HD-DVD players are out!
04-17-06 | 03:45 PM
#126
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From: NYC
Originally Posted by TheKobra
I just confirmed myself it has NO PROBLEMS with DL disks. This is if anyone was still wondering.
And you KNOW what's going to happen? The BR machine will come out and won't play them. That would be my luck.
04-17-06 | 03:48 PM
#127
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From: Mpls, MN
Originally Posted by Josh Z
The same argument applies to Blu-Ray.
Originally Posted by Josh Z
The HD-A1 and HD-XA1 are being released simultaneously. They're making their way to retailers now.
04-17-06 | 03:50 PM
#128
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From: Stuck doing T.P.S. reports for Lumbergh!!!!
The upconverting on the player is good. But IMO I have to say for SD DVDs my Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi produces a much better 480P through HDMI vs. the Toshiba. Now before you all start yelling and say I have no idea what I am talking about, this is must my own opinion.
I also compared Serenity SD vs. HD-DVD and hands down (we all know) the HD-DVD is so much richer in color and sound. The picture looks a lot better the Discovery HD (OCC) any day of the week.
I also compared Serenity SD vs. HD-DVD and hands down (we all know) the HD-DVD is so much richer in color and sound. The picture looks a lot better the Discovery HD (OCC) any day of the week.
04-17-06 | 04:05 PM
#129
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Originally Posted by mbs
Yeah, except no receivers (today) can handle the new audio formats.
04-17-06 | 04:06 PM
#130
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Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc
And let's not forget about the sound factor. I'm very happy that so many people are commenting on how much better they sound. I've been saying that all along. I miss the days of laserdisc MOST because of the sound advantage. Dvd could never touch laserdisc in that respect.
04-17-06 | 04:07 PM
#131
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So if I am understanding what I've read at AVS, the DD and DTS tracks sound better on a 5.1 or 6.1 system because they are less compressed, right?
04-17-06 | 04:10 PM
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From: NYC
Originally Posted by Deftones
So if I am understanding what I've read at AVS, the DD and DTS tracks sound better on a 5.1 or 6.1 system because they are less compressed, right?
04-17-06 | 05:05 PM
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From: West Paterson,NJ,USA
Sad Showing.....
Just went to bestbuy to check out the new players. They had a 60"+ samsung display setup in the middle of the theatre room playing fantastic 4. The picture was really impressive......but....then I learned that this was not hooked up to the new HD player. The first person I asked that worked there didn't even know what I was talking about, the second showed me the new player that was hooked up in the back of the store to a crappy off brand 36" LCD. He said....."this was the setup that they were instructed to use." He said that they didn't have any HD dvds in the store to play on it, and to my suprise it was hooked up to the TV with component cables. What a sorry showing. Not even a promotion sign, display or anything. If he didn't show me where it was, I wouldn't of even known it was there. Picture was no better than any of the other TV's playing SD disks with normal players. I will have to go back when they get some HD disks and when they get a clue and hook it up properly to a decent display.
I am surprised with this being so big that toshiba doesn't send reps out to the stores to make sure these things are marketed properly. It was a pretty sad showing.
I am surprised with this being so big that toshiba doesn't send reps out to the stores to make sure these things are marketed properly. It was a pretty sad showing.
04-17-06 | 06:04 PM
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From: Stuck doing T.P.S. reports for Lumbergh!!!!
Originally Posted by Morrow373
Just went to bestbuy to check out the new players. They had a 60"+ samsung display setup in the middle of the theatre room playing fantastic 4. The picture was really impressive......but....then I learned that this was not hooked up to the new HD player. The first person I asked that worked there didn't even know what I was talking about, the second showed me the new player that was hooked up in the back of the store to a crappy off brand 36" LCD. He said....."this was the setup that they were instructed to use." He said that they didn't have any HD dvds in the store to play on it, and to my suprise it was hooked up to the TV with component cables. What a sorry showing. Not even a promotion sign, display or anything. If he didn't show me where it was, I wouldn't of even known it was there. Picture was no better than any of the other TV's playing SD disks with normal players. I will have to go back when they get some HD disks and when they get a clue and hook it up properly to a decent display.
I am surprised with this being so big that toshiba doesn't send reps out to the stores to make sure these things are marketed properly. It was a pretty sad showing.
I am surprised with this being so big that toshiba doesn't send reps out to the stores to make sure these things are marketed properly. It was a pretty sad showing.
04-17-06 | 07:55 PM
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From: NYC
So essentially they're out...but...not.
It would be amusing if, in a month, sony spends a shitload of money on publicity for these things. It would be as if this month never happened for HD-DVD if they don't start getting word out there.
I almost feel like they should both have late-night infomercials and celebrity sponsors to get the ball rolling. See if Jessica Simpson could put a little zit cream on a blu-ray.
