Walmart sales tomorrow

[speaceman]

If anyone is looking for or has been thinking about getting an HD-DVD player, Walmart is going to be selling the Toshiba HD-A2 for $98 bucks tomorrow only.

Also, they will be selling an Acer AMD, 14 inch screen, 1 gig memory, lap top for $348.

I'm sure it's probably fairly crappy, but for $350 for a new laptop, I'm kind of tempted just to have one.

In any case, the Toshiba is a pretty crazy deal, especially considering I think it qualifies for the 5 free HD-DVD movie rebate offer.

[Lawrence]

Good price on the Toshiba HD-A2, but FYI its resolution is 1080i and it doesn't support BD.

[Jerry Bransford]

Wow that's a great deal, thanks. I hope the wife will go along with getting it, that deal is too good to pass up. It's almost double that price even at Amazon.com on a special price offer they just started.

Lawrence, the Toshiba brochure says it supports both 720p & 1080i. If I had to choose between Blue Ray and HD, I'd go HD, is there some particular reason I shouldn't go HD? And the only player I'm aware of that supports both formats is VERY expensive, I seem to recall close to $800 or maybe even slighly over.

[Lawrence]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

Lawrence, the Toshiba brochure says it supports both 720p & 1080i. If I had to choose between BD and HD, I'd go HD, is there some particular reason I shouldn't go HD? And the only player I'm aware of that supports both formats is VERY expensive, I seem to recall close to $800 or maybe even slighly over.

Jerry,

That's what I was referring to, it is a 1080i format (hence also a 720p), not a 1080p. Basically, the average viewer won’t notice the difference, unless they sit about 3 feet away from a 50-inch screen. At normal viewing distance, not so much difference. The thing is that HD/BD discs are 1080p, so the Toshiba will de-interlace the signal and feed it to your TV. No big deal really if you don’t have a 1080p TV to start with. If you do have a 1080p TV, still no big deal, just find out which scaler is better (the TV or the player) and you’ll have outstanding results.

That brings me to my next point… 720p, 1080i, 1080p, which one is best? Technically speaking 1080p if you only watch movies, but again it would have to be in optimal circumstances by having the monitor, cables, player, and disc all support that same format. If you are a super duper movie buff and you only watch movies, then it “might” be worth the extra $$$. If you are a “regular” person and you watch a combination of movies and TV, not so much. There isn’t a single TV broadcast in 1080p, thay re all in 720p/1080i and they provide outstanding results.

HD or BD… Well it is a pi$$ing contest. I used to work for one of the studios and I saw the whole thing unfold. They are both equally good, it is just a storage capacity difference on the disc. Now, the marketing gurus are trying to convince you otherwise, that picture and sound qulaities are different, pure BS. Since no format is winning yet and it might be that both survive for a while, you have some movies available on HD only and others on BD only. It comes down to personal preference on your movie choice. If you want the best of both worlds, get the Toshiba for your HD movies since it is a really good price, and wait for a BD player to be dirt cheap for your BD movies.

BTW, if you haven't done it, calibrate your TV and be amazed at the results.

[Jerry Bransford]

Great information, thanks. Since I bought my 720p Sony HDTV several years before the first 1080i sets hit the stores, I won't notice any of the technical differences at all. And for the price, well it's just too good to pass up since that was Toshiba's flagship HD player according to what I found on it.

For now, I'm just happy I might have a new HD DVD player tomorrow night. I just checked Netflix and they have enough HD DVD movies to keep us happy for years.

[TObject]

Blu-ray is a more advanced technology than HD-DVD. Blu-ray has more storage space, higher maximum data rates, and more frame ratios.

There is currently a format war going between HD-DVD and Blu-ray. It is unclear who will win. Maybe both will loose. Check out which movies are available in each format, before you choose between the two.

The new consumer video camera format AVCHD is also closer to the Blu-ray technology than to the HD-DVD. My Blu-ray player plays AVCHD discs. I am pretty sure there are no AVCHD compatible HD-DVD players.

[speaceman]

Originally Posted by Lawrence

Good price on the Toshiba HD-A2, but FYI its resolution is 1080i and it doesn't support BD.

I don't see why people are so hung up on 1080i anyway. If you have a 1080p TV, chances are its scaler is going to be better than the player's anyway.

And it's not like there's much going on resolution-wise between 1080i and 1080p anyway.

As for blu ray vs HD-DVD, I"m not going to get into that ****ing match. IMO, there isn't going to be a clear winner and if there is, it won't be arriving for a while.

