Region-free HD DVD to debut in Europe 'next month'

[New Start Neil]

HD DVD may come to Europe earlier than expected, with an initial, low-level roll-out due in April, Reg Hardware has learned. Such a rapid launch after this month's US debut of the next-generation optical disc format is apparently possible because of a lack of region-coding in early pre-recorded media and players.

The first HD DVD-equipped system to ship in Europe will be Toshiba's Qosmio G30 notebook, which the company launched today. So Toshiba claimed, at any rate. Officially, the company did not say when the machine will ship, though insiders put the release in the April timeframe, they also suggested media would be available at the same time.

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