On the plus side...you can use your old dvds
On the negative side...1. It isn't true HD
2. You need a DVI
http://www.hometheatermag.com/shownews.cgi?264


January 17, 2003

1080i/720p DVD Player

By HT Staff

Samsung Electronics is going where no manufacturer has gone before, but where many are certain to follow.
At the 2003 Consumer Electronics Show in early January, the Korean electronics giant announced what it called "the first 1080i/720p DVD player," the DVD-HD931. The player's digital processors take the native 480p video of DVDs and upconvert it to user-selectable 1080i/720p, making it the ideal companion for high-definition sources.

The up-converting process takes place completely in the digital domain, eliminating data loss and other artifacts associated with analog conversion. The process upgrades the vast library of films and concerts on DVD to high-def quality, allowing owners of HDTV monitors and displays to enjoy the highest quality video available on the DVD market. The DVD-HD931 is also the first player on the market with a DVI (digital video interface) output, enabling it to deliver uncompressed digital video.

Winner of a CES "Innovations 2003 Design and Engineering Showcase honoree" award, the DVD-HD931 incorporates many advanced features such as Samsung's DNIe™ (Digital Natural Image engine), a proprietary processing algorithm for enhanced contrast and white tone, increased detail, and noise reduction. It also features Directional Correlational De-interlacing (DCDi™) technology by Faroudja. DCDi™ eliminates the jagged edges that appear when standard interlaced video is viewed on progressive-scan displays for a smooth and natural picture.

The DVD-HD931 is said to offer a "true cinematic experience." It's also Samsung's first US product to support DVD-Audio. Best part of the package is the price: US $349, available in June 2003.

That's nice, but as you said, it's not true HD, so I guess it's not HD-DVD. It's just a fancier prog-scan player.

2. Not necessarily. That's not the way I read it. But then again, I don't really know what DVI is.

1080i/720p DVD player

Still, if you're looking for a new DVD player I would think the pic on this one would be a lot sharper, especially on large tv sets.

I might have to check that out. That's a low price for what you get. I wonder how much of a difference if any I'll notice in the upconversion on my HDTV. Playing DVD Audio is a nice bonus.

My Samsung DLP has a DVI input so I would definitely be willing to check out this new player, especially at that price point. However I found a different model on their website which has the 720/1080 upconversion, and if you read it you will notice that it says that quote: *Notice: If playing a copy-protected DVD, 720p output or 1080i output is automatically converted to 480p output. Picture flickering may occur for 1~2 seconds during the shifting process. I read somehwhere that this DVD-HD1000 is actually an older model that doesn't have a DVI output, unlike the new HF-931 that's coming in June and the 931 will only output the upconverted signals on copy-protected DVD's to the DVI port and NOT through the component jacks. Can anyone confirm this? First no digital audio output to DVD recorders and now this?

It looks to me like there is just an internal upconverter, versus an external one. No problem with me unless the Samsung upconverter is inferior in doing its job. At $349, I have to wonder. In any case, it's a consumer version DVD Player, and I want more flexability.

Come to think of it, don't several HDTVs already have an internal converter? Another case of redundant technology.

matome,

In light of your signature, I think Yamsung would be appropriate.

Didnt know the HD-DVD format was finalized (i.e. the header information, file structures, copy protection, etc.).

It's not.

1) This isn't HD-DVD

2) It's a Samsung product, I hate Samsung products...

3) 1 too many m's in your header.

Needless to say, I'll be skipping this one...

I suspect we will see many "fakes" before we get true HD-DVD.

But will true HD-DVDs upconvert to 720 or 1080? If not this may be a better way to go. I would much rather upconvert my whole library of movies than re-purchase a HD-Superbit version of them all.

Michael, true HD-DVDs will most likely have a native resolution of 720p or 1080i...so they won't have to be upconverted. that's the whole point. you can upconvert vhs to 1080i but since the source is only 235 lines it's still going to look like crap.

Hi, everyone I am new here. There seems to be some confusion about the Samsung HD931. I have read that this DVD player can read Blu-Ray disc. If this is the case it is a true HD-DVD player with the ability to upconvert 480p to 720p or 1080i. Either way Samsung need to explain the facts more clearly. True HD-DVD for $350 seems highly unlikely.