It would be amusing if, in a month, sony spends a shitload of money on publicity for these things. It would be as if this month never happened for HD-DVD if they don't start getting word out there.
I almost feel like they should both have late-night infomercials and celebrity sponsors to get the ball rolling. See if Jessica Simpson could put a little zit cream on a blu-ray.
04-17-06 | 07:56 PM
#137
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Can we honestly say we were surprised? DVD had a minimal launch. With all the delays that HD-DVD and Blue-Ray have been through, it's a surprise that there are any out at all right now.
04-17-06 | 08:09 PM
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From: Big Blue Nation!
Toshiba: Strong start to HD DVD
Players at Best Buy, Sears, Wal-Mart stores
By Jennifer Netherby and Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 4/17/2006
APRIL 17 | Despite a shaky start, Toshiba reported strong first day sales as it began rolling out its HD DVD players Monday.
Players began to reach Best Buy, Sears and Wal-Mart stores, with most retailers expected to get players by the end of the week, said Jodi Sally, VP of marketing for the Digital Audio and Video Group at Toshiba America Consumer Products.
Previously expected to hit shelves by late March, Toshiba players were delayed to coincide with the launch of the first HD DVD titles. On Tuesday, April 18, Warner Home Video bows Million Dollar Baby, The Last Samurai and The Phantom of the Opera and Universal Studios Home Entertainment debuts Serenity and Doom.
“We are filling the pipeline to retailers across the U.S.,” Sally said.
Toshiba’s players should be stocked in about 800 Best Buy stores, 200 Wal-Mart stores, 600 Sears stores and other regional retailers for a total reach of 3,000 stores, she said.
“We’ve heard very positive sales reports so far,” Sally said.
Toshiba hasn’t released how many players it is shipping, but distributors and retailers said they’ve heard estimates of 10,000 to 15,000 in the initial shipment.
This week, Toshiba is running a print and TV advertising campaign themed “So Real You Can Feel It.”
Retailers were hyping Toshiba players and HD DVD software over the weekend. In Sunday’s newspaper circulars, Best Buy notified shoppers that they would receive a $25 chain gift card after purchasing a Toshiba player, plus all three Warner HD DVD titles.
As of Monday, Serenity was Amazon.com’s top April 18 HD DVD title, landing at No. 321. Samurai was slotted at No. 802; Phantom, No. 1,524; and Million Dollar Baby, No. 3,708.
Universal has widened its initial HD DVD selection. Amazon.com and Target.com, among other retailers, are accepting pre-orders for May 9 releases Cinderella Man, Jarhead and Assault on Precinct 13. The Chronicles of Riddick, The Bourne Supremacy and Van Helsing are due to roll out May 23.
Players at Best Buy, Sears, Wal-Mart stores
By Jennifer Netherby and Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 4/17/2006
APRIL 17 | Despite a shaky start, Toshiba reported strong first day sales as it began rolling out its HD DVD players Monday.
Players began to reach Best Buy, Sears and Wal-Mart stores, with most retailers expected to get players by the end of the week, said Jodi Sally, VP of marketing for the Digital Audio and Video Group at Toshiba America Consumer Products.
Previously expected to hit shelves by late March, Toshiba players were delayed to coincide with the launch of the first HD DVD titles. On Tuesday, April 18, Warner Home Video bows Million Dollar Baby, The Last Samurai and The Phantom of the Opera and Universal Studios Home Entertainment debuts Serenity and Doom.
“We are filling the pipeline to retailers across the U.S.,” Sally said.
Toshiba’s players should be stocked in about 800 Best Buy stores, 200 Wal-Mart stores, 600 Sears stores and other regional retailers for a total reach of 3,000 stores, she said.
“We’ve heard very positive sales reports so far,” Sally said.
Toshiba hasn’t released how many players it is shipping, but distributors and retailers said they’ve heard estimates of 10,000 to 15,000 in the initial shipment.
This week, Toshiba is running a print and TV advertising campaign themed “So Real You Can Feel It.”
Retailers were hyping Toshiba players and HD DVD software over the weekend. In Sunday’s newspaper circulars, Best Buy notified shoppers that they would receive a $25 chain gift card after purchasing a Toshiba player, plus all three Warner HD DVD titles.
As of Monday, Serenity was Amazon.com’s top April 18 HD DVD title, landing at No. 321. Samurai was slotted at No. 802; Phantom, No. 1,524; and Million Dollar Baby, No. 3,708.
Universal has widened its initial HD DVD selection. Amazon.com and Target.com, among other retailers, are accepting pre-orders for May 9 releases Cinderella Man, Jarhead and Assault on Precinct 13. The Chronicles of Riddick, The Bourne Supremacy and Van Helsing are due to roll out May 23.
