HD DVD for 299.00

[Duffinator]

If you belong to Costco, check out their D2 for $249.

What's the difference between the A2 and D2? I'm thinking of buying one for my bedroom and my Sharp LCD only accepts 1080i and I'm not using surround sound to no big deal for me. What I've been thinking of buying was an upconverting DVD player. I'm using my second generation Toshiba DVD player that doesn't have a digital video output on it. So for about the price of the OPPO I can buy an HD DVD player.

Are the second generation HD DVD players working well? Seems the first generation had lots of problems playing movies.

 

[mtrycrafts]

What's the difference between the A2 and D2? I'm thinking of buying one for my bedroom and my Sharp LCD only accepts 1080i and I'm not using surround sound to no big deal for me. What I've been thinking of buying was an upconverting DVD player. I'm using my second generation Toshiba DVD player that doesn't have a digital video output on it. So for about the price of the OPPO I can buy an HD DVD player.

Are the second generation HD DVD players working well? Seems the first generation had lots of problems playing movies.

Not sure but I suspect they are the same with the D2 designed for Costco, so they or others don't have competition issues? Makers do this all the time.

 

[EuroVW]

Just saw this thread.

I posted earlier in this forum about choosing between an Oppo 981HD or going with the HD-A2 as there is not a huge price difference between the two, plus the 5 free movies you can get through Toshiba. I did decide to go with the HD-A2 over the Oppo. For 299.99 I thought it was a good chance to get in the HD format for DVD's and not really risk who will ultimately win the format war that will probably take a few years to shake out. Also, my Pioneer does 720P so looking at one of the higher end players (HD-A20 or the HD-XA2) that does 1080P wasn't really needed. I haven't tested the up-conversion so in that area I am not sure if the Oppo would have been a better purchase.

-Jason

 

[Duffinator]

Just saw this thread.

I posted earlier in this forum about choosing between an Oppo 981HD or going with the HD-A2 as there is not a huge price difference between the two, plus the 5 free movies you can get through Toshiba. I did decide to go with the HD-A2 over the Oppo. For 299.99 I thought it was a good chance to get in the HD format for DVD's and not really risk who will ultimately win the format war that will probably take a few years to shake out. Also, my Pioneer does 720P so looking at one of the higher end players (HD-A20 or the HD-XA2) that does 1080P wasn't really needed. I haven't tested the up-conversion so in that area I am not sure if the Oppo would have been a better purchase.

-Jason

Thanks. I don't have an upconverting player anyway so any should be better than the non progressive scan player I'm using now. BTW, nice speakers setup, almost identical to mine.

 

[Duffinator]

Hey does the one at Costco come with the five free movies?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hey does the one at Costco come with the five free movies?

It is a Toshiba player and as best I know, they all come with it. But, they have a list with 5 categories that you pick one from each. So, there may be some you don't want but may be able to trade with someone? I only see 2 or 3 that I would get

 

[Duffinator]

It is a Toshiba player and as best I know, they all come with it. But, they have a list with 5 categories that you pick one from each. So, there may be some you don't want but may be able to trade with someone? I only see 2 or 3 that I would get

Cool. Confirmed it is for the HD-D2 and here's the link to the rebate form.

Does anybody know if there are any issues with the second generation players?

 

[j_garcia]

My friend had both the Oppo 981 and the A2 and he said the Oppo is a better upscaling player...but he kept the A2 for HD-DVD.

The $100 off deal is only on Toshiba players, as is the deal for the 5 free movies.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Does anybody know if there are any issues with the second generation players?

There always something that comes up and the new update firmware keeps coming out
One to keep in mind is that some discs may have a film on the surface so just check and wash with soapy water and dry. You should be able to see the difference of the surfaces when viewed at a very shallow angle.

 

[rma123]

anybody have links to the $100 rebate on the toshiba HD-DVD player?

TIA
Ray

 

[mtrycrafts]

anybody have links to the $100 rebate on the toshiba HD-DVD player?

TIA
Ray

Check Amazon and your Costco if you have access to it. It is an instant rebate but now I forgot the current/recent offer. The next one is on Jun 10-16 for the Tosh X2

 

[Duffinator]

Check Amazon and your Costco if you have access to it. It is an instant rebate but now I forgot the current/recent offer. The next one is on Jun 10-16 for the Tosh X2

Correct, it's an instant rebate so the $299/249 prices reflect that. So you can get the player and five movies for $249 from Costco and I think Sam's Club as well.

 

[Duffinator]

From Toshiba's site here's a review of the A2. Seems most of the issues with the A1 have been resolved.

 

[jake5717]

I bought the HD-D2 on Thursday at Costco for $277 out the door. Since then I've watched about 5 movies on it. It does a much better job of upconverting then my previous upconverting DVD player (Zenith). Tomorrow there should be some HD movies from Blockbuster in the mail. Personally I think this is a great player at a great price and if HD DVD should lose the HD race then it I can just return it for a blue ray player.

 

[Duffinator]

Can anybody confirm that the A2 outputs HD DVD via component at 1080i? I'm pretty sure it doesn't upconvert standard DVD to 1080i via compenent but that would be nice too.

 

[MACCA350]

Can anybody confirm that the A2 outputs HD DVD via component at 1080i? I'm pretty sure it doesn't upconvert standard DVD to 1080i via compenent but that would be nice too.

My XE1 outputs
HD DVD at up to 1080i over component
Burnt DVD's at up to 1080i over component
Original DVD's at 480p/576p over component

I would assume the A2 would work the same.

cheers

 

[Duffinator]

In case anybody missed it here's another thread on how to order the A2 for $199 delivered.