I've had HD-DVD for a year already and the reason I went with it is the players are much cheaper than blu-ray players. The smaller buy in price made me an early adopter. At $99, I don't see how anyone with an HDTV can pass on picking up an HD-DVD player if they don't have one.

There are plenty of great movies out on HD-DVD.

As far as sergey's contention that Blu-ray is a better technology about the only thing I can say is that in real world, the blu-ray discs have the capacity to hold more info.

As far as a storage media for PC usage, that might make a difference. With regards to movies, that has not made a difference at all between HD-DVD and Blu-ray and that's what you are buying one or the other player for.

As far as blu-ray discs looking better, I will have to disagree with that based on what I have seen in real life. HD-DVD's were using better compression codecs at the start of this whole stupid format battle and as a result most of the first run HD-DVDs looked better than their Blu-ray versions.

As is stand now, both formats are basically using the same codecs and tend to look the same either way, with exceptions on specific discs when one movie house does a better or worse transfer of a particular movie.

So picking that way, I'd still go with HD-DVD at the moment due to the lower prices on the players. Both formats seem to have a mixed bag with regards to which format gets which newer exclusive movies, but I personally think HD-DVD has a much better library of classic movies at the moment.

Either way, $99. I can't see how you pass on that if you have an HDTV. It's not like the discs go bad if the format dies. You'll still be able to watch them 5 years from now and if the format war drags on for much longer we'll be seeing dual format (HD-DVD/Blu-ray) players for $99 in a couple of years anyway.

IMO, of course.

BTW, Netflix has great HD-DVD selection. That's how I've been watching all the HD-DVD's this past year.

[Lawrence]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

Great information, thanks. Since I bought my 720p Sony HDTV several years before the first 1080i sets hit the stores.

Jerry ,

Let me preface by saying that anything above 480p is considered high-definition.

Now, don’t think for a second that your 720p TV is inferior to a 1080i TV because it has a lower numerical number. While 1080i has more scan lines than 720p, they do not translate directly into greater vertical resolution.

A 720p signal is made up of 720 horizontal lines. Each frame is displayed in its entirety on-screen for 1/30th of a second. This is known as progressive scan (hence the 'p') and the quality is like watching 30 photographic images a second on TV. A 1080i signal is made up of 1080 horizontal lines but all the lines are not displayed on-screen simultaneously. Instead, they are interlaced (hence the 'i'), so that every other line is displayed for 1/60th of a second and then the alternate lines are displayed for another 1/60th of a second. So, the frame rate is still 30 frames per second, but each frame is split into two fields, which your brain then puts together subconsciously.

The main tradeoff between the two is that 1080i shows more detail than 720p for a stationary shot of a subject at the expense of a lower effective refresh rate and the introduction of interlace artifacts during motion.

That’s why in the USA, 720p is used by ABC, Fox Broadcasting Company and ESPN because the smoother image is desirable for fast-action sports telecasts, whereas 1080i is used by CBS, NBC, HBO, Showtime and Discovery HD due to the crisper picture particularly in non-moving shots.

BTW, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) recommends to its members to use 720p for broadcasts with the possibility of 1080i on a program-by-program choice.

So, what’s the bottom line? For us, as consumers 720p vs 1080i is not a debate worth worrying about.

But wait, what about 1080p? Well, remember how 1080i works? To get all 1080 interlaced lines to appear on the screen at the same time on a progressive high-definition display, the processor within the HD set has to weave together both 540-line segments to form the full-resolution frame. It does so by holding the first field in its memory, receiving the next field, then electronically knitting the two fields together. The combined fields are displayed at once as a complete 1080p frame.

Is it really worth it? Well, the best ratio is a 1:1 ratio, but since everyone uses a different standard, it is quite difficult to achieve. Bottom line is that your TV is a good one and you shouldn’t care too much about it. It is like wondering if you should get a PC with a 2.1Ghz processor or 2.11Ghz processor to check your emails and surf the net. They'll both do the job with outstanding results.

Sorry for the long post, just trying to clarify some of the myths about HDTV formats that your local Best Buy kid memorized and is more or less reciting to consumers

Originally Posted by speaceman

I don't see why people are so hung up on 1080i anyway. If you have a 1080p TV, chances are its scaler is going to be better than the player's anyway.

And it's not like there's much going on resolution-wise between 1080i and 1080p anyway.

True, but for the geeks who want to split hair, a 1:1 ratio is much better. I didn't mean anything in my first post, just wanted to make sure people knew ahead of time. It was just an FYI as to the player’s specs, nothing more, nothing less. It is an outstanding price for a HD player.

[speaceman]

I agree with the last statement there. I've always been a "good enough for me" type person when looking at features vs cost.

