Toshiba denies denying Xbox 360 with built-in HD DVD rumor

Ok, here's a strange one. Remember how yesterday, Toshiba supposedly nixed the rumor of a Tosh-branded Xbox 360 with built-in HD DVD? Well, get this: we were contacted by Nelsom Bostock Communications, Toshiba's PR company (in the UK at least), and asked to take down the post (which we haven't). According to NBC, "The comment that ran initially on stuff.tv in relation to the Xbox 360 was a misquote." The quote that Toshiba's PR company wants us to run says, "Toshiba has no comment to make on this matter. The Xbox 360 is not a Toshiba product."

The original denial relayed to the world through stuff.tv was this, "It's got nothing to do with us. But we know Microsoft doesn't want to include the HD DVD drive so as not to limit the user's experience." Uh, that's a bit more severe than a misquote don't you think? Regardless, Stuff updated their article. You know, we're starting to think that there might be more to this rumor now than just rumor.

[scymrmn @ Oct 25th 2007 7:52PM]

Wow, I think I just wet my pants

[360mania @ Oct 25th 2007 9:07PM]

I can smell law suits.

http://360mania.notlong.com

[Anon E. Muss @ Oct 26th 2007 3:20AM]

Lawsuits smell like urine?

[Shmoe @ Oct 26th 2007 3:37PM]

When they involve overpaid lawyers they do. So that pretty much means all of them.

[Wes Palmer @ Oct 25th 2007 8:36PM]

Toshiba you liar!

[scymrmn @ Oct 25th 2007 7:54PM]

If my sources are correct, this is the xbox Eagle concept that we heard about 8 monthes ago.

I really doubt this is going to appear on shelves before late 2009 so I wouldnt hold out on buying.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Oct 25th 2007 7:59PM]

wanna be like sony then toshiba. Denie this, denie that and then " whaddya know?, It's true!"

[Temmink @ Oct 25th 2007 8:21PM]

It's not like Sony invented the 'Deny all rumours' PR technique, it has been a mainstay of big business public relations for years. I think it has always been the PR manager's dream that all staff would check their mouth at the door and all communication would go through the PR office, but in big business especially, people seem to forget themselves when faced with a microphone (metaphorically at least).

[Mike @ Oct 25th 2007 7:59PM]

i figure, at that point, ive had my current one long enough... id prolly upgrade to this one, but it would be cool if they offered some sort of discount to someone who bought both the hd-dvd player and the 360 premium...even if they dont, ill still buy it, all in one vs my 360 with the hd-dvd attachement stacked on it

[Ten Dolla Bill @ Oct 26th 2007 8:56AM]

They didn't offer discounts to people who bought premiums and then upgraded to elites so don't hold your breath dude.

[Wonderkid @ Oct 25th 2007 8:00PM]

MSX anyone? (And if you're old enough to know what that means, then maybe Panasonic, Hitachi and others will follow suite?)

[ian rendall @ Oct 25th 2007 8:18PM]

my first computer was a toshiba msx, hx-10 model i believe. Those days were great, not old enough to understand why a 128k game wouldn't run on a 48k machine...i used to love polar star though.

[Jeff @ Oct 25th 2007 8:05PM]

This is totally off topic, but when are you guys going to get around to reporting on the earnings from Microsoft?

Something seems odd when you rushed out the news of Apple earnings, but for some reason both this site, and Gizmodo, are not talking.

[Rususeruru @ Oct 25th 2007 9:03PM]

MS made big money... even the entertainment branch did check Joystiq and Giz

[RyogaHibiki @ Oct 25th 2007 8:07PM]

The HD-DVD XBOX is gonna be called the XBOX 360 SUPER-DUPER MOST EXCELLENT NUMBAH 1 KICK-BUTT BESTEST edition.

And it'll be brown.

[SteveG @ Oct 25th 2007 8:15PM]

But then we can find it for $89.99 on Woot.com a month later!

[TeddyN @ Oct 25th 2007 8:16PM]

Double negative.... equals a positive? :)

I'm only saying that because I want them to have to re-deny it, so that there is a denial of the denial of the denial. :D Gotta love corporate mind games.

[GH @ Oct 25th 2007 9:42PM]

I think it's mainly because the original comment is poor - "Microsoft doesn't want to include the HD DVD drive so as not to limit the user's experience" implies you can have better/wider experiences elsewhere, that's not what a good PR should say. Plus even if they have no plan what so ever to add HD DVD to XBOX 360, it's actually better for the HD DVD comp to make people suspect/believe there will be something coming so as to enlarge the HD DVD mindshare.

[KC @ Oct 25th 2007 9:44PM]

Great. That's what we need. Yet another SKU to confuse the customer.

[Eric @ Oct 25th 2007 9:54PM]

I don't understand how including HD-DVD would "limit" the consumer's experience... if anything, wouldn't it make it easier?

