HD DVD Discussion - Warner Bros exchange program introduced 4/22/09 (see first post)

KaneRobot

KaneRobot

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[size=+1]***Warner Bros exchange program introduced for anyone interested in swapping some of their WB HD DVD discs for the Blu-Ray counterparts. It's not free, but you do get to keep the HD DVD disc. See the thread here.***[/size]

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Release Dates | Picture/Audio Quality Rankings | Information on Importing

The time has come to bid our preferred format farewell. An unfortunate but obvious conclusion to the HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray battle is that one of them would have to get buried in the end. I was happy to see many dual-format owners say that they preferred HD DVD, and even now the format offers some features that Blu-Ray is still catching up with.

Although the manufacturing of new players has come to a close, Toshiba will continue to support and service current players for the next several years.

The original HD DVD thread can still be found here and does have some helpful information here and there and was quite useful during the format's life. However, as it approached the 4500 post mark, it's clear that this is as good a time as any to start fresh.

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Here's a list of the top posters as well as everyone who had at least 10 posts in the old thread:

Sporadic 536
LinkinPrime 463
guyver2077 393
KaneRobot 327
thrustbucket 264
GizmoGC 151
rsigley 117
SteveMcQ 107
Sarang01 100
anomynous 94
Ruined 88
CocheseUGA 82
RedvsBlue 75
doubledown 75
ryanbph 69

Duo_Maxwell 62Deadpool 56terribledeli 54asianxcore 52mykevermin 49Richlough 46Bezerker 39propeller_head 37gunm 34captainfrizo 32dallow 31Ph8te 31DomLando 31geko29 28TheRock88 27Ice2Dragon 26Trakan 25rodeojones903 24cleaver 22bill123 22ashram 18Santurio 18tenzor 16jollydwarf 15Jedi1979 15halfbent 14dastly75 14velvet396 14pinoy530 13flybrione 13benjamouth 13chair_home 12staplerwow 12getmyrunon 12Transformah 11grendel19 11zman73 11porieux 11doctorfaustus 11Tha Xecutioner 11pimpinc333 10psychobrawler 10matowest 10nharmon91 10edison


[SIZE=+1]HD DVD
3/31/2006 - 2/19/2008[/SIZE]​
 
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[quote name='jza1218']Ya know, I'm still waiting for the prices of HD-DVD players to come down in price. CC is charging 89.99 for a Toshiba HD-A3, which seems a little much at the moment. Am I crazy?[/quote]

Not crazy. It's still on the high end but I paid 80 for my D3 at costco. We may have gotten to the bottom of the pricing.
 
Okay i only have the xbox add-on, but with my growing collection i'd like to have a stand-alone player. Can someone rank me the top performing players? I'd like to know which ones i should look for, i've been checking craiglist i have seen some a-1s. what is the general thought on which are the best players?
 
[quote name='jza1218']Ya know, I'm still waiting for the prices of HD-DVD players to come down in price. CC is charging 89.99 for a Toshiba HD-A3, which seems a little much at the moment. Am I crazy?[/quote]

Given the amount of cash Toshiba has already lost on HD DVD, it is unlikely that they are going to drop prices lower than that since that would cut into their sales of standard DVD up converters (which they actually make money on)...after a certain point, it is more 'profitable' to simply destroy stuff rather than allow cut rate HD DVD hardware pricing to wreck the margins on their entire DVD hardware line. I think CC is the crazy one since it seems every other B&M retailer was smart enough to return their stock hardware and software back to get back their money except for CC.
 
[quote name='taint mcgee']Okay i only have the xbox add-on, but with my growing collection i'd like to have a stand-alone player. Can someone rank me the top performing players? I'd like to know which ones i should look for, i've been checking craiglist i have seen some a-1s. what is the general thought on which are the best players?[/quote]

I have the A-20 and D3. I haven't updated to the recent firmware but would recommend the A-20/A-30 if you have a 1080p television. Boot up time can get frustrating sometimes but other than that it's fantastic.
 
[quote name='taint mcgee']Okay i only have the xbox add-on, but with my growing collection i'd like to have a stand-alone player. Can someone rank me the top performing players? I'd like to know which ones i should look for, i've been checking craiglist i have seen some a-1s. what is the general thought on which are the best players?[/quote]


#1 XA2/HD805
#2 A35
#3 A20
#4 A30
#5 A2
#6 A3/SHD7000
#7 XA1
#8 A1
 
Just looked up the xa2 on amazon.com and it is going for over 1400 bucks now new. When HD-DVDs died I could have got one new for 600 and had it ordered. I just cancled it later on. Is the player that good for people to pay 1400 bucks for a new one?

Anyway I'm holding out for a good combo player. I have heard LG was going to come out with the third gen ones soon. Anyone know of when they are comeing out and would be willing to list the combo players like gimmepilotwings did with the HD players? Starting to think I should have bought that xa2 when I saw it for 600 now.
 
[quote name='sendme']Just looked up the xa2 on amazon.com and it is going for over 1400 bucks now new. When HD-DVDs died I could have got one new for 600 and had it ordered. I just cancled it later on. Is the player that good for people to pay 1400 bucks for a new one?

