HP rolls out HD DVD player in september!
 

Hewlett-Packard (HP) plans to roll out HD DVD players in September and has chosen Toshiba to make the machines for it. Toshiba will likely delegate the orders to Lite-On to pare down production costs.

http://i.n.com.com/i/ne/p/photo/HP_HD_DVD_550x413.jpg

Digital Entertainment Center? Does it have a hard drive and DVR functions?

So a fourth version of the Toshiba? :lol:

I guess not, since Lite-On is making it. But still, it's kinda funny.

Heh, definitely not a copy of hte Toshiba, part-for-part, because the exhaust fan is on top (kinda crappy place for exhaust isn't it?).

Good to see more hardware vendors stepping up!

It's an attractive looking device. Seeing that HD-DVD players are basically a computer, it doesn't surprise me that HP is jumping in (on the HD-DVD side that it). The more the merrier, as it all adds to momentum in embracing this format versus BD. I also wonder if the HP will have a similar price point to the A1.

Is that a Microsoft Windows logo in the lower right hand corner?

Yes, it is. And what's with that blue light? ;)

It looks like the same entertainment center they had before except the DVD drive is replaced with a HD-DVD drive:

http://www.hp.ca/products/static/dec/z556/index.php

I demo'd this thing (the DVD version) at a Future Shop and it's really neat. Like a XP Media Centre computer except all in a set-top box. Pictures, MP3s, DVDs, PVR, USB, Firewire, Ethernet, Wireless LAN, etc. This is the type of device I see becoming a standard in the living room.

Makes sense that they're adding HD-DVD compatability. It's pricey, but it does a fair amount.

I'm hearing MSRP is $1,500-$2,500.

uh oh.

We're getting into BD territory ;)

Geez at that price it better have 1TB of storage.

actually...it might ;)

this is from AVS:

Sounds almost like a rebrand of the RD-A1 to me. Not that this is a bad thing at all.

Hellz no. It would definitely give me a chubby.

A little excited to see the thread title, a little disappointed to see it's not for a cheaper player but what the heck do I expect? It hasn't been out very long at all yet.

This is a media center PC, so it is more than just an HD-DVD deck. It has DVR and other functions as well.

Yes, this is a full-blown PC, not "essentially" one. I have the DVD verson of this thing, and it can record TV 4 stations at once (two in high-definition). Mine has 750GB of storage space, my entire 450-disc CD collection, and looks good to boot.

It runs rather warm (becuase the old ones used the Prescott processor), but it's a really nice unit. Adding the HD-DVD drive is icing on the cake, IMHO.

This thing will easily be $2000, if not a little more. The current DVD-only ones are about that price.

Yup, it will be expensive, but these Home Theater PCs are pretty darn impressive. Nice to have an HD DVD option.