04-17-06 | 08:33 PM
#139
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Originally Posted by BKenn01
Personally I think it will be a looonng time before the regular dvd format goes the way of teh vhs.
04-17-06 | 08:43 PM
#140
Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc
It would be amusing if, in a month, sony spends a shitload of money on publicity for these things.
If they were to start an ad campaign next month, it would only help HD-DVD. They're going to have to wait until they have product (discs alone don't cut it).
Last edited by mbs; 04-17-06 at 08:45 PM.
04-17-06 | 08:48 PM
#141
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Not planning on jumping on the HD bandwagon of r awhile. I'll let all the kinks get worked out and the price to drop a bit. But if I was I would be annoyed that the only titles being released are movies that came out MONTHS ago. You'd think they would try to sprinkle in a few new releases.
04-17-06 | 09:40 PM
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Well I got to see with my own eyes today at the local Best Buy.
They were displaying on a 1080p monitor and why oh why would they display it on a 42" Westinghouse LCD??
I'd have loved to seen what it could do on 60"+ LCOS or DLP set?
Having said that they were playing the disc PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and the colors even for that monitor did look sweet!! It's just a shame you couldn't see on a bigger, nicer set!
They were displaying on a 1080p monitor and why oh why would they display it on a 42" Westinghouse LCD??
I'd have loved to seen what it could do on 60"+ LCOS or DLP set?
Having said that they were playing the disc PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and the colors even for that monitor did look sweet!! It's just a shame you couldn't see on a bigger, nicer set!
04-18-06 | 07:30 AM
#144
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I think Digital Life TV did a review of Westinghouse LCDs and they got very high scores for their price range. Its better than being hooked up to nothing like my local Best Buy.
04-18-06 | 08:02 AM
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From: West Paterson,NJ,USA
Originally Posted by davcole
Well I got to see with my own eyes today at the local Best Buy.
They were displaying on a 1080p monitor and why oh why would they display it on a 42" Westinghouse LCD??
I'd have loved to seen what it could do on 60"+ LCOS or DLP set?
Having said that they were playing the disc PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and the colors even for that monitor did look sweet!! It's just a shame you couldn't see on a bigger, nicer set!
They were displaying on a 1080p monitor and why oh why would they display it on a 42" Westinghouse LCD??
I'd have loved to seen what it could do on 60"+ LCOS or DLP set?
Having said that they were playing the disc PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and the colors even for that monitor did look sweet!! It's just a shame you couldn't see on a bigger, nicer set!
04-18-06 | 08:13 AM
#146
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From: Greenville, South Cackalack
A bunch of the online stores are showing the HD-A1 as being in stock now.
Hurray! Now if only I can scare up a copy of Serenity locally so I can make sure I have it when the player arrives...
Hurray! Now if only I can scare up a copy of Serenity locally so I can make sure I have it when the player arrives...
04-18-06 | 09:15 AM
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Originally Posted by mbs
If they were to start an ad campaign next month, it would only help HD-DVD. They're going to have to wait until they have product (discs alone don't cut it).
"Same picture quality as HD-DVD, and only twice the price."
Or something.
04-18-06 | 09:32 AM
#148
Well I caved, as I said I would. I was first in the door at Best Buy today and watched Phantom of the Opera for about 30 seconds before I bought both titles there. They only had two copies of Samurai and Opera. Now I just have to wait for a player!
The Kid at Best Buy told me they tried hooking it up with the compnent cables but liked the HDMI cable connection much better. I must say the PQ looked much better than anything I have seen on dvd, and this was an in store display. Lastly, the red cases are much nicer than I thought they would be. The feet everyone complained about are a nice touch, as they are the same size as the rest of the case and don't interfere with stacking these things vertically.
For those waiting for more titles to be released, Warner included an insert saying they will be releasing over 50 titles in 2006, with pictures of Troy, Full Metal Jacket, Batman Begins, Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire, Dukes of Hazzard, Terminator 3, The Matrix, The Perfect Storm, and Shawshank Redemption on tap for this summer.
The Kid at Best Buy told me they tried hooking it up with the compnent cables but liked the HDMI cable connection much better. I must say the PQ looked much better than anything I have seen on dvd, and this was an in store display. Lastly, the red cases are much nicer than I thought they would be. The feet everyone complained about are a nice touch, as they are the same size as the rest of the case and don't interfere with stacking these things vertically.
For those waiting for more titles to be released, Warner included an insert saying they will be releasing over 50 titles in 2006, with pictures of Troy, Full Metal Jacket, Batman Begins, Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire, Dukes of Hazzard, Terminator 3, The Matrix, The Perfect Storm, and Shawshank Redemption on tap for this summer.