HD DVD - Frequently Asked Questions

Background

Q: What has Toshiba announced concerning HD DVD?

Following recent major changes in the market, Toshiba undertook a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD, which led to our decision to no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders.  We will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.

Q: Why has Toshiba decided this?

Toshiba is firmly committed to providing consumers with the right technology to suit their current and future lifestyle. A number of factors influenced our decision.

Warner's announcement of exclusive support for Blu-ray was the primary trigger. It had a significant impact on the market, including retailers and content providers.

We also noticed that sales of both next generation disc formats are below expectations while uptake of digital movie download services is accelerating, which could render all High Definition discs in the market redundant.

Those are the two main decisions that lead to our decision to redirect resources to concentrate on future leading innovation in a wide range of technologies that will drive mass market access to HD content.

HD DVD customer sales and support

Q: Do you have any plans to offer compensation to consumers who have purchased your HD DVD players at a premium price, when now it is obsolete?

We do not have any plans to accept returns or provide compensation from customers as we believe there is still inherent value in the HD DVD player itself:

• The HD DVD players will play back both standard DVDs and HD DVDs
• There are nearly 1,000 HD-DVD titles available worldwide
• The HD DVD players will up-scale standard DVDs so customers can still enjoy access to these plus their existing library of DVDs and watch them in near HD quality. 
• The players include an Ethernet port to connect easily to the internet for online content and downloads, for example, movie trailer and web polling 
• The players will play all your CDs

Q: Will you accept product returns from consumers if requested?

A: Our standard policy regarding consumer product returns applies, which means we do not accept return of product that is working properly.

Q: Where can I return my HD DVD player?

A: Our standard policy regarding consumer product returns applies, which means we do not accept return of product that is working properly. 

Q: I bought my player for Christmas at $599 and then you revised prices of your HD DVD players in January to $399. Are you offering a refund now that the format is obsolete?

A: No. We are not offering any compensation as we believe there is still inherent value in the player itself.

• The HD DVD players will play back both standard DVDs and HD DVDs
• There are nearly 1,000 HD-DVD titles available worldwide
• The HD DVD players will up-scale standard DVDs so customers can still enjoy access to these plus their existing library of DVDs and watch them in near HD quality. 
• The players include an Ethernet port to connect easily to the internet for online content and downloads, for example, movie trailer and web polling
• The players will play all your CDs

Q: I've purchased a Toshiba HD DVD player, does this mean it won't work anymore?

A: You can continue to enjoy using your HD DVD player in exactly the same way as previously.

Q:  Can I still receive my free movies redemption offer?

A: Yes, as the offer is valid on all HD DVD player purchases until the promotion expiry or unless announced otherwise.The current offer is valid until 3rd March 2008.

• HD-E1: 3 HD DVD titles via redemption:  HULK, Miami Vice, The Holiday
• HD-EP10: 5 HD DVD titles via redemption:  Black Rain, World Trade Center, Dream Girls, Norbit & U2 Rattle & Hum.
• HD-XE1: 10 HD DVD titles via redemption:  American Werewolf in London, Fast & the Furious Tokyo Drift, HULK, Miami Vice, The Holiday, Black Rain, World Trade Center, Dream Girls, Norbit & U2 Rattle & Hum.

Please visit www.isd.toshiba.com.au/redemption for details on the promotion. * Important Note: Titles for redemption are subject to availability.

Q: I don't want my five free movies, can I receive money or another Toshiba product instead?

A:  No. Please refer to the rules and conditions stated in the fulfillment process on the website; www.isd.toshiba.com.au/redemption. The free HD DVDs also cannot be returned or exchanged at retailers.

Q: Are you still selling HD DVD? Why should I consider purchasing a player or notebook with the format?

A: We believe that HD DVD is the best way to watch movies in high definition.  Our HD DVD players not only play back approximately 1000 HD DVD titles available worldwide and deliver an entirely new level of entertainment, but also enhance the picture quality to near high definition on standard DVD titles by all studios and also they are the only HD playback device in the market today able to support DTS-HD Master Audio,  the best available audio format. HD DVD models are backward compatible allowing users to enjoy their libraries of current DVD and CD software while enhancing the look of regular DVDs by up-scaling them to near high definition quality.

Q: When will you stop selling HD DVD?

A: -Players and recorders:

We will stop development of new products, and we will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail channels, aiming for cessation of the business by the end of March 2008.

-Drives:

We plan to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make efforts to meet customer requirements.

-Notebook PCs:

The company will assess the position of notebook PCs within its overall product line-up relative to future market demand.

Q: Will current HD DVD titles continue to be available in the market?

