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It's back - MS XBOX HD-DVD w/ 2 HD-DVDs $199.99

R

Rivulentt

Junior Member
Both are offering a basically the same deal this week.

Paying the normal $199.99, you can buy it from Best buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...duct&id=1158321865239) and get 2 HD-DVD's 29.99 or less (each) free. Offer valid online but you're bound to "Breach" and "Bourne Supremacy".

Paying the normal $199.99, you can get it from Circuit City and choose any 2 hd-dvds totaling $60 or less (most hd-dvds are $25 for hd-dvd only, and $35 for combo dvd / hd dvd). This appears to be in store only.

I just came back from Circuit City. Make sure to go by customer service if there are none on the shelves, they keep them off the sales floor for whatever reason.

In my case, I just spent $215 (after tax) on:

Xbox HD DVD
included universal remote
included King Kong
Free: Batman Begins
Free: The Departed


Hard to beat this deal if you already own an xbox 360! If you don't, you could still buy a xbox premium and this for about the price of a standalone 1080p Toshiba player! This player Can play 1080i over component, and 1080p over VGA. I can confirm the max allowable is 1080i over component. The quality like this is amazing so I"m going to wait until a deal comes around for the vga cable (read: Don't buy an eBay cable. Bought one, no blues in the picture).

While Component can play 1080p, The ACS (or something like that) copyright association won't allow it. Pushing digital signals I guess? Well, the VGA circumvents this restriction.
Note I see the super (<100$) deals going around for this player... but this is at least a deal you can rely on and YMWV (your mileage won't vary) 😛
 
You may be better off getting the Crutchfield Toshiba HD-A2 for the same $199.99 price (including shipping), with a mail in deal for 5 free movies.

And I say this as someone who owns the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive.
 
I just got a 15% off coupon at Circuit City too with my $50 rebate for Windows Ultimate Vista deal posted here for spending >$149.99. In combo with this deal, it makes it desirable IMHO. Will go there tomorrow. Don't forget about that coupon if you got it or your rebate shows up soon.
 
Originally posted by: cleeve
the A2 is only 1080i though. So if you have a 1080p set i'd steer clear.
Click to expand...

Excuse me, but that's a load of cr@p.
First, if you have a 1080p set it will upconvert a 1080i signal. Its very rare to have a 1080p set that doesn't do this.
Second, it is extremely hard, near impossible in fact, to see any difference between an 'i' or 'p' picture - and as I said, your 1080p set will upconvert so you'll be looking at 1080p regardless.
It might make your e-pen sound bigger but there is no quality reason to get a 1080p HD output player over a 1080i - especially since it doubles the price.

http://www.hometheatermag.com/gearworks/1106gear/

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6661274-1.html

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=698612
 
Originally posted by: GZeus
Originally posted by: cleeve
the A2 is only 1080i though. So if you have a 1080p set i'd steer clear.
Click to expand...

Excuse me, but that's a load of cr@p.
First, if you have a 1080p set it will upconvert a 1080i signal. Its very rare to have a 1080p set that doesn't do this.
Second, it is extremely hard, near impossible in fact, to see any difference between an 'i' or 'p' picture - and as I said, your 1080p set will upconvert so you'll be looking at 1080p regardless.
It might make your e-pen sound bigger but there is no quality reason to get a 1080p HD output player over a 1080i - especially since it doubles the price.
Click to expand...

whoa there, thats a pretty bold statement you are saying there. I would be careful as I own both 1080i and 1080p TV's (same manufacturer) and quality between 1080i and 1080p is about 2 times better on the 1080p and you can certainly tell. So yeah I wouldnt waste money on a HD DVD player that can only produce 1080i, upconverting from your tv doesnt increase quality to 1080p, it only converts it.
 
'TheDrake'

While I can appreciate what you can see with your own eyes, same manufacturer does not equal same quality from model to model, year to year.

I've added some links to my 'bold statement' that will provide much better technical explanations than I can - especially the AVS link. Its the same data being displayed regardless of the method.

The quote that sums it up best IMHO: "Either you are letting your player deinterlace, or you are letting your display deinterlace. The end result is the same, assuming the electronics are competent in doing so."
 
Originally posted by: GZeus
The quote that sums it up best IMHO: "Either you are letting your player deinterlace, or you are letting your display deinterlace. The end result is the same, assuming the electronics are competent in doing so."
Click to expand...

