News
 

Bookmark and Share

(1) 

Blu-ray disc (BD) format has been a huge enemy of the consumer, in Microsoft Corp.’s words, just several years ago and Microsoft Windows 7 operating system still does not support its playback, but in its holy fight against Apple’s Macintosh computers even Blu-ray optical drive inside Windows-based personal computers is considered as a huge advantage compared to Macs.

Microsoft at present runs “Laptop Hunters” campaign in the U.S. and displays the advantages that mobile computers with Windows Vista OS have over Apple Macbook systems at the same price point. The most recent episode of the campaign called “Lisa and Jackson” shows how a mother with son are looking forward a notebook capable of handling video games for under $1500. At the end, the alleged end-users pick up Sony Vaio FW-series laptop with 16.4” screen, Intel Core 2 Duo processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 discrete graphics processor, a Blu-ray disc drive and so on.

The commercial emphasizes Blu-ray optical drive inside the machine, a device that is not available inside a single Apple Mac computer.

The only Apple Macbook systems available below $1500 are Macbook 13” with Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz chip, Nvidia core-logic with integrated GeForce 9400M graphics core, 1280x800 screen resolution, 2GB of memory, 160GB hard drive and DVD optical drive and so on. The systems are priced at $999 in case of plastic enclosure or $1299 for a machine in aluminum case.

By comparison a Sony Vaio FW system for $989 and sold via SonyStyle online store at press time includes 16.4” screen with 1920x1080 resolution, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz chip, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 discrete graphics processor, 3GB of memory, 160GB hard drive, Blu-ray drive and so on.

Microsoft used to heavily criticize Blu-ray format due to its extensive copyright protection technologies. However, after competing HD DVD format virtually ceased to exist without support from Toshiba Corp., the world’s largest software designer ceased to criticize BD and may even be ready to introduce an add-on Blu-ray drive for its Xbox 360 video game console.

Despite of the fact that Apple has supported Blu-ray for many years, it has never introduced a computer with a BD inside.

Tags: Microsoft, Blu-ray, Sony, Vaio, Apple, Macintosh

Discussion

Comments currently: 1
Discussion started: 04/14/09 08:12:20 PM
Latest comment: 04/14/09 08:12:20 PM

[1-1]

1. 
Funny how Microsoft went from "we support HDDVD" to "we don't think that laser disc technology is the future, we're going to skip it and go right to downloadable content." to "we are the best supporters of Blu-Ray!" I love how they change their tune every time there's a penny to be made somewhere.
0 0 [Posted by: somidiot  | Date: 04/14/09 08:12:20 PM]
Reply

[1-1]

Add your Comment




Related news

Latest News

Friday, May 24, 2013

6:09 pm | Second-Generation Kinect Sensor for Windows Due in 2014 – Microsoft. Microsoft Discloses Additional Details About Kinect 2

4:24 pm | New Technique May Open Up an Era of Atomic-Scale Semiconductor Devices. Atom-Scale Semiconductor Devices May Be Incoming, Thanks to New Researchers

Thursday, May 23, 2013

11:30 pm | Kinect Support Is Not Mandatory for Xbox One Video Games – Microsoft. Microsoft Will Not Require Compulsory Support of Kinect from Xbox One Games

11:20 pm | Thermaltake Publishes List of PSUs Compatible with Intel Cori i “Haswell” Chips. 20 PSUs from Thermaltake Are Compatible with Next-Gen Intel Chips

11:10 pm | European Amazon Stores Start to List Xbox One with €599 Price-Tag. Microsoft Xbox One May Cost €599 in Europe, If First Listings Are Correct

9:28 pm | Apple to Assemble Macs in Texas, Set to Manufacture Parts Across the U.S. Apple’s Plan to Move Production Back to U.S. Gets Shape

9:12 pm | Microsoft Confident in Lack of Quality Issues with Xbox One Hardware. Microsoft Vows Xbox One Will Not Have RROD-Like Issues

8:52 pm | AMD Officially Launches New-Generation APUs for Mobile Applications [UPDATED]. AMD Introduces Kabini, Temash and Richland Accelerated Processing Units

6:51 pm | OCZ Reveals Vertex 450 Solid-State Drives: High-End Performance at Mainstream Prices. OCZ Introduces New SSDs Based on Indilinx Barefoot 3 Controller

3:40 pm | Nvidia Unveils GeForce GTX 780: GK110-Based Consumer Solution for $649. Nvidia’s Cut Down Titan LE Becomes GeForce GTX 780