Blu-ray 360? A bowl of bad soup.

Flashback to a couple of months ago, in mid-February, when the talk of Technology Town was of only one thing: Blu-ray, baby. Blu-ray. It just sounds so cool off the tongue. Blu-ray is our conclusive victor, our sanctioned savior – our official new high definition format. Drop to your knees, you’re not worthy.

With the extinction of HD DVDs and their players, Microsoft has quite the predicament on their hands. As of a month or so ago, they have always been a strong supporter of HD DVDs. Now they have been served a scalding bowl of Blu-ray technology. To eat or not to eat, that is indeed the question. Some rumors say they might actually eat the soup. My theory: the soup is poisoned.

The Xbox 360 had the disadvantage – or benefit, depending on how you look at it – of being released before Blu-ray technology was finalized. That, the pre-existing use of HD technology in the 360 and the fact that Blu-ray Disc Association is spearheaded by console arch-nemesis Sony, was more than enough for Microsoft to support HD DVDs.

Microsoft would eventually go on to release their own HD DVD player attachment that sets the tone for why adapting a Blu-ray player might be a bad bowl of soup. On November 7, 2006, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player launched in America at a shelf price of $199.99. By the end of the year, the unit had sold 92,000 across the States. These are surprising mediocre numbers considering that at the time one could find lower end HD DVD players for roughly a hundred dollars more. Since you could only use it in conjunction with your 360, which places mobility next to zero, why not just purchase a standalone player? In fact, why didn’t Microsoft just release a standalone player? That might have been too clever, but are you taking notes, Microsoft?

Another reason they might drop dead from eating the soup is that the Playstation 3 already has a firm grasp on the Blu-ray department. Your average Blu-ray player costs between $300 and $600, complete, now, with theories of either escalating prices due to lack of competition or price drops due to the arrival of newer hardware. Unless the Xbox 360 Blu-ray player is an unlikely bargain price, why not just throw down the extra cash for a PS3 that already comes equipped with a Blu-ray player? For $399.99, you get to play next generation games and watch high definition movies. It is a win-win for any avid gamer and/or film connoisseur.

The final quandary lies in the Blu-ray discs themselves; they are simply too expensive. The average Blu-ray disc costs between $30 and $40, which is no value for the average hardworking American. The best play right now for HDTV owners is to drop a hundred bucks on an upscale DVD player and ride out the wave until the Blu-ray prices balance out. HD DVD has only just given up, and the market has yet to stabilize. Price change is imminent; especially if there is a rise, your Blu-ray player may end up collecting dust for a time.

As for Microsoft, they may or may not release the Blu-ray attachment. The only antidote for them: simply keep your spoon out of the bowl.