I purchased a Samsung HD850 today for $150.  I won't have my HD tv for another week or so but does anyone have any experience with these?  The specs state that it can upconvert DVD (480P)images to 720P or even 1080I quality.  It's got an HMDI connection (cable comes with it!).  Anyone care to wager if I'll be able to notice a difference?  

I use my HTPC to upconvert the picture and provide extra control with FFDSHOW.

I did the same with some parts for a PC. It is native 720p and upconverts the DVDs or simply shows HD footage the way it should be. I have run FFDSHOW on two PCs here and it has caused payback problems with both of them. When it doesnt work I dont notice that much of a difference so I said chuck it. All I have to do is slide in a blue ray or HDDVD drive in when it becomes available. Oh and did I mention about how much video I now save from my HD tuner.

I have the HD850 too, and use it to upconvert to 720P.
It connects to my monitor via a HDMI.

I am undecided about whether I like the resulting picture
or not.  On the plus side the picture is very sharp, and
fills the monitor screen completely.  On the minus side,
I don't quite know how to describe it exactly, but the
sides of the picture are not the same as the middle.

It is a little like when I have the monitor stretch a normal
TV aspect ratio to fill the screen - the stretching is done
on the sides, not in the middle.  But the upconvert is
nowhere near as annoying or distracting.  Something isn't
right though.

Sorry for the non-technical description.  You will see it,
and know it isn't right.  And like I said, it may be very
slightly annoying, but I still watch it like that.  I can't
stand to watch what the monitor produces when it stretches.

DanM