Netflix now shipping HD-DVD (BluRay will also be shipping in the future).

My ad-hoc research this morning shows upconversion DVD players labeled as HD-DVD players.

That does not sound quite like true HD.  

What recommendations for true hi-def players that will also play todays standard DVD's?



thanks,
dan


posted here for responses

I'm staying in a holding pattern for now on the next gen DVD format.  I don't want to be stuck with a betamax.

Quoted: I'm staying in a holding pattern for now on the next gen DVD format.  I don't want to be stuck with a betamax.

+1.


This format war is going to be worse than Betamax. Back they Beta didn't say who could and could not build or even publish to betamax tapes.

Today. Sony(blue ray) and Microsoft (HD-DVD) will dictate who is allowed to use these technologies(because if intelluctal copyright BS). This can mean that HD-DVD users will never be able to view a Sony produced moive because Sony's not buying into HD-DVD nor do I think Microsoft will license it's use to them.


There is also a less talked about format, the Holographic DVD. If they can get the cost of the recorder down(it currently runs about 10Gs) I think should be where the money goes.
Blue rays boast about 50GBs while HD dvd is about 30GB of storage.  Holographic DvDs are 800 -1200 GBs. Holographic media has a ways to go before its mainstream but will really kill off other formats.

These 'upconversion' DVD players are only the $100 range, bringing standard DVD's to 720p and/or 1080i.

worth it as an interim player?


got the 42 Plasma HDTV (with HDMI inputs) and want to put it to use

Quoted: These 'upconversion' DVD players are only the $100 range, bringing standard DVD's to 720p and/or 1080i. worth it as an interim player? got the 42 Plasma HDTV (with HDMI inputs) and want to put it to use

I looked at a few 'upconversion' HDTV DVD players the other day at Circuit City. The salesman told me the DVD player to TV cable you need also costs about $100. Ouch!

Quoted: Quoted: These 'upconversion' DVD players are only the $100 range, bringing standard DVD's to 720p and/or 1080i. worth it as an interim player? got the 42 Plasma HDTV (with HDMI inputs) and want to put it to use I looked at a few 'upconversion' HDTV DVD players the other day at Circuit City. The salesman told me the DVD player to TV cable you need also costs about $100. Ouch!

An HDMI cable?  You can find them online for around 25-35 bucks.

Quoted: Quoted: These 'upconversion' DVD players are only the $100 range, bringing standard DVD's to 720p and/or 1080i. worth it as an interim player? got the 42 Plasma HDTV (with HDMI inputs) and want to put it to use I looked at a few 'upconversion' HDTV DVD players the other day at Circuit City. The salesman told me the DVD player to TV cable you need also costs about $100. Ouch!

He is just trying to rip you off.  You just need a component cable which you can get anywhere.  In fact you can even use a $1 RCA yellow/red/white cable if you wanted to but I don't recommend it.  (eta: if he did mean an HDMI cable they can still be had for cheaper)

As for the next-gen DVD players, they are putting them out there for the 'have to have it' early adopters.  I think it will be at least a year before it's something the average consumer would be buying.  Plus this format war is a big mess.  With DVD+R and DVD-R we ended up with burners and players that supported both, with this Blu-Ray and HD-DVD we will not be so lucky so something has to give.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: These 'upconversion' DVD players are only the $100 range, bringing standard DVD's to 720p and/or 1080i. worth it as an interim player? got the 42 Plasma HDTV (with HDMI inputs) and want to put it to use I looked at a few 'upconversion' HDTV DVD players the other day at Circuit City. The salesman told me the DVD player to TV cable you need also costs about $100. Ouch! An HDMI cable?  You can find them online for around 25-35 bucks.

got a 6ft cable delivered for $26.00

www.bluejeanscable.com

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: <snip> As for the next-gen DVD players, they are putting them out there for the 'have to have it' early adopters.  I think it will be at least a year before it's something the average consumer would be buying.  Plus this format war is a big mess.  With DVD+R and DVD-R we ended up with burners and players that supported both, with this Blu-Ray and HD-DVD we will not be so lucky so something has to give.

So it looks like we are about a year out (realistically)

although LG says they are coming out with a dual player LINK

I figured licensing might prevent that, but if they can market a dual player then that might be a solution.  I think it's getting ridiculous that we have to have 2+ versions of DVDs these days though.  I expect the DVDs themselves will be pricey for a while too.

Unfortunately it looks like the format war will follow the DVD-A/SACD path, i.e. neither format will gain widespread acceptance, never become affordable, and both will fizzle out. That is unless walmart carries the players for <$100 or Sony majorly bungles something up with blue-ray.

Some one mentioned using component cables with an up converting dvd player. I thought you could only send an upconverted signal via a digitl path. At least that was the was when they first came out.


Bomber

Quoted: HDMI cables - at least the ones in the store - are priced at INSANE levels. HDMI is basically DVI with audio in a smaller connector. As with any other cable that transmits DIGITAL data - it's either gets there, or it doesn't. Monster cable for $150 or Ebay cable for $15 makes no difference.  Monster and other cable manufacturers have come across a GOLDMINE in this "digital" crazy world. They've got the public duped into thinking that digital = best quality = highest prices. I bought a 10ft HDMI cable off of Ebay for $15 delivered, and it connects my HD Sat receiver to the TV and works just fine.

