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.

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

So a fourth version of the Toshiba?

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.