldn't spend a lot of money for that, but I will, for Blu-ray. Besides, buying a BD notebook is futureproof. Although both HD DVD and BD can function as DVD writer as well, I would, as a Disney fan, have preferred BD

 

it could be a burner too, maybe

 

a disney fan?

 

I'd been waiting... and waiting... and WAITING for the day an HD-DVD BURNER actually FINALLY appeared on the market (as Blu-Ray burners have been available for about a year, now). Well just within the past few weeks, while I was deciding whether to buy a dv9500 or Inspiron 1720, HP added to its option of drives not only the HD-DVD ROM/DVD/CD-writer, but for another couple hundred bucks ALSO one that will burn HD-DVD disks, as well...

I STILL just got the basic DVD/CD drive, however, as my WAITING was just to see how this technology war pans out, as I'm one of the MAJOR PROPONENTS of the "wait and see" camp... Just glad to see that BOTH FORMATS now have burners available...

With LG coming out with it's dual-player machine a few months back, some of the salespeople I've talked to in retail think this "war" is going the way of DVD+ vs. DVD- a few years back, and that the two formats will MERGE and eventually ALL HD DRIVES will be dual-format, but I suspect that the two formats are a bit too different and making a drive that accomodates both formats is a bit too costly and complicated for THAT to pan out marketwide.

Funny thing is, last fall when I was shopping for a DESKTOP media center, HP was offering only Blu-Ray drives; now they're offering only HD-DVD (at least in laptops -- haven't played with a desktop build to see what they offer there)... So it just MIGHT depend on where the most supply is available... After all, it appears Dell put its supply eggs in the WRONG BASKET for 17" LCD screens and is now in HOT WATER with the Inspiron 1720s -- giving new customers wait times of 6 weeks or so because "we're out of LCD screens." In a GLOBAL MARKET, a company that big has NO EXCUSE for a screwup of that magnitude.

Poor, poor Dell!

Idiots!!!
Jeff