toshiba

Forget about unification, compromise, or concessions; both tech firms refuse to budge on next-generation blue laser DVDs.

The new president and CEO of Toshiba wants to sit back down with Sony and talk about HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

Toshiba adds a little Microsoft firepower to the high-density DVD war going on with Sony. The two companies announced today they would further their recent collaborations as they both work to develop the future of the HD-DVD format.

A Monday announcement by the two companies will lead to their joint effort at developing next-generation DVD players.

The warlord known as Sony rides back to camp. He tells his generals there could be no parley with the lord Toshiba. They cannot decide whose sword will rule. No compromise can be reached. He commanded his generals to ride and muster soldiers from all corners of the land to prepare for the War of the Blue Light.

The mighty warrior Toshiba fingers his katana as sweat drips from his brow. After many minutes of this battle of wills with the warlord known only as Sony, a smile crept onto the face of Toshiba. He had gained something, if only briefly, in this contest of honor.

These DVDs will store 15GB of data, which is about triple the current capacity of present-day DVD-Rs.

Blu-ray versus HD DVD, liquid crystal versus plasma, and how manufacturers want us to see in the future.