Upscaling DVD with projector?

[Farm]

I have a Panasonic AE700U (native 720i, max 1080i) and I'm looking for a new DVD player. The projector has an HDMI input and I was thinking about an upscaling DVD player with either HDMI or DVI output. My question is, will it help in this setting if the projector tries to make the adjustment to 720? Is there anything I'm overlooking?

I was interested in a relatively cheap player since HD-DVD is coming soon.
Those that I had considered are:
Samsung HD850
Panasonic S97S
Denon 1910 (although I've read poor reviews with this player and my projector)

Thanks for any advice.

 

[BMXTRIX]

My advice is that you should get a good progressive scan DVD player and let the projector do the scaling that it already is designed to do. DVD is not HD, so 'upconverting it' with cheap DVD players is like taking a snap shot of a Van Gough, then printing it on cheap paper, to turn around a make a color photocopy onto decent paper. That's a lot of steps to get to the final result... which still isn't an original Van Gough

A decent progressive scan player with component hook ups will be under $200.00 for sure and will provide all the quality almost anyone should ever need in DVD land.

 

[Farm]

I was under the impression from readin other reviews that the upscaling DVD players via a DVI/HDMI output are MUCH better then traditional DVD at 480. If the projector will upscale itself, then it is probably overkill to have both, but I thought there might be a quality difference with the upscaling players.

 

[SkyFlyinBy]

I use my computer with my Sanyo Z2 to upscale dvd to 1280x720 via DVI and it makes BIG difference on DVD's that have good transfers. I'm interested in a Universal player to replace my computer though. I've been looking hard at the Denon 2910.

? about HD-DVD, honestly how far away is this from reality? Is it a justifyable reason not to buy a $700 dvd player now? If it's 4 or 5 years off that's too long to wait in my mind...

 

[BMXTRIX]

Sorry - I need to make this clear:

Most upconverting DVD players are cheap, not expensive. A really good upconverting DVD player, that outputs the native resolution of your projector, plasma, or other display will give you better results over either component OR HDMI/DVI than just a decent progressive scan player. But, in my opinion, still not worth the cash you must lay out for it.

Most good upconverting DVD players are upwards of $500.00 and a dedicated home theater PC (the best way to do it) may easily run $1,000.00. Likewise, really good DVD player will quickly run $1,000.00 or more. It just isn't worth it in my opinion. I am very happy with 'really good' instead of best. Best to me isn't dropping $1,000.00 on a good DVD player. It is waiting patiently for a year and buying a HD disc player and then having far superior quality, color, and sound than DVD can currently provide even with the best upconverters.

But, that's just my opinion and my thoughts on the matter.

 

[SkyFlyinBy]

The PC could cost a lot, but I just added a video card with DVI out for $119 so the costs were not that bad at all for me. It was a hassel for a while to drag my pc in to connect to my projector for movies, but now I have my brother's old laptop for internet duty and I leave my desktop hooked up to my projector/receiver for movies and music.

So if you have a computer that is easily moved or not being used it can be a cheap dvd player that will produce an AWESOME picture for digital projection.