I can certainly understand the tension that develops during a media standards battle, but getting a monopoly to fight your battles for you? Actually it is not that black and white and I will tell you why. Both Toshiba and NEC are interested in having Microsoft promote and use their HD-DVD standard in hopes of fighting off the ever approaching Blu-ray standard.

Toshiba and NEC’s eagerness to persuade Microsoft to adopt the HD-DVD standard they promote is understandable, especially after Sony’s confirmation that the PS3 will utilise the rival Blu-ray standard. The HD-DVD association want their standard to feature in the next Xbox, and clearly think Sony’s positioning could do their own cause some good if MS can be polarised in their favour.