The player is only region-free for HD-DVD discs. Regular DVD region coding is enforced, and it won't play PAL regardless of region coding.

Value Electronics (dot) com has it for $499 plus free shipping and 2 discs (Chronos and your choice of Warner lauch title). All together it comes to a better deal, assuming DDD isn't packaging any discs with theirs.

(It annoys me that the forums here censor links to retailers who actually pay for advertising on the site.)

Yeah, I thought that I had read about it being region free, but didnt realize that it was hd dvd only...bleh...If it were region free for sd discs, it would make my decision to buy alot easier....I could sell my oppo and recoup some of the cost.

I cant live without region free right now. No PAL, I might could live with.

I dont know...im sure ill just wait til summer or fall when more titles are launched and possibly prices come down a bit. Im sure Christmas pricing might help.

Well...it WILL play dual-layer blanks. That's how I'll deal with not being region free any more

OOOOh really??

Hmm. The plot thickens.

They won't have any in stock until Monday.

They do in fact have stock of the X-A1

I thought the X-A1 player got delayed a couple of months. It's pre-order only at every site I've visited.

My local high end store Bjorn's claims to have gotten some in and to have more coming. I don't know if they were mistaken or what.

Best Buy set out prefered customer coupons for 10% off this weekend (or 12% is you have a RZ card), so $440-$450 if they still have them in stock.

I did check the fine print to make sure HD-DVD players weren't excluded and didn't see anything.

Hmm....the plot thickens even more!

No....no.....no.....im gonna wait for Blu ray.

Yeah...this was discussed in that thread in bargains. I didn't get a coupon...plus it seems like EVERY store is out of stock.

I have a player, but didn't get a coupon.

Did you just call him a size queen?

Don't tempt me, bitch. I already went to BB and they're all out. Looks like we're stuck with SD-DVD for movie night.

Huh. I totally missed that comment.

I prefer it to be "just the right size" personally. If it's too big, I don't even feel like dealing with it. It takes up too much room and my space is tight as it is.

Umm...Yeah.

Apparently some places had/have it for $399. I'd bite in a second if BB had it for that price.

So much for Monday for me.....FedEx's site shows my player is out for delivery today. Fuck! I'm at work. I'm gonna have to rush home during my break and leave a note for them to take it to my apt. leasing office.

From AVS: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post7491026

(I gather that the machine stopped working when the poster put it back together, although he eventually managed to get it running again!)

Just got my eCost catalog in today...normally goes in the trash but I browsed through it quickly and noticed they have the HD-A1 for $399. It's $499 on their site so maybe it's phone order only? Anyone willing to try doing a phone order and reporting back?

Scan of eCost catalog page:

Alright, alright....so I went to Best Buy and used my 12% off coupon for one....it came to $439.99 before tax....I got the best service ever at best buy!....they didnt have any in stock, but without me asking, the manager called around and found a store that hadnt set up their display yet. He coaxed them into letting him have it. He is personally picking it up for me tomorrow and ill pick it up in the afternoon.

I also bought the 4 titles out....BTW- I didnt get the $25 giftcard with purchase fopr buying 3, does the 12% off nullify that?? Anyone know??

Oh well...looking forward to Batman Begins, Cinderella Man and The Matrix mainly.

Ha! Rock! Who knew you'd cave before me!

There's a psychological barrier with $500, but $440...that's a little easier to swallow. I'll be hitting my Best Buy tomorrow to see if they still have one....so that I can enjoy it before the eventual ICT lockdown.

hmm, didnt get the gift card,also 12% off 500 should have been 437.50.

i know only 1.50, but still.

Hmm..yeah, I didnt do the math in my head...oh well. Also, I have to figure in reward points....It will be about another $15.....that, plus the $25 coupon from Toshiba for a movie makes it worth while!

www.capturethebeast.com

Im also gonna check on the $25 gc for buying the 3 movies today....I hope they give that to me.

$479.99 at PC Richard if you have one near you.

I called Best Buy today and all their stores in NYC and the boroughs are sold out.

$448.09 at hideflifestyle.com.

Use coupon HDDVD.