Polar Bear Plus: HD-DVD Will Promotes Digital Downloads

I've read "The Ghost Map", an interesting book about two men who fought against the cholera outbreak in London 1854. Since the book is filled with logical analysis and arguments, I'm so surprised that the author, Steven Johnson, is one of the early-adopters who bought HD-DVD player:

- Interview with HD DVD player owner Steven Johnson (kottke.org)

The interview reveals the reason why Johnson mistakenly chose HD-DVD, not Blu-Ray, and also his reaction against Toshiba's rout. What is interesting, though, is his following comment about Blu-Ray:

The consolation prize is that Apple introduced HD rentals with the AppleTV -- which we also have -- right as HD-DVD was dying, so I might be able to bypass Blu-Ray altogether, just out of spite.

He has no intention to buy any Blu-Ray player, at least for a while. Apple TV, a digital media receiver with which users can download content from the iTunes Store, could be a substitute for defeated HD-DVD. If Johnson is a particular early-adopter who owns HD-DVD, its defeat would boost the demand for digital downloads.

The following article is talking about the inevitable war between Blu-Ray and Internet:

- Digital downloads will be Blu-ray's downfall (CNET)

If Blu-Ray alliance grows bullish because now there is only one dominating standard, some consumers -- especially ex-HD-DVD owners -- will turn into supporters of digital downloads. Blu-Ray must keep on fighting, otherwise Internet will avenge the death of HD-DVD.

BTW, Johnson would envy Japanese consumers who also mistakenly bought HD-DVD players like him:

- Insanely Great: Japanese Electronic Store Letting Customers Trade HD DVD Players for Blu-ray (GIZMODO)