HD-DVD / TV question
 

OK guys...in about a month or so i'll be pulling the trigger on a Samsung DLP 50" set. Here's my current dilema...do I -

a) buy a 50" 720p DLP and a Toshiba A2 HD DVD player with it, or

b) buy a 50" 1080p DLP and wait to get an HD DVD or BD player down the road?

My budget will only allow one or the other right now.

I sit about 7 feet from my current set, so I think the 50" size would be perfect.

Thanks for the help/opinions...

I think 50" is the perfect size for those who don't have the room/luxury of setting up a projector. I'm not sure if most could tell the difference between 1080i and 1080p. I think it's mostly marketing bullshit. The 720p sets are cheaper. Can you get a set with 1080i in the price range you're looking for? My next tv will be a Sony LCD Projection tv and those are between $1500-$2000 and feature 1080i.

If you bought the 1080p set, how far down the road would the HD player be? I think that if one's within your price range, buying a 1080p set would be the smartest thing as far as future-proofing is concerned.

No. No, they don't. LCD is progressive only. The only interlaced TVs are CRT models. The RPTV CRTs are vanishing fast; tube versions are still around, but small.

Maybe about 4-5 months after getting the tv...

Four to five months is nothing. Go for the better TV. You'll be watching it for years, so it seems like the wiser investment.

I'll second this. I bought 1080p when I could have saved some $$ by not. I don't regret it at all. Especially now that I have HD-DVD.

I third this.

^

Thanks guys! I appreciate the advice..... :)

I'll get the 1080p model when I buy.

ok, another question here. I'm still getting a 1080p TV in about a month...

I went to Best Buy last night and see they're selling a display model of the Toshiba A1 player and I'd be able to get it for a little over $200. Would it be worth pulling the trigger on this for that price? My receiver doesn't have an HDMI input, but I do have the analog inputs. I'm OK w/ a slower boot up time (compared to the A2).

After the 2.0 firmware, does this model have any other widespread glitches?

Thanks again...this just seems like it could be a decent deal

Absolutely. I wish I could find one at that price. :(

Hell yes! Do not hesitate at that price!

Especially since the A2 lacks the analog outputs... you're probably better off with the A1. I've been running 2.0 for months and am glitch-free. My only (very minor) complaint is the boot time. I usually boot the machine first before getting the movie, drinks, settling down, etc. so I hardly notice. The only time I notice is when I forget to do this and am sitting there watching. Makes 45 seconds (or whatever) feel like an eternity. :)


The A1 is probably the best home theater purchase I've ever made (and I've made a few ;) ). At ~$200, you should definitely pull the trigger.

Same opinion here. If you don't have a problem with the load time then go ahead and pull the trigger. I have an A1 running 2.0 since it came out with no glitches.

I am broke, and I would jump on that deal in a second.

thanks guys. :)

Picked up the A1 at lunch today. Until I get my new TV I just have it hooked up via composite to my crap-o-vision tv. haha. It's probably just a placebo effect, but the dvds i played with seemed to look better.

I called Toshiba already and my 2.0 firmware disc is on its way.

I have the A1 connected to my receiver via coaxial digital right now, but will be connecting it via the analogs within the next day or so.

Question - when I hook the A1 up through the analogs, do I need to change any settings on my player so it'll pass through??

thanks again guys!!! (i'm counting the days until I get the new TV to go with this)

You will have to change your receiver.