Ears On

How much bad news has analyst Rob Enderle got for the Blu-ray camp? On top of all that other bad news? Let me count the blows:

HD DVD players sell for half ($500) the cost of Blu-ray players ($1000+).

HD DVD movie prices average $5 less.

Some have the advantage of a standard-def DVD side for compatibility.

They're selling better on Amazon.

The year-end installed base of HD DVD equipped Xboxes will beat PS3 twentyfold.

PS3, of course, is having shipping problems.

Blu-ray supporter HP has defected, introducing a $100 HD DVD drive upgrade. Enderle's conclusion: "With a 4x to 6x advantage by year end, you'd have to conclude that HD-DVD has reached a point where it can’t lose and Blu-Ray is only now in a position to ensure both platforms lose." Blu-ray, he says, will survive "only for PS3 games and high-end optical backup." He urges readers to follow the advice of HD Now and petition for a single format. He admits, though, that in the past he's bet on Blu-ray. And there are still plenty of other things Sony does right.