I have no experience whatsoever in upscaling 1080i -> 1080p, so my question is legit and not an attempt to be a smart@ss, but would your argument be the same for all upscaling/deinterlacing in regards to it being done by the player or TV?

In my experience in upscaling (only 480p DVDs to 1080i), having an upscaling DVD player to do the deinterlacing has always resulted in a noticeably better quality picture when compared to the times I've let my 56" Samsung DLP perform its own deinterlacing.
 
Also, when the heck are they going to release this thing in black? It seems like all the other 360 accessories have been switched since the Elite came out.

It's aesthetically bad enough that it needs to sit as a separate box but it has to be a different color than my 360 Elite, too?
 
Well I have noticed so much more detail in a 1080p movie versus a 1080i signal coming from cable/satallite television. Obviously thats dependant on the cable/satallite provider on the quality of the signal, but either way even if I hook my HD DVD player into a 1080i TV it still doesnt look as good as the quality of the 1080p TV and it is noticable. The difference between the technologies in TV from the 1080i to 1080p are negligable as you can throw a 1080i signal to both and they look identical in quality. Everyone has their theories and opinions but the real test is your eyes and for me, I notice a difference without trying to see a difference (f that makes sense).
 
I would definitely go for the 1080p player over the 1080i if I was displaying it on a 1080p set. The upconversion cant just magically up the resolution, it resizes just stretches the pixels out, and probably applies some sharpening or something. Upconverted 1080p != 1080p.

I would say anyone with an HTPC or a 360 should get this over the A2, at least IMO, especially being that the A2 at Crutchfield is now back up to $299 (unless there is some other deal I dont know about), and the A2 cant do 1080p.

Are there any coupons you can use on these? I know a while back some people got ~$60 off with a CC coupon.
 
Agreed on 'black is better' for any box! :thumbsup:

The likely reason you have experienced a difference in the 2 approaches is to do with the hardware itself - one just happens to be better than the other.

One more link just for fun:
http://www.audioholics.com/edu...ution-in-displays.html
"Put bluntly, from 8 feet away while watching a 50 inch plasma TV, the human eye is generally incapable of reliably distinguishing any detail finer than that shown on a true 720p display! "

This topic gets a good workover in the AVS and similar forums. I just took exception to the earlier statement as it was based on e-pen size and not facts.

Good day to all.
 
The upconversion cant just magically up the resolution, it resizes just stretches the pixels out, and probably applies some sharpening or something. Upconverted 1080p != 1080p.
Click to expand...


Going between 1080i and 1080p isn't scaling or upconverting. No pixels are getting resized or stretched -- both have exactly 1080 lines of information, exact same pixel sizes, and the exact same amount of detail. Going from 1080i -> 1080p is deinterlacing -- basically, taking two frames of 1080i and combining them to make one full 1080-line frame. Frame A has half of the 1080 lines, and Frame B has half of the 1080 lines; after the two frames are put together you have all 1080 lines of detail.
No stretching, scaling or pixel mashing involved.

The diagram on this article that GZeus linked is worth a thousand words: http://www.hometheatermag.com/gearworks/1106gear/
 
Originally posted by: ninethirty
The diagram on this article that GZeus linked is worth a thousand words: http://www.hometheatermag.com/gearworks/1106gear/
Click to expand...

There is no new information?nor is there more resolution, as some people think. This is because, as you can see in Figure 1, there is no new information with the progressive signal. It's all based on the same original 24 frames per second.
Click to expand...

😕 to me huh?

But I am still wondering if there are any coupons to get this cheaper.
 
It's $172.51 at Provantage. I've dealt with them before and they're OK. I'm not nuts about the @29.99 movies that are available so this is better for me.
 
Keep in mind BPB that at CC you can choose any two dvd's TOTALLING $60, meaning you can do like I did and get one $25 movie (batman) and one $35 movie (Departed).

Now to just bite my tongue and wait for Planet Earth to go on a super sale!
 
You make a good point, but still, if I could get Planet Earth or something else I like I'd do it. But as it is I don't care for any of the options right now. I must say I'm very unimpressed with the current offerings of HD-DVD movies. The Blu-Ray seem better, though that's a bit of damning with faint praise, isn't it?
 
Originally posted by: TheDrake
Originally posted by: GZeus
Originally posted by: cleeve
the A2 is only 1080i though. So if you have a 1080p set i'd steer clear.
Click to expand...

Excuse me, but that's a load of cr@p.
First, if you have a 1080p set it will upconvert a 1080i signal. Its very rare to have a 1080p set that doesn't do this.
Second, it is extremely hard, near impossible in fact, to see any difference between an 'i' or 'p' picture - and as I said, your 1080p set will upconvert so you'll be looking at 1080p regardless.
It might make your e-pen sound bigger but there is no quality reason to get a 1080p HD output player over a 1080i - especially since it doubles the price.
Click to expand...

whoa there, thats a pretty bold statement you are saying there. I would be careful as I own both 1080i and 1080p TV's (same manufacturer) and quality between 1080i and 1080p is about 2 times better on the 1080p and you can certainly tell. So yeah I wouldnt waste money on a HD DVD player that can only produce 1080i, upconverting from your tv doesnt increase quality to 1080p, it only converts it.
Click to expand...

Its a bold statement but he is right. In your situation it might because your upconverter in your player sucks with 1080i compared to 1080p. There is a "Slight" difference but it really takes a trained eye to even see it. Most people will not (like i said assuming the upconversion process is high quality with both). Id much rather have an A2 (which i did order from crutchfield for the said price) than the xbox-360 drive? Why well one big reason would be a remote control. You also get more movies with the toshiba unit (5).
 
Originally posted by: BPB
You make a good point, but still, if I could get Planet Earth or something else I like I'd do it. But as it is I don't care for any of the options right now. I must say I'm very unimpressed with the current offerings of HD-DVD movies. The Blu-Ray seem better, though that's a bit of damning with faint praise, isn't it?
Click to expand...

Umm what kind of set are you watching them on and which movie were you watching? There are some movies they haven't done the greatest job in converting to HD-DVD. While they do look good they could look much much better. A prime example would be Perfect Storm. Now some movies they have done an EXCELLENT JOB at and they just look phenominal. Watch Planet Earth or Chronicals of Riddick.

Ncage
 
Originally posted by: ncage
Originally posted by: BPB
You make a good point, but still, if I could get Planet Earth or something else I like I'd do it. But as it is I don't care for any of the options right now. I must say I'm very unimpressed with the current offerings of HD-DVD movies. The Blu-Ray seem better, though that's a bit of damning with faint praise, isn't it?
Click to expand...

Umm what kind of set are you watching them on and which movie were you watching? There are some movies they haven't done the greatest job in converting to HD-DVD. While they do look good they could look much much better. A prime example would be Perfect Storm. Now some movies they have done an EXCELLENT JOB at and they just look phenominal. Watch Planet Earth or Chronicals of Riddick.

Ncage
Click to expand...
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant I think Blu-Ray has a better title selection than HD-DVD. That's all. Sony's doing a good job of getting studios to use them over HD-DVD. Blu-Ray has more of the stuff my family is interestd in.
 
Originally posted by: ncage
Originally posted by: TheDrake
Originally posted by: GZeus
Originally posted by: cleeve
the A2 is only 1080i though. So if you have a 1080p set i'd steer clear.
Click to expand...

Excuse me, but that's a load of cr@p.
First, if you have a 1080p set it will upconvert a 1080i signal. Its very rare to have a 1080p set that doesn't do this.
Second, it is extremely hard, near impossible in fact, to see any difference between an 'i' or 'p' picture - and as I said, your 1080p set will upconvert so you'll be looking at 1080p regardless.
It might make your e-pen sound bigger but there is no quality reason to get a 1080p HD output player over a 1080i - especially since it doubles the price.
Click to expand...

whoa there, thats a pretty bold statement you are saying there. I would be careful as I own both 1080i and 1080p TV's (same manufacturer) and quality between 1080i and 1080p is about 2 times better on the 1080p and you can certainly tell. So yeah I wouldnt waste money on a HD DVD player that can only produce 1080i, upconverting from your tv doesnt increase quality to 1080p, it only converts it.
Click to expand...

Its a bold statement but he is right. In your situation it might because your upconverter in your player sucks with 1080i compared to 1080p. There is a "Slight" difference but it really takes a trained eye to even see it. Most people will not (like i said assuming the upconversion process is high quality with both). Id much rather have an A2 (which i did order from crutchfield for the said price) than the xbox-360 drive? Why well one big reason would be a remote control. You also get more movies with the toshiba unit (5).
Click to expand...

The xbox unit comes with a fully functional remote control.

The only downside I see with this is that it's sort of like a tv with a built in dvd player. If the tv dies, the DVD player goes with it.

 
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