Anyway I'm holding out for a good combo player. I have heard LG was going to come out with the third gen ones soon. Anyone know of when they are comeing out and would be willing to list the combo players like gimmepilotwings did with the HD players? Starting to think I should have bought that xa2 when I saw it for 600 now.[/quote]Holy crap. $1400? :shock:
 
[quote name='gimmepilotwings']#1 XA2/HD805
#2 A35
#3 A20
#4 A30
#5 A2
#6 A3/SHD7000
#7 XA1
#8 A1[/quote]

Where would the Xbox 360 add-on fall in this list?

Also, I just got my order from that Australian website today. It shipped out much quicker than I thought it would.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']What makes the A2 better than the A3?[/QUOTE]

Better sound if you are using optical. A2 outputs 1.5 mb DTS, A3 only does 640k dolby digital. Also, its supposedly better at playing scratched discs.
 
[quote name='pinoy530']Better sound if you are using optical. A2 outputs 1.5 mb DTS, A3 only does 640k dolby digital. Also, its supposedly better at playing scratched discs.[/quote]

Wow...that's a pretty big difference. Well I got mine practically for free so I can't really complain. Thanks for the clear up.
 
[quote name='reibeatall']Where would the Xbox 360 add-on fall in this list?

Also, I just got my order from that Australian website today. It shipped out much quicker than I thought it would.[/QUOTE]

The add-on is the bottom of the barrel. It is the weakest preformer of the group, in addition it has the fewest features. The only plus of the add-on is that you can hack it to use on one's pc.
 
Actually, I've found there to be no difference at all between the Toshiba HD-A2 and the Xbox 360 add-on, including upscaling quality. I used the same TV, movie, and HDMI cable to check the quality between the two players and found them to be almost exactly the same. If there was any difference at all, I found the add-on to be superior.
 
[quote name='lurknomore']The add-on is the bottom of the barrel. It is the weakest preformer of the group, in addition it has the fewest features. The only plus of the add-on is that you can hack it to use on one's pc.[/quote]


No hackin on vista "it just works"
 
[quote name='blueseraphtears']Actually, I've found there to be no difference at all between the Toshiba HD-A2 and the Xbox 360 add-on, including upscaling quality. I used the same TV, movie, and HDMI cable to check the quality between the two players and found them to be almost exactly the same. If there was any difference at all, I found the add-on to be superior.[/QUOTE]

Nothing is wrong with the video for the add on. The only real negative is in regards to the sound. Since the 360 is only HDMI 1.2, the HD add on doesn't support Dobly Digital Plus or TrueHD. That and of course having to deal with the lawnmower sound from your 360.


As far as speed is concerned the add on is actually the best. Boot up time and chapter skip time are significantly faster than the standalones.
 
[quote name='lurknomore']You can get a xa2 refurb in the $400 price range. Obviously don't pay the plus 1400 that you are seeing.[/QUOTE]

1400 is to much for an HD-DVD player. Hell even if it was a BD/HD player it would still be to much I think. Saw some on eBay for 200-300 with some HD-DVDs. I tend to try and avoid refurbs due to the fact that chances are something went wrong with it and it had to be fixed. I would rather buy used if they took care of it. Starting to think I should have got it for the 600 that I saw it for new when HD died.
 
[quote name='pinoy530']Nothing is wrong with the video for the add on. The only real negative is in regards to the sound. Since the 360 is only HDMI 1.2, the HD add on doesn't support Dobly Digital Plus or TrueHD. That and of course having to deal with the lawnmower sound from your 360.


As far as speed is concerned the add on is actually the best. Boot up time and chapter skip time are significantly faster than the standalones.[/quote]


I just turn my speakers up really loud. I can't tell where the sound's coming from at that point.
 
Whoa. Just a week after telling me I wouldn't be getting a second gift card in the mail -- I picked up the 360 drive on 3/24, the day after the supposed cutoff -- Best Buy sent me a second gift card. Awesome.
 
has anyone gotten extra HD DVD's after you have recieved your five movies cause i just got another 4 HD movies & they are all repeats

harry potter 5
hulk
troy
the frighteners
 
[quote name='K_G']Given the amount of cash Toshiba has already lost on HD DVD, it is unlikely that they are going to drop prices lower than that since that would cut into their sales of standard DVD up converters (which they actually make money on)...after a certain point, it is more 'profitable' to simply destroy stuff rather than allow cut rate HD DVD hardware pricing to wreck the margins on their entire DVD hardware line. I think CC is the crazy one since it seems every other B&M retailer was smart enough to return their stock hardware and software back to get back their money except for CC.[/QUOTE]


Thanks for the advice. I wound up purchasing it yesterday, as it had dropped to 79.99. It's supposed to come with two free movies(Bourne Identity and either 300 or Bourne Supremacy) since I have those I'll hopefully be able to trade/sell them. Thats assuming of course it comes with them.
 
Finally got my 2nd set of movies this past week...but got a way better selection than what I originally ordered:

-Italian Job
-Serenity (woo hoo! Been wanting for a while)
-Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
-Blood Diamond
-The Departed

Wow! Not half bad. I still got one more set to come in!
 