There are approximately 1,000 titles in the market that can be viewed with the players.  The HD DVD titles are listed on the www.thelookandsoundofperfect.com website. Please check there for details of current and future HD DVD movie releases worldwide.

Q: What happens if my HD DVD player breaks?

A: We will continue to provide normal after-sales service so customers can use our products confidently. We will also stock parts for five years from now.

Q: What is the warranty on my player?

Toshiba's warranty for High Definition DVD, (HD DVD) players is parts & labour warranty for 2 years from the date of purchase, for home use, with the exception of Remote Controls whose warranty are 1 year and remote control batteries, which are excluded as consumable items.

HD DVD players purchased for commercial use are covered under warranty for Parts & labour for 1 year from the date of purchase, with the exception of remote control batteries, which are excluded as consumable items.

Q: Can I still receive firmware updates?

Yes. We will continue to support and provide firmware updates should they be required.

Q: Will you make further price reductions on your HD DVD players?

A: No, not at this time.

Toshiba products

Q: I recently purchased a Toshiba notebook with an HD-DVD drive does this mean it is obsolete? Are you offering compensation?

A: No. Your HD-DVD drive can play and burn CDs and DVDs like all DVD super-multi drives plus playback HD DVDs and also up-scales DVD (using an external HDMI cable) offering inherent value and quality. There are approximately 1000 HD DVD titles available worldwide and are listed on the www.thelookandsoundofperfect.com web site.

Q: Why should I purchase a Toshiba notebook with an HD-DVD drive?

A: There is virtually no premium for HD DVD drives vs DVD supermulti drives in our notebook models, hence customers can take advantage of playing and burning CDs and DVDs and also up-scale DVD (using an external HDMI cable) offering inherent value and quality plus take advantage of enjoying up to 1,000 HD-DVDs available to experience the best in high definition.

Q:  Can I still receive my free HD-DVD player with my Toshiba X-series LCD TV?

A: Yes, as the offer is valid until the promotion expires February 28th 2008, or unless announced otherwise.

Q:  Can I still receive another Toshiba product with my Toshiba X-series LCD TV instead of an HD DVD player?

A: The current X-series offer is for an HD DVD player, we currently have no plans to offer alternative products as we believe Toshiba HD DVD players still provide inherent value.

Q:  Why should I consider purchasing a Toshiba X-series LCD-TV with bonus Free HD-DVD player when HD-DVD is now obsolete?

A: We still believe there is inherent value in this promotional offer as all Toshiba HD-DVD players will play CDs, DVDs, up-scale DVDs for near HD quality experience and also there is still up to 1,000 HD-DVD movies available worldwide to experience the best in High Definition.

Q: I've got an Xbox 360 and bought the HD DVD driver, what do I do with this now?

You can continue to use your HD DVD driver in exactly the way you always have. Please refer to Xbox / Microsoft for any queries on you may have.

Q: Are you going to start a movie download service via the internet?

A: We regard digital content downloading as one growth area, and interest in digital content downloading is growing faster than we originally expected. We are currently reviewing business strategies that can use Toshiba's strengths including high capacity NAND flash memory, small form factor hard disk drives, next generation CPUs, visual processing, and wireless and encryption technologies.

Blu-ray

Q: Why didn't you work with Blu-ray to resolve this issue?

A: HD DVD is the format created and approved by the DVD Forum, comprised of over 200 companies worldwide, including BDA members (the Blue Ray disc group), for the benefit of consumers. We have remained firm in belief that HD DVD is the best format. The Blu-ray format was created in closed discussions separately from the DVD Forum, without proposing the format to the Forum for open discussion. There were past opportunities for a unified format, but we could not find any superior points in Blu-ray over HD DVD during the discussion.

We believe that discontinuing the HD DVD format is now in the best interest of consumers and will focus our considerable efforts in future and more relevant areas.

Q: Is it possible to play HD DVD titles on a Blu-ray player or Blu-ray titles on an HD DVD player?

A: No. Your HD DVD player will not play Blu-ray discs and Blu-ray players will not play HD DVD discs.

Q: Do you have any intention to launch Blu-ray player or recorder?

A: We have no current plans to introduce a Blu-ray player or Blu-ray recorder.

Q: Can I update my player via firmware to play Blu-ray discs?

A: No. These two formats are not compatible. Your HD DVD player will not play Blu-ray discs and your Blu-ray player will not play HD DVD discs.

Q: Is there any possibility that Toshiba will join the BDA?

A: We are currently reviewing new business strategies that will make best use of Toshiba's strengths. We have no current plan to join.