OMFG!!! - $98.87 for Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player at Wal-Mart - Sunday Nov. 4 is supposedly the last day

[Eug]

Originally posted by: doornail
I got one but it's aggravating the hell out of me.

It refuses to upconvert DVD's over component video which is pretty much what I bought it for. Why would they even care about scan doubling old content? My widescreen predates HDMI. Crummy bastards.

Well, don't blame Toshiba. They are bound by the rules. It's for this reason all the major name brand upconverting DVD players will only do so over HDMI (or VGA). It's simply not allowed over component. (Note that some off-brand players do upscale over component, but they're not supposed to.)

 

[Teetu]

I was on this way too late- I didn't realize this was going down today. I called 5 stores and they were all out. I blew the crutchfield deal too, but I suppose this deal will be popping up again and again.

I surprised there is this much interest in hd-dvd players, unless a lot of people are just trying to scalp them on ebay

 

[Lurker1]

double post

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Teetu
I was on this way too late- I didn't realize this was going down today. I called 5 stores and they were all out. I blew the crutchfield deal too, but I suppose this deal will be popping up again and again.

I surprised there is this much interest in hd-dvd players, unless a lot of people are just trying to scalp them on ebay

Don't be surprised...people have been waiting a long time to get into HD movie content. Previously, both formats were too highly priced to make the risk worth it. For $100....what can you lose?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Lurker1

Originally posted by: doornail
I got one but it's aggravating the hell out of me.

It refuses to upconvert DVD's over component video which is pretty much what I bought it for. Why would they even care about scan doubling old content? My widescreen predates HDMI. Crummy bastards.

Umm, WTF? It had better output 1080i for HDDVD over component. If not... there might be one for sale asap.

It will....he said DVD....not HDDVD.

You can't output upscaled DVD over component.

 

[