[quote name='joker______']has anyone gotten extra HD DVD's after you have recieved your five movies cause i just got another 4 HD movies & they are all repeats

harry potter 5
hulk
troy
the frighteners[/quote]


I still yet to receive mine (the first and only). Frighteners was one I asked for, but most people have said they didn't get it when they asked for it. >_
 
[quote name='guyver2077']refurbed a2's are going for 54.99 at my local tigerdirect..

i still think thats a great value..still have not had an issue with my a2[/QUOTE]

I didn't know they had B&M stores. I know they have beeon OOS online for a few weeks now. I wonder if you purchase them direct and have them ship it to you like CompUSA used to do?
 
Received my 2nd set of 5 on Saturday.

Sent 01/29, Received 04/19

Requested vs. Received:
Italian Job - Italian Job
Troy - Troy Director's Cut
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Hulk - Out of Sight (?!)
the Frightners - Accepted (?!)

I'm surprised they were able to sent me Troy DC after hearing so many people receiving "Alexander Revisited" instead, but Out of Sight & Accepted were completely unexpected...

Now I've gotta look for sales on 3 movies I wanted to get originally.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']1/24/2008 Note to self, just shipped out my 2nd rebate form:

Aeon Flux
Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (extra copy)
Pitch Black
The Frighteners
Troy (extra copy)[/quote]

Got my 5 today...

Aeon Flux
The Big Lebowski
Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix
Accepted
Blood Diamond

I guess I'll be keeping Aeon Flux and selling/trading the others.

Anyone have Pitch Black that wants to trade for any of the other 4 PM me.
 
Wasn't there a list around that listed the HD exclusives? Now that I'm purple, I'll need to rethink blind-buy cheapies as part of a long-term strategy.

Kinda like that Blade Runner (no case) I just bought for $17 when it's now on sale on BD for $20. :bomb:
 
Just a quick note from me. I watched I AM LEGEND HD the other day. I found the alternate ending way better than the theatrical version. This movies shines in HD!
 
[quote name='blueseraphtears']Actually, I've found there to be no difference at all between the Toshiba HD-A2 and the Xbox 360 add-on, including upscaling quality. I used the same TV, movie, and HDMI cable to check the quality between the two players and found them to be almost exactly the same. If there was any difference at all, I found the add-on to be superior.[/QUOTE]

Really? I did an a/b test between the 360 add-on and the A35 with two copies of King Kong. I found the A35 to be visibly more detailed. Not a whole lot, but quite noticeable. I figured the same would be between the A2 and 360 add-on.
 
I compared the 2 units (xbox HD add-on and HD-A2) side by side with the same TV and HDMI cables. I tried Matrix on HD and on regular DVD, I also tried Star Wars Episode IV on regular DVD. They looked exactly the same. So, I ended up returning the A2 to Walmart since I could get a full refund. Which means I got 5 free HD DVDs for, literally, free. :D
 
[quote name='jackeroo75']????? Is this a yes or no?[/QUOTE]

That's a ' Did you really think one of the driving parties for the Blu-ray consortium would allow an accessory for their main video game console rival's system to play the rival format HD discs on their system?'

So the answer is no, and no.


Then a hell no thrown in for good measure.
 
[quote name='jackeroo75']Can the PS3 play HD-DVD with the XBOX HD-DVD add on?


jackeroo75[/quote]

Not going to happen without someone writing drivers for the HD-DVD player drive and support for HDCP in the video card driver...and my guess is that it would have to take place under Linux.

It's either that, or decrypt the content for playback.
 
[quote name='CocheseUGA']That's a ' Did you really think one of the driving parties for the Blu-ray consortium would allow an accessory for their main video game console rival's system to play the rival format HD discs on their system?'

So the answer is no, and no.


Then a hell no thrown in for good measure.[/quote]


No, I didn't read blu-ray consortium, but since I got a xbox HD-DVD player for 25 bucks and the HD-DVD format is dead, it's always a possibility for Sony or hackers to add that functionality to the ps3. If drivers are needed then this is a simple process.
 
[quote name='jackeroo75']No, I didn't read blu-ray consortium, but since I got a xbox HD-DVD player for 25 bucks and the HD-DVD format is dead, it's always a possibility for Sony or hackers to add that functionality to the ps3. If drivers are needed then this is a simple process.[/QUOTE]

:rofl:

Why don't you make 360 games playable while you're at it.
 
[quote name='CocheseUGA']:rofl:

Why don't you make 360 games playable while you're at it.[/quote]

Speaking of that, I hear that they're making a Mario vs. Halo party game for the PS3.
 
i got my hd-dvd 360 add on in late February and still haven't received my free movies. i think its coming up on 8 weeks now. how long did it take for you guys to get yours? is there a #/website i can use to see if its coming? thanks.
 
[quote name='Vangerdahast']i got my hd-dvd 360 add on in late February and still haven't received my free movies. i think its coming up on 8 weeks now. how long did it take for you guys to get yours? is there a #/website i can use to see if its coming? thanks.[/quote]


I sent mine out in late December and just got them a couple of weeks ago. Give it another month or two.
 
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