Yeah. I'd like a new HD DVD player at some point, but I'll put it off for at least another generation. It's kind of disappointing how many discs with issues I keep running into. I updated the firmware of my HD-A1 to the latest, but Children of Men would still hang up at one point, so I had to send it in for a replacement. Other discs seem to be doing all right except for The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which is acting like the Children of Men disc pre-update (hanging up every couple of minutes, or even more frequently, and I have to fast-forward then play again to get it going again). I shouldn't have to look forward to a firmware update every time I buy a new movie. I'm hoping that after the next generation they're pretty much golden. What are the odds, though? It seems like every piece of electronics I purchase anymore has some quirky nonsense going on. Standards are supposed to be improving, right?

I’ve had troubles with two disks. It wasn’t the machine, it was the disk. I buy from Amazon, and they exchanged them no problem……

The A20 and X2 do have 1080P, but it is a bastardized version. They pull 1080i/24 off the disk, and then apply a 3/2 drop down cadence to get 1080i/60, then they de-interlace it to 1080P/60.

Some of the Blue Ray players output a true 1080P/24 format that is stored on the disk, but nothing from Toshiba does this, and I wouldn’t count on any time soon either.

Just get the A2 unless you want SD up conversion or need analogue outputs.

Europe was good. I like Germany the best of the countries I went to. As mentioned in the beer thread, I had to pickup a case of Dunkelweissen when I got home. Germany was very clean and felt safe walking around as well. Switzerland and Italy were fun too. Italy was actual vacation, instead of a visit for work. My wife came over for that part as well. We enjoyed the sites and had lots of good food and vino.

Just a comment about "market leading HD-DVD". Some people will point out articles showing how Blu-Ray has more exclusive studio backing, or how their sales were good for 1st quarter since the PS3 (which we all know tanked big time form what it could have done mainly due to the Wii) was released. But here is a nugget for you...

The VHS/Betamax war was lost by Sony (Betamax), according to many reports, because the porn industry backed VHS. We'll, it was announced a few weeks back that the porn industry is "backing" (whatever THAT means) HD-DVD. (Although I have no idea if anything has been "published" on any HD disc format yet.) Disney says that they would not release their movies on the same format that promotes porn, which is why they went Blu-Ray... Just some thoughts. Not trying to turn this into a porn discussion. Just keeping it on the HD disc side with some side comments and information.

I have heard this discussion. I have also heard that the reason VHS won out because of porn, was because it gave consumers the chance to watch that stuff in the privacy of their own home, which was a first (without going to movie theaters with other porn watchers).

DVDs have been out with porn for a long time, people have been able to watch porn in their homes for a long time without going into public to watch peep shows and what not. I do not think that the porn industry has much to do with who will win this time around, its a different time, and it does not weigh heavy enough this time around.

The big change? The internet. Besides, think about porn in HD... erk...

Interesting backstory, Nick - I had never heard that lore before.

And insightful commentary, Robb - I think you nailed it (no pun intended).

Amazing what we can learn from the Axiomites!

P.S. (edit) Ken chimed in as I was typing, so no kudos for you! Come back - one year!

Why does everyone think there will be a “winner”??

SACD and DVD-A are both still going…

The studios supporting one format over the other is about even and then there are several studios that support both.

While all you guys are waiting for a winner, I’ll continue to enjoy both…..

At these prices why buy a regular DVD player when you can have a HDDVD player. A heads up for Toshiba owners another firmware update was issued yesterday, so far I'm very impressed with Toshiba's support of it's products. As a side note Onkyo will be releasing an HDDVD player similar to Toshiba's HDXA2 in the fall.

Here's a good read on the subject of the HD format war from The Digital Bits.

The Digital Bits

Really? I don't buy many, but sure do see a lot available. Did they stop makine SACD or DVD-A?

SACD's and DVD-A's are still being produced, I think what Mark's getting at is the fact that neither really took off due to their competitoin with each other.

