Yes, good advice.

Best Buy stores are also worth checking out as they clear out their players. I bought a display model A30 yesterday for $50 with the two promotional HD-DVDs. (Bourne Identity and 300). It was marked $99.99 but one of the floor CSRs dropped the price to $50 when I asked about it.

Exactly. I've noticed that people don't mention the shipping when they buy from ebay/half.com, just the price.

I just picked up Army of Darkness and Tremors from BestBuy's online sale and used in-store pickup to save on the shipping. Not too shabby. I only wish I hadn't missed out on The Last Starfighter, I really wanted that one...

I've been debating on that one too, but from what I've read, it didn't sound like it was that great of a transfer. I'll stick with SD for now...but if it drops to $5 or so...

I rented The Last Starfighter, and I thought it looked pretty good - for a 25 year old movie.

^^ Hmmm. I actually have it on my BB online Queue so I'll have to check it out. Maybe it will be a purchase.

On that note, I watched Road Warrior last night on HD DVD. Another excellent transfer -- of a 27 year old movie. Looked fantastic.

Sorry for the topic diversion...

Has Best Buy started the "get rid of everything HD-DVD" sale yet? I heard that everything was supposed to be going to $10 or less. Does anyone know the date when they do this or has it started?

I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand your comment - are you saying that your gf and friend have three tits and four vaginas? ;)

OK, so I went to my local BB yesterday and bought 10 HD DVD's for $9.99-10.49 each. The girl at CS sat at a computer and printed every BB online price and PM each one with no problems... there was a few movies I wanted that were not there.. So I went to another BB today and as soon as I asked about PM, the guy said "Our online clearance prices are different than our in store prices, which are 30% off MSRP...we dont PM our online prices".. so I said really, I have been to 2 different BB's and they have matched the online prices..and he said oh, which movie are you looking for.LOL he looked up the movies I had not found yesterday, and printed them out for me..so I took my 3 movies up and they PM with no questions asked again! I was looking for Happy Gilmore, and he said there was 4 at the store I went to yesterday.. So, I went back to the store from yesterday since its only a few blocks away from my house, and they restocked the shelves with more copies of almost all movies from the online selection..and I found several more movies that were not there yesterday!!! Had a different CS girl, and she called the manager and told her that all 5 of my movies were sold out online..if they would still PM them..and I told her I was there yesterday..and she was like ok... So, in other words, if your BB told you they dont PM their online store..tell them you already did it at 2 or 3 other stores, and you are simply looking for the movies you havent found..tell them you PM at this very store a few days ago!!! LIE TO THEM!!!LOL...
There is no putting these HD DVD's on a cart in these Las Vegas stores... they are restocking the shelves!!! There was about 20-30 movies today that were not there yesterday!!!

stopped at another BB i forgot existed while running some errands, they were out of most of the $10.49 titles, but i did snag Spartacus and Army of Darkness - cashier just ran over to the computer and verified what i told her and that was that. no big whoop.

So i've been to 3 different best buys and had zero problems price matching the website. if they say they can't, ask why "bestbuy.com" is the first option in their system when they choose the option to "match competitor price" while checking you out ;)

It just went down $2 more.

I use an xbox 360 HD drive, would there really be a difference if I used an A-30?? My 360 outputs 1080p also...so would anyone recommend me getting one? Does anyone have a 360 HD drive and A-30? To let me know if there is much difference.. They have several in stock at my local BB, but they are still $129...

Michael Clayton just dropped down under $20 at amazon

Same with The Brave One and In the Valley of Elah

Planet Earth is now $44.49 at Amazon, this is the BBC version (which is 1080P) compared to the Weaver 1080i version.

Anything I purchase from Half.com, I list the price paid (with shipping.) I had been fortunate enough to have $5.00 off coupons for Half.com purchases over $10.00.

I do not know if this is true or not,but i have heard a rumour that the BBC version is also 1080i and the 1080p on the case is a misprint because BBC television only broadcasts in 1080i (just like the american discovery channel).Some guy on the AVS forum showed an email from the BBC explaining that they made a mistake putting 1080p on the cover(this would mean not only the hd-dvd versions are 1080i but also the blu ray version too).

Sweet, between this and I Am Legend, I saved over $10 today not doing anything :p. My only hope now is that Bonnie and Clyde and Atonement follow suit to sub $20 price points.

Interesting, worth looking in to.

1080i is what, 1920 x 1080 @ 60hz, interlaced?

1080p is what, 1920 x 1080 @ 30Hz, progressive?

So, it just depends on how your HD player and HDTV are processing the 1920 x 1080 frame, right? I always wondered why they put the "p" or the "i" on these HD titles anyway. Because they are all 1920 x 1080 images.

As long as you have a 1080p HD DVD player or a 1080p display it is a moot point. Exact same amount of information. The 1080i will be deinterlaced by either the player or display to a 1080p picture. Either way I prefer the Brit version due to the narration.

My local Best Buy rejected my in store pick up for The Fast and the Furious for $10.49. I got the "not in stock" email but I know for a fact they have it because I was there yesterday.

No Reservations also dropped to $18.99. I'm thinking about getting this.

The Kingdom is $17.95!!

so just walk in there with the printout of 10.49 and go straight to the cash register and then tell them you want to PM the movie...

This post is on the amazon Planet Earth blu-ray forum, but also applies to the HD DVD:


This answer comes directly from BBC:

"Thank you for your email. To answer your query in detail. The USA version of Planet Earth released in April 2007 was encoded at 1080 59.94i, the UK version released in November 2007 re-used exactly the same encode.

Unfortunately there is an error on the USA packaging incorrectly describing the video stream as 1080p (the format common in for feature film releases). If you perceive a difference, there isn't one, as it is all interlaced material.

It might be helpful for you to know that all HD programmes made for the BBC have to be delivered in 1080 50i regardless of capture format. In addition due to the fact that all the players in the market right now are only guaranteed to play US frame rates we had to make a conversion to 1080 59.94i for these releases. This situation may change during 2008, but we have to put a product in the marketplace that is guaranteed to play on every player and not just some.

With regard to the content, it was decided not to put the "making of" documentaries on the US & UK HD-DVD & Blu-ray releases as most of the content is filmed in SD which would not upconvert well. The UK release also contains two additional programmes which had not been completed in time for inclusion on the US release.

I hope this resolves your query. If we can be of any further help please do not hesitate in contacting us. Kind regards."