[fistpittingnork @ Nov 1st 2007 4:43PM]

Yes, but not for everyone.

I prefer things the way they are, seperate player if I choose to watch movies through my gaming console. Using the same drive for games and movies will, in theory, double the wear and tear on the hardware. Obviously this is one of those YMMV situations.

Also the cost. If they release a new 360 with built-in HD DVD without raising the price and sacrificing gameplay in any way whatsoever, then I might consider it a good idea. As things are now, though, I'm happy. You can buy yourself a 360 and if you want, at a later time, to look into HD DVD, then you still have that option, and for cheap (in comparison to stand-alone players). For those of us who aren't interested in choosing a side yet, despite owning a 1080p set for the last year, I like the idea of not being "forced" (a bit harsh of a term, but you know what I mean) to take home something I don't want or need.

My still-working, launch release Ps2 has had maybe 3 dvd movies played in it since I've had it. If I had the option of an external dvd movie player, I would've watched a hell of a lot more movies via my Ps2. Not watching movies on my Ps2 might be the reason why it's still in perfect working condition without a single problem since day 1. Again, though, YMMV.

[rokerovakero @ Oct 25th 2007 10:21PM]

This goes together with the story that said Microsoft was going to show something new to get the media center Vista tied to iptv and the xbox360 to stream content to your house... I'm surprised they are not releasing it this season, since the Media Center Update for Vista IPTV has been released already...

[chady @ Oct 25th 2007 11:21PM]

This isn't the first time that some totally ridiculous comment or rumor was asked to be taken down, and that only fuels the rumor mill even more when they do take the articles down. So why do companies even bother with the take down or else speech. Are the major companies really that stupid or do they want us to talk about the rumors even more

[Wizard Bob @ Oct 26th 2007 5:16AM]

If there was something to say about this product, they'd say it, it gets exposure and fuels hype and anticipation.

It's clearly just a piece of shoddy journalism in the first instance that the agency has been trying to correct, and this 'denies the denying' story is just lazy, space filling nonsense.

[Mike @ Oct 26th 2007 9:10AM]

well, it got your attention...so it had to be somewhat decent

[x20mar @ Oct 26th 2007 7:43AM]

ah the double negative hurts my head!

[Maestro @ Oct 26th 2007 7:59AM]

I actually don't mind the add on HD DVD drive I have, but man, is it ugly. It just looks so out of place.

Anyways, I don't see this as a HUGE deal because MS will never make games on HD DVD's.

I had an interesting conversation with a non-tech friend. He was debating to go BR or HD for his next player. He actually just went with a regular DVD player. After watching demonstrations he came to this conclusion: The leap from SDTV to HDTV is HUGE. The leap from DVD to HD DVD or BR just isn't as huge.

[andy @ Oct 26th 2007 9:36AM]

Why can't people just give an answer anymore?


If I was not going to make this, and someone brought it up, why wouldn't I just say, "No, we have no plans to make that at this time. Thanks."


What's with all the secrecy BS? It just makes me want to strangle some PR chick (ever notice how all the "bad" news is "handled" by chicks?).

[paul.davis @ Oct 26th 2007 9:52AM]

Because when there is money to be made.. people will say anything and do anything to deceive us. Yeah... how much has Microsoft made/loss recently?

[rawd @ Oct 26th 2007 10:35AM]

To the people who end up stuck with the first gen,

BAHHHHHAHAHAHHAHAHA

[mike @ Oct 26th 2007 12:23PM]

I believe that PS3 and xbox 360 will be selling equally in the near future. There is no "winner" really. Its not like HDDVD vs BR. the original xbox and ps2 lived together and had some exclusive games, however, most of the games were on both platforms. I think this will be the case with PS3 and xbox 360. There will be no "one domiant game console" and this is pretty darn good news for us the consumers. We don't want another monopoly period. We want them both to stay on the market and compete. Now, if you like xbox 360 because you love halo then buy 360 and if you love ps3 because of God of war then buy ps3.... the rest of the games are going to be available on both systems...
When it comes to Blue ray and HDDVD its a different case, its better to have one fomat becuase this format will be licensed to other manufacturers like LG and philips...etc and they will compete among themselves. Its way more convenient to have just one Hi-def player than having to buy two of them..
My expectations is that the Blue Ray will win the consumer because its being supported by many manufacturers as well by more studios. So, if you like xbox 360, just go ahead and buy one, its a great system.and when the next gen hi def is known just go buy a Hi def dvd player (either HDDVD or BR) and by that time the price will be like the prices of the current DVD players. How many of you people out there have both a ps2 or xbox and a dvd player. I'll say if not most of us then all of us.... this is what is going to happen.

[Nelson @ Nov 8th 2007 11:38PM]

Even Toshiba hates the 360 console, get a PS3!