I think it is partially their competition, along with a lack of people that have surround sound systems to enjoy them on as well as a lack of understanding of what they are among the general public. Almost everyone on a message board like this has surround sound and knows what this stuff is, but I don't think a lot of the general public does. So, poor marketing can probably be added to the reasons for flopping as well.

Nothing gets me more angry than a mediator! Ha ha.

I'm enjoying both formats, but I'm definitely supporting one more than the other. I simply wish both sides had had more respect for the consumer to begin with. It's not just politics where your only choices are a douche or a turd.

What players do both formats so far?

When I spend my cabbage, I am hoping to do so with a HTPC that I've been toying with for a few months, but I would like to have the ability to run both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray in a single, internal drive... The technology isn't there yet, so I am in a holding pattern for now.

I do appreciate the post about teh $200 unit, and I know that I am missing out every day that I don't have HD, I just want to wait a little bit longer and see what the next generation stuff has in store.

Most of us don't want to spend money on two players, especially if one becomes obsolete in a couple of years. HDDVD and Blue Ray are both still pretty new, so I don't mind waiting for cost reduction, player improvements, and either a universal player or a format winner.

I'll probably do mine as part of a HTPC as well. I have been waiting for the cable card that does HD for the HTPC. I know they are out, but they are either expensive or a bit tough to find still.

I jumped in with the A-2 a week ago, replacing my 2910 which I'll sell since I don't use SACD or DVDA.

Very pleased with the video quality of both SD and HD. I would say that A2 is a slightly better up convertor than the 2910 for SD.

I use the optical connector for audio to my MMC-1.

I don't see myself buying either format for quite some time. I watch my DVD's on my HTPC which is outputting 1080P to my LCD. I'm happy with how they look...for now.

I agree with mdrew that we will have no winner in this format war. Neither of these formats are going to replace the DVD. Unless, Walmart decides to exclusively back HDDVD. I read an article over at audioholics.com about a month ago that there were rumors of Walmart carrying HDDVD players and stocking only HDDVD discs. That could make HDDVD a winner for the format war if it happens. We'll just have to wait and see for that.

It would be easy for both Hi-def formats to replace the DVD even in the current situation (ignoring Walmart for now). Rather than pricing these Hi-def formats for more than DVD's, price them for less. If a new DVD is priced at $19.99 then price the Hi-def formats at $14.99 or $12.99. Obviously, the studios would have to be the ones to push this. It's not like the studios or retailers would be losing money selling them even at this price. Furthermore, if the stores started mixing the DVD's and Hi-Def formats together and the consumers could see this then within 2 years both formats would replace the DVD. Especially, considering that we can now get the Toshiba player for $200 to $300 and get 5 free HDDVD's.

However, I know that I am just dreaming. The studios could care less if one format or the other wins. They only care about making money and with DVD's they are making money hand-over-fist. And there is no way that any stores would stock DVD's and Hi-def dvd's together. They know that the customer service department would be overrun with consumers trying to return the Hi-def dvd because it wouldn't play in their dvd player. Since the average consumer has no idea how these are different that a regular dvd.

- Nick

I wonder how this player stacks up to the Oppo 970 in the upconversion of the SD dvds. Currently I'm using Denon 1600 progressive so either one would be better than what I got now. But for $200 I'm not sure which is best, other than the Toshiba will play HD DVD and the oppo will not.

Can anyone comment on PQ and SQ of the XBox 360 add-on HD drive compared to the Toshiba?

Trying to justify the Box for my boy's birthday.

Scott

Edit: OK really trying to justify the excuse to get a cheap(er) HD-DVD player

Imo the PQ and SQ of the 360 add-on is very good, I think the PQ is a little better on my HDXA2 but nothing to stand and shout about. SQ is about the same when using standard sound formats, I bought the Toshiba so I could get the uncompressed formats.
The nice thing about the 360 add-on is the fast loading time, I don't think you will be dissapointed if you get one.