Ron -

Rumors that Blu-Ray had moved ahead have been around for a while.

The report on 18 Feb was that Toshiba was "meeting to discuss" whether to drop out (the same day that Microsoft put out a press release that they didn't see a problem with HD DVD on their XBox).

The report that Toshiba had made the decision hit the press on the 19th.

I have a hard time thinking of an association with Sony as a "benefit" since This thread, but they do have the money behind them.

John