Tuesday, January 29, 2008

HD DVD as the Black Knight


Great bit in the Wired Blog Network on Epicenter, comparing HD DVD (the Toshiba-championed high-def DVD format) to the Black Knight, from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Recall the scene in which Arthur (Graham Chapman) confronts the Black Knight, who won't allow anyone to cross the bridge he guards:

King Arthur cuts off Black Knight's left arm.

King Arthur
Now stand aside, worthy adversary.

Black Knight
'Tis but a scratch.

King Arthur
A scratch? Your arm's off!

Black Knight
No, it isn't!

King Arthur
Well, what's that then?

Black Knight
I've had worse!

King Arthur
You liar.

Black Knight
Come on, you pansy!

It's a great metaphor for the extraordinary efforts the HD DVD group is making to keep themselves relevant. We learned today that despite cutting the price of their HD DVD players by up to 50%, Toshiba still got outsold by Blu-ray at a 2-1 margin.

Toshiba still plans to spend $2.7 million for a 30-second Super Bowl commercial.

Like the headline at Wired reads: It's not just a flesh wound.

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