[Jerry Bransford]

Great information, thank you. While I knew the difference between progressive and interlaced, you certainly cleared up some gray areas for me.

[Lawrence]

Originally Posted by speaceman

As for blu ray vs HD-DVD, I"m not going to get into that ****ing match. IMO, there isn't going to be a clear winner and if there is, it won't be arriving for a while.

If I cared about either format, as a consumer I would rather have HD DVD win. Plus it would pi$$ off some of the idiots I used to work for, so it would be a bonus.

When we started this whole thing, the only advantage we had over HD DVD was the storage capacity. The big claim to fame was that we would eliminate 2-disc DVDs by being able to put all the content on one disc. Well, it hasn’t happened. The only saving grace I see for BD is if the PC industry jumps on board because of the extra storage capacity. But don’t underestimate Microsoft efforts since it has vested interests in HD DVD. Also, executive never wanted to admit it, but they were and still are watching the porn industry very closely. Their revenues dwarf those of all the main studios combined and they will tip the scale, like they have before, toward the format they unilaterally choose. So far, they are split in their decision.

[TObject]

Another big difference, in addition to more storage space, is that Blu-ray has 40/48/54 Mbps maximum video/total/data bitrate versus HD-DVD’s 29.4/30.24/36.55 Mbps. In other words, Blu-ray can put more data through in the same amount of time.

[speaceman]

Sergey, there's no real world difference between HD-DVD and Blu-ray with regards to movies appearance nor are blu ray movies using the disc's extra space in a way that is any difference than HD-DVD. (IE there is not extra content or other bonuses to Blu-ray. Movie houses are using the same type of compression for both formats right now too.

Picking Blu-ray over HD-DVD based on tech specs is not really usefulif you are looking at either medium for HD movies.

Also, if you pick that way, you will be ignoring features that HD-DVD does implement that blu-ray doesn't.

I personally think that HD-DVDs have a much better feature set with regards to the u-control features built into HD-DVDs. On the fly menus while the movie is playing and PiP special features that run at the same time the main movie is running are quite nice and not available on blu ray generally.

In any case, I personally pick based on price. I can see picking based on which exclusive movies you think each format has better choices for.

I would not personally pick based on tech specs as they aren't making a difference (at the moment and from what I can see the near future) between the two formats with regards to HD movies.

[Jerry Bransford]

Heh, the wife just blessed it!

[TObject]

If it?s a difference and if it?s real, it must be a real world difference. Not all studios use the same compression for HD-DVD and Blu-ray. R&B Films, for instance, optimize encoding for HD-DVD and Blu-ray separately. Besides, a lot of movies are available ether in HD-DVD or in Blu-ray, but not in both.

Disney, for example, will never release a HD-DVD movie, as HD-DVD has no region coding.

Technical specs also matter to me because I produce my own content.

[speaceman]

I agree there are obviously differences between HD-DVD and Blu-ray sergey. I definitely think you should pick based on which exclusive library you value more if you are a movie enthusiast.

As for Disney not publising on HD-DVD, I suspect that position would quickly change if HD-DVD emerges as the winner of the format war.

Besides HD-DVD CAN have region coding, it's just not currently implemented.

(Which is actually another plus in HD-DVDs favor, IMO).

If someone offers up a $99 blu ray player, I'll be buying it. For me it's all about the buy in price, if features and visuals are about the same.

[Allen]

What time does this oficially start?

Midnight tonight? 7 am tomorrow?

I'm gonna pick up a couple if there's no limit.

[Lawrence]

Originally Posted by TObject

@@**$$##!!??** (censored), for example, will never release a HD-DVD movie, as HD-DVD has no region coding.

Officially it may be what @@**$$##!!??** is claiming the sole reason to be, internally not so much. All this I'm-better-than-you-and-I'll-show-the-consumers-pansy-ass-war is pure BS. It's all about long term profits as some still can't put behind them the fact that Toshiba has been raking in royalties for years on DVDs. They just hope to be the next one getting rich over the new technology.

Originally Posted by Allen

I'm gonna pick up a couple if there's no limit.

Good idea, pick one up for me please.

[speaceman]

Originally Posted by Allen

What time does this oficially start?

Midnight tonight? 7 am tomorrow?

I'm gonna pick up a couple if there's no limit.

8 am, friday morning, according to the Wal*mart website.

No idea if there are limits on quantity purchased but I'd suspect it's going to be one per customer. Not that that really means much if you're willing to wait in line more than once.

There's a good handful of HD-DVD movies on sale for $14.99 as well, tomorrow and a Sanyo 50 inch plasma HDTV for $998.

[Matt Pascoe]

My guess is Wal Mart just ended the format war.

I'll be picking up a HD DVD tomorow, and I've been on the fence for the past year

[Lawrence]

Originally Posted by speaceman

In any case, the Toshiba is a pretty crazy deal, especially considering I think it qualifies for the 5 free HD-DVD movie rebate offer.

Yes it does. ALL Toshiba HD DVD players qualify. Here is the rebate form http://thelookandsoundofperfect.com/...ption_form.pdf with the list of movies.

Also, here is some additional info:

For every third-generation HD DVD player a consumer buys, the company will include an HD DVD copy of 300 and The Bourne Identity right in the box. (I am not sure what generation this one is).

Furthermore, Toshiba said it would issue a firmware update via Ethernet to its existing HD-XA2 and HD-A20 models, enabling them to process 1080p content at 24 frames per second. (I am not sure if this one qualifies).

According to cnet http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-980...=2547-1_3-0-20 “Not to be outdone, it also looks as if Best Buy is selling the Toshiba HD-A2 for $99 as well. You can't order from Best Buy online, but it seems like if you get to your local Best Buy before they run out of stock, you can nab an HD-A2 for $99.”

Originally Posted by Matt Pascoe

My guess is Wal Mart just ended the format war.

They have a vested interest as they helped develop HD DVD. I just hope I'll have time to sneak out of the office to go to Wallyworld. The closest is in Simi

[Jeff Weston]

Minimum 10 HD DVD players per store

In other words there are 10 per store. Wear your track shoes. To be honest, I'm not seeing much of a difference on my 50" plasma between HD broadcast and regular DVDs on the HDMI upconvert player. Then again, I rarely have the desire to watch a two plus hour movie. Why do they have to make them all so long? (and crappy) FWIW, I used to go to the theater at least four times a week while in college yet haven't stepped foot in one in at least 18 months.

Ooh, I see that HDNM is showing Hoosiers in hi-def in 11 minutes and it is two hours long. I'm there.

Good luck in the frenzy tomorrow boys.

[Jerry Bransford]

SOLD OUT! The wife got there at 8am this morning and found that they had opened at 6am, we didn't stand a chance. I'll try Best Buy later this morning.

[Lawrence]

Jerry, print the Walmart flyer and bring it with you to BBY so that if they pull anything funny you can prove the price and have them price match. Also, try CC.
http://holiday.ri-walmart.com/?section=secret

[Jerry Bransford]

I looked on Walmart's website but didn't see it in the flyer I was able to find.

[zman]

Remember Beta and VHS. Sony's Beta was definately better, but they were to greedy with sharing the technonlgy. Same reason why PC's outsell Mac's. A few years ago I bought a Sony camcorder with built in camera. To use the camera you needed to purchase a memory stick for it. Well I had a couple laying around, of course they did not fit. Seems Sony had the lock on there own memory format and it cost more than the others. This is why I hate Sony. They make sure they can squeeze every penny out of of everything they sell and don't open it up to the market. I do my best to avoid their products.

That all being said my son suckered me into Playstation a few years back and we upgraded him the the PS3. $600 back in March, but it has the Blue Ray DVD player built in and at the time no DVD player was cheaper than $600. Anyways I donot know how the PS3 is going to effect the high definition DVD market, but something to consider.

At 39 years my eyes have started to go bad, just not bad enough for glasses. Eitherway 720p, 1080i or 1080P all looks the same to me.

BTW, Netflix rocks... If your not using them and like movies I suggest you look into them.

zman

[speaceman]

Yeah, I'm going to stop at a best buy on the way to a meeting I have at 11.

I called the walmarts around me before heading out this morning and they all said they only had 10-14 players per store and people were lined up since 4:30 in the morning.

Ha. No thank you.

[Lawrence]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

I looked on Walmart's website but didn't see it in the flyer I was able to find.

Look one post up from yours

[Jerry Bransford]

I'm bummed, even Best Buy is sold out now. What's crappy is Walmart's ad said the sale started at 8am but when my wife arrived at 8am, the store told her they opened at 6am for the sale and they sold out within minutes of that. I spoke with the store manager about that and she at least said she would check into it and get back to me.

[Lawrence]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

I'm bummed, even Best Buy is sold out now. What's crappy is Walmart's ad said the sale started at 8am but when my wife arrived at 8am, the store told her they opened at 6am for the sale and they sold out within minutes of that. I spoke with the store manager about that and she at least said she would check into it and get back to me.

Look at the bright side.... you just saved $99+tax Or, since your wife was ok for you to spend it in the first place, get some Jeep parts instead