Post Mortem on Format War

Freakonomics experts on the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray war.

Seems to be consensus Sony didn't "lose," but also didn't necessarily "win." New technology is right around the corner - specifically - On Demand technology and Sony will have to recoup profit from massive expenditures before the new technology overtakes Blu-Ray. They may or may not be able to do this.

PS - Sony calculates that Blu Ray will be a win-win...getting consumers to invest in Sony players, Sony Blu-Ray discs, and Sony content. Typical Sony business practice, trying to get everything integrated...

PSS - Sony is an interesting company. They seem to be about 50/50 with successes and failures. They are a company with more notable failures than most - Beta Max, losing out to ipod and itunes on music, losing out the Panasonic on the prosumer digital camera - and yet every so often they bust out with great new products - Playstation, High End and Low End Digital Film, etc.