Cheap de-interlacer/scaler at Wal-Mart!?!?!

[Thunder18]

Saw this de-interlacer/scaler online. It's selling for less than $70 shipped from Wal-mart. From the description it de-interlaces all regular sources and is capable of upconverting to 480p, 720p or 1080i. I personally have no experience with it, but maybe someone who does would like to speak up, or perhaps someone would like to give it a try for price. Hey, it's Wal-mart, you can always return it if it's junk.
Here's the link:
http://www.edealinfo.com/cgi-bin/dl?2006/08/01/095.shtml

 

[pzaur]

I dunno. PCMag reviewed this two years ago and panned it. I also found a site after doing a quick google search that thad the MSRP listed at $599.00
It's also discontinued.
No digital audio, HDMI, DVI...

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1629576,00.asp

-pat

 

[tomd51]

Interesting find, Thunder. I decided to grab one just to give it a whirl. For about $70 shipped, I might as well try it out.

I've seen a few postings from buyers that believed it cleaned up the SD broadcast, but I've also seen some professional reviews that gave it a somewhat "lukewarm" reception. But considering they (pro reviewers) were looking at it from a $500 scaler standpoint, if it didn't pass all their testing w/flying colors, I could understand their apprehension at recommending it. For the $70 price tag, I'd bet the reviews would be a bit more lenient.

I should get it sometime this coming Mon/Tues., so I'll give some feedback once I've had time to set it up and do some informal testing... -TD

 

[tomd51]

Another review...

For anyone interested, here's a link from a NextGen Electronics review where they don't give it stellar remarks, but don't seem to have the problems PC Magazine did, either.

Haven't read anything from NextGen Electronic before, but the review seems pretty honest. Come to think of it, PC Mag's never been the best gauge of electronics reviews, either... -TD

 

[Thunder18]

Awesome Tomd51.
You'll have to let us know what it does to SD broadcasts. If it can clean them up, I may get one as well! Might be nice in the bedroom where I don't have a cable set-top box.

 

[tomd51]

I'll definitely let you know and thanks for the link . My Hitachi is a 2000/2001 model, so I'm not sure the internal scaler/de-interlacer is all that great. For this price, though, I'd have to see absolutely no improvement in any SD signal for me to think it's not worth it.

We'll see! -TD

 

[tomd51]

Not gonna happen...

Those a-holes at Wal-Mart! They take the order three days ago, but all of a sudden today, they cancel my order b/c it's unavailable. Gee, impressive "in stock" tracking system.

How's that for quality service? -TD