Chris Lanier

Ok, ok, point taken ;-) Conclusion: we should not hit you with market rumours, lets just wait a couple of months to see how things progress.

But you do know that that 'not currently' phrase is the exact same text that Warner used before going Blu exclusive and Toshiba used just before pulling the plug on HD-DVD.

The arguments against the likelihood of M$ integrating Blu-ray seem especially convincing against the backdrop of folly surrounding the 360's standard DVD playback, as well as its performance as an extender. M$ is in a position to make unilateral decisions concerning the extender software for the 360 and its respective codecs, as well as the 360s main DVD codec. M$ doesn't have to cooperate with any other player to make those changes, and still there is silence on both fronts.

Is it (especially in retrospect) surprising that when the additional complexity of playing nice with others is tossed into the mix that there is no movement?

I agree with the previous poster, Microsoft has not come out with a categorical denial regarding support for Blu-ray. The phrase "not currently in talks" is just more marketing speak.

Now, if the Microsoft Group product manager for Xbox 360 had said something like "Xbox will never talk with Sony or the Blu-ray Association and will never integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience.”, I would concede regarding Xbox support for Blu-ray.

In dynamic businesses, where partners can be competitors and vice-versa, you never say never! That's the fun in all this, we can specualate all we like about whether Microsoft may or may not support Blu-ray in its entertainment products like Xbox, Media Center, etc., but in the end, only Microsoft knows whether they will support it, and right now, they are not saying they will or they won't.

Still all this is pure speculation at this point and you still have this quote to counter yours.  

"It should be consumer choice; and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider," Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware said when asked whether Microsoft would support a Blu-ray DVD accessory in the event that HD-DVD failed.

www.reuters.com/.../idUSN0851332620080109

And we know now that microsoft is currently working on bluray support "that makes sense" on windows.  We already know your opinion on what that means, but in that area I'm going to have to disagree 100%.  Watch the sales of bluray, now that the format has been decided they're going to see them shoot up dramatically.  Just the changes I have seen recently in local b&m stores have been insane, there seems to be a much bigger push now.  Microsofts hands are going to be tied here, as more people start adapting there is going to be more and more demand for it.

I personally don't see it happening on the 360 though because of the life cycle of the console is already coming close to completion.  But I don't think we should really say with 100% certainty that it will not happen. I mean I can see big pluses and negatives on both sides.  

I still think bluray winning is a HUGE reason why the PS3 is now beating the 360 in sales in the latest NPD report.  And Microsoft can't ignore this.  I personally have had 3 friends that have bought a PS3 after the format was decided primarly for the bluray support.  You pay pretty much the same price for the other players and you get a next gen video game console.  I mean seriously, do you think these arguments are of smaller concern than microsofts supposed hatred for java?

NPD data just came out for last month.  PS3 is again beating the 360, we still think its a coincidence that this just started happening after the format was decided?

www.shacknews.com/.../51760

I don't know if blu-ray is THE reason that the PS3 is beating the xbox but I do think it is one of a couple factors contributing to it.

The PS3 is one of the best blu-ray players out there, it has good video quality, it's quiet, oh, and you can play games on it.

...and at this point in time... Chris, I'll give you the "I told you so" comment.  You did... I still can't believe MS isn't up nights working on blu-ray.