Thats the truth. Monster Cables should be convicted of rape.

The day I pay $125 for a cable, you can shoot me dead right there.

I got a HDMI-DVI cable from newegg for $26. use it to watch my downloaded torrents on my HDTV.

Saved myself 100 bucks.

If I had to guess which one will win, I'd say Blu-Ray.  The PS3 will have the drive in it (which is the reason for its delay IIRC).  So once a multipurpose mass-marketed consumer device has it, it will probably have too much momentum to be stopped.   Buy a PS3 and you get gaming + a Blu-Ray DVD player.

Quoted: If I had to guess which one will win, I'd say Blu-Ray.  The PS3 will have the drive in it (which is the reason for its delay IIRC).  So once a multipurpose mass-marketed consumer device has it, it will probably have too much momentum to be stopped.   Buy a PS3 and you get gaming + a Blu-Ray DVD player.

Plus its got dual HMDI outputs, component. and optical audio.

Should be a pretty good contender for a ready-made HD home theater compenent.

I'll wait until format established and prices  on players drop like a rock.

Wait. Then wait, and wait some more.

Because the movie studios don't trust you, all HD players will only output true HD when connected via an encrypted digital link (to stop you copying the HD movie).

Virtually no current HDTVs have the appropriate connection, so plug it into your component inputs and you will get a downgraded (480i) signal.

So you could end up paying a fortune for an HD DVD player, and not get an HD picture.

This is besides the plans they have to lock DVDs to a particular player, so play it once on your system and it won't work elsewhere -- to stop you selling it or giving it away -- you have no right to do that, you only license it, you don'e own it -- sort of like Microsoft do with pre-installed windows on PCs. In both cases, if the hardware fails .... well ... too bad, you have to buy a new "license".

This is besides the format wars which risk leaving you with a bunch of expensive hardware with nothing to play on it -- and its not even a 50/50 bet -- China has pretty much said it wants nothing to do with these formats which are more about giving total control to the entertainment giants than about being just a sensible format to distribute digital data, and so will be developing their own standard -- which will likely be picked up by most of Asia. The loss of that market could easily doom both of the current "standards" to an early death.

Cable rip-offs:
All the big box electronics shops over-priced the cables, that is where they make most of the profits.  Go on the internet and search for the required cable.  HDMI is a digital cable, I do not feel I need a low noise Monster HDMI cable costing $100+.  On the other hand, I would buy the best quality cable for analog.

As for using normal co-axial audio cable for component cable, it will not work right, because component cables need to have an impedence of 75 Ohm.  One of the cheapest and best quality way to get component cable is to get industrial standard BNC test cables from industrial electronic store and use a BNC to RCA adapter.  Make sure you got your cable straight.  I wish they would have use BNC conncetors for component cable instead the consumer standard RCA.  I also wish they have use the 5 cable component instead of the 3 cable standard instead (Horizontal and Vertical Sync).

HD Format war:
It have been brewing between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.  So far, the Blu-Ray have a few more vendors signed on to support the format than HD-DVD, where-as HD-DVD is launching their products a month ahead.  The movie industry and several major comsummer electronics vendors like Blu-Ray, whereas, the computer companies (Microsoft)  like HD-DVD.  To complicate the war, the big adult movie makers sign on to Blu-Ray, and the smaller porn makers sign on to HD-DVD for lower initial equipment cost.  FYI, the current HD standard is 720P and/or 1080i, where sports are normallyy broadcast in 720P.  Both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are 1080P, so are the very near  future of HD broadcast.

Up Conversion:
If you have a non-HD plasma or LCD television, it can only display SD or ED, forget the up conversion player.  If one have a HD Plasma, LCD, DLP...television, the 480P output off a standard DVD is lousy, getting an up conversion DVD player is an temporary solution.  Why not wait and get either the HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player, which are suppose to play the SD-DVD also.

Being overly restrictive with the DRM is going to be one more nail in H-wood's coffin.

MS isn't sitting idly by...they have an HD-DVD add on in the works for the 360...thus adding to the format wars.  

I don't know how it's all gonna work out, but sony better hope blu ray fares better than the UMD did...those things are already being phased out.  

I bought an upscaling DVD player for my new high-def TV. DVD player cost about $130, and the cable (HDMI) is about $15. The cable comes today, I'll report results later.

HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray

reviews.cnet.com/4520-6463_7-6462511-1.html

I have an upconverting dvd player and it definately does look better. Unfortunately I broke it by installing a firmware upgrade, and now I can't upconvert protected dvd's on hdmi, only unprotected dvd's over components.

Quoted: I have an upconverting dvd player and it definately does look better. Unfortunately I broke it by installing a firmware upgrade, and now I can't upconvert protected dvd's on hdmi, only unprotected dvd's over components.

Which one?