I saw this link on the MS site about some HD DVD stuff built in with the latest Media Player. Apparently there are a couple of DVD's starting to come out that are HD. I thought some of you might be interested in checking this out. There are a couple samples on the site to download and try if you have a fast machine. My video card meets the requirements for the 720P, but not 1080P. My processor is too slow, but I am downloading one now anyway just to try it.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/content_provider/film/HDVideo.aspx

Here's another link:
http://www.wmvhd.com/

I tried a clip on my machine (1GZ) and it was way to choppy. Stick with the 2.5 GHZ they recommend if you want to try it. First time I see a reason to start thinking about a PC upgrade!

On the T2 "Extreme Edition," there was a HD version of the folm compatible only with WMP9. I had no desire to buy the movie, so I havent seen it, but I would imagine ot looks pretty spiffy.

It's not a terribly enjoyable experience with anything below 3GHz, in my opinion.

This was actually part of my impulse to upgrade to a P4 3.0 with a new Max3 Abit board (Fantasic board, btw). There's not a lot of content to make it worth while but any justification for new computer parts is a good thing.

Long time no see, man! How's it going?

Just fine, thank you.

Semi, oh my.
It has been awhile.

You really should let sushi out of the trunk at least once a day. Unless of course you have drilled air holes for him.

Of course there are air holes. What do you take me for? A monster?

Speaking of being cruel to dumb animals, (just kidding), you probably have not yet seen this thread eh Semi?
There was a whole bunch of action over Xmas at our place. It was excellent.
I hate to torture you but the Halo was verrrry nice.

I've done a lot of reading in the DVD forum over at AVS and there's quite the debate raging on WMP9. There are concerns over the technology "phoning home" to activate which of course a lot of us are flipping out about. I think someone put it best when they said:

"I look forward to the day the government and other agencies log every bit of entertainment I watch or listen too and will be able to sell it to anyone with a wallet."

What makes it an even bigger obstacle is that the early adopters that can make or break a format are us nerds that won't be happy about the activiation. A good part of the rest of the country that's "clueless" probably won't "get it" or care. But it has to make it that far. Good thing for Microsoft they've got deep pockets.

However I also read that they've learned some lessons from negative user feedback from T2 and they didn't include that form of protection in a IMAX release so we'll see if it has any effect.

-Nick

You're absolutely right. I was more concerned with being able to capture and manipulate HD content from OTA than the crap MS is pulling. I have no interest in the DRM BS they're playing.

Good..I was afraid I would be derailing the discussion by bringing it up and it wasn't my intent.

I actually consider myself lucky to have come to home theater at an interesting time. DVI upscaled DVD content, HD-DVD format wars, WMP9 in both players and HTPC's. They've all got good and bad points.

-Nick