Yes I understand that you are new to all this (and yes your thread did seem to be trolling), which is why it is very important to read closely the info for a product. If you aren't sure, come here and ask before you buy because there are a lot of people who can help you.
The sale on the Toshiba players ended yesterday, so the $100 rebate is over.
My friend had the A2 and the 981 and he said the 981 is a superior upconverting player. He did end up keeping the A2 though, for HD-DVD. Note that the A2 is only 1080i, while the 981 upconverts to 1080p.