Will the XBOX HD-DVD player work without a 360?

[Matt2]

I really want a high def DVD player and I am not interested in upconversion.

Do you ahve to have an XBOX 360 to run the DVD player? Doesnt it work on PC?

I have a brand new 50" 720p DLP TV that hates me for playing DVDs in 480p.

I have 2 HDMI ports, one is for the HD cable and the other is just waiting for its own hi-def source!

Thanks for the input.

 

[Matt2]

Nobody knows huh?

Anyone have any experience with upconversion DVD players. I really hate the idea of shelling out money for just an upconversion, but assuming I cant use the Xbox360 HD-DVD player, I WILL NOT shell out $600+ for any other HD-DVD player or Blu-Ray player.

Can an upconversion even be considered HD?

 

[videopho]

Reading

You will also need HDCP cards

 

[Matt2]

Well, looks like you need the Xbox360 and I ahve no intention or interest in running it through the PC.

I just wanted to run the damn DVD player straight to my TV for a $200 stand alone HD-DVD player.

So much for that

Are there any HD-DVD players that aren't $500+

Google searching comes up with very confusing results. Searching for "HD-DVD players" turns up mostly upconversion DVD players. These are priced rather nicely but again, I dont like the idea of upconversion. But if any of you guys have one and can vouch for the picture quality, I might bite.

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: Matt2
Well, looks like you need the Xbox360 and I ahve no intention or interest in running it through the PC.

I just wanted to run the damn DVD player straight to my TV for a $200 stand alone HD-DVD player.

So much for that

Are there any HD-DVD players that aren't $500+

Google searching comes up with very confusing results. Searching for "HD-DVD players" turns up mostly upconversion DVD players. These are priced rather nicely but again, I dont like the idea of upconversion. But if any of you guys have one and can vouch for the picture quality, I might bite.

Well, I bought a cheapo upconverting RCA player at wal-mart, and the picture quality is much better to me over a standard DVD player, but even then, its not HD-DVD. It makes a world of difference for standard def movies on my HDTV.

 

[keeleysam]

The Xbox drive is just an external drive with a USB port.

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: keeleysam
The Xbox drive is just an external drive with a USB port.

It's a shame too... Microsoft could have ended the HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray war real quick with a $200 stand alone HD-DVD player.

Oh well.

I really want to hear more about the upconversion DVD players.

adairusmc:

How much did you pay for yours? There's an LG one at Bestbuy for like $89.99, I might check it out.

Does yours upconvert to 1080i only or does it do 720p as well?

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: keeleysam
The Xbox drive is just an external drive with a USB port.

It's a shame too... Microsoft could have ended the HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray war real quick with a $200 stand alone HD-DVD player.

Oh well.

I really want to hear more about the upconversion DVD players.

adairusmc:

How much did you pay for yours? There's an LG one at Bestbuy for like $89.99, I might check it out.

Does yours upconvert to 1080i only or does it do 720p as well?

Mine is just a cheapo RCA, and I think I paid $79.99 or something like that for it at wal-mart.

It does support both 720p and 1080i. I keep mine on 1080i since I really cannot tell a difference between the two when watching movies. This one I got hooks up via HDMI, and did come with a cable included (which I didn't expect). I think its a pretty good player for what I paid for it so far. Much better over the standard Sony DVD player I was using before.

The remote that came with it kind of sucked, but it doesnt matter, since I use a Logitech Harmony 890 to control everything.

 

[keeleysam]

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: keeleysam
The Xbox drive is just an external drive with a USB port.

It's a shame too... Microsoft could have ended the HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray war real quick with a $200 stand alone HD-DVD player.

Oh well.

I really want to hear more about the upconversion DVD players.

adairusmc:

How much did you pay for yours? There's an LG one at Bestbuy for like $89.99, I might check it out.

Does yours upconvert to 1080i only or does it do 720p as well?

There is NO WAY in hell they could make a $200 player. The video processor alone costs $80.

 

[tuteja1986]

Mine works great without XBOX 360... But anyways i use it on MY XBOX 360 & PC.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: keeleysam

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: keeleysam
The Xbox drive is just an external drive with a USB port.

It's a shame too... Microsoft could have ended the HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray war real quick with a $200 stand alone HD-DVD player.

Oh well.

I really want to hear more about the upconversion DVD players.

adairusmc:

How much did you pay for yours? There's an LG one at Bestbuy for like $89.99, I might check it out.

Does yours upconvert to 1080i only or does it do 720p as well?

There is NO WAY in hell they could make a $200 player. The video processor alone costs $80.

Which is why the 360 does all the processing and the HD-DVD drive is a drive in a shell with an IDE->USB converter.

 

[CU]

Just to make sure the OP knows an HD-DVD player will not make a regular DVD HD. It will still need to upconvert it. Only new HD-DVD's will be ture HD not upconverted.

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: CU
Just to make sure the OP knows an HD-DVD player will not make a regular DVD HD. It will still need to upconvert it. Only new HD-DVD's will be ture HD not upconverted.

Yeah I knew that. I dont really mind buying HD-DVDs, but that point is moot now.

I really dont want to spend $700 for an XBOX360 + XBOX HD-DVD player. Nor am I willing to pay $500 for the cheapest stand alone HD-DVD player. Especially when it's not even clear which technology is going to come out the victor (HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray). I just spent $1800 on my new TV and I dont want to watch 480p movies on it.

That's why I'm now looking at upconversion DVD players. I work at Target, so I am thinking about picking one up for cheap. I just dont want to spend $80 and STILL be disappointed with the picture quality.

adairusmc said he saw good picture quality improvements, does anyone else have testimony?

Just for comparisons sake, when I watch HD channels, like TNT-HD and shows like Law & Order or Charmed (yuck) are on, are those upconversions?

Basically I want substantial picture quality improvement over my Denon Progressive Scan DVD player.

 

[CU]

I would think HD channels are upconvert at the station or somewhere after production unless they were filmed in HD which I doubt. I would also expect a upconversion DVD player to look better because HD Cable or HD Sat. have to use a higher compression to save bandwidth for other stations.

 

[Matt2]

Ok, I'm gonna see what I can get at work tonight. I'll let you guys know what I think of my new "HD DVD player" when I get home tonight.

 

[videopho]

I paid $160 for my XBOX hd-dvd @ CC (b&m) with $40 coupon recently.
I also paid $199 for the xbox 360 core console @ Micro center ($100 rebate)
For $360 I have myself a game console (that I'd probably never play any game) and a hd-dvd transport that plays true 1080i or 720p HD movies.
Granted it's not BluRay but hell it looks way much better than my expensive Oppo HD wannabe up-converted dvd player.

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: videopho
I paid $160 for my XBOX hd-dvd @ CC (b&m) with $40 coupon recently.
I also paid $199 for the xbox 360 core console @ Micro center ($100 rebate)
For $360 I have myself a game console (that I'd probably never play any game) and a hd-dvd transport that plays true 1080i or 720p HD movies.
Granted it's not BluRay but hell it looks way much better than my expensive Oppo HD wannabe up-converted dvd player.

now you need a Hard drive for games ;(... or you will have face long load time , frame rate issue and no real xbox live experience.

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: videopho
I paid $160 for my XBOX hd-dvd @ CC (b&m) with $40 coupon recently.
I also paid $199 for the xbox 360 core console @ Micro center ($100 rebate)
For $360 I have myself a game console (that I'd probably never play any game) and a hd-dvd transport that plays true 1080i or 720p HD movies.
Granted it's not BluRay but hell it looks way much better than my expensive Oppo HD wannabe up-converted dvd player.

I just read about that deal. It's too bad I dont live anywhere near a micro center B&M store. Also, you could get the premium for $199 if you opened a MC credit card. God knows I dont need another line of credit.

Anyone seen any other good deals on the premium bundle? I only want the premium because i want the hard drive, HDTV cables, headset and live membership.

 

[videopho]

Originally posted by: tuteja1986

Originally posted by: videopho
I paid $160 for my XBOX hd-dvd @ CC (b&m) with $40 coupon recently.
I also paid $199 for the xbox 360 core console @ Micro center ($100 rebate)
For $360 I have myself a game console (that I'd probably never play any game) and a hd-dvd transport that plays true 1080i or 720p HD movies.
Granted it's not BluRay but hell it looks way much better than my expensive Oppo HD wannabe up-converted dvd player.

now you need a Hard drive for games ;(... or you will have face long load time , frame rate issue and no real xbox live experience.

As stated I don;t play console games therefore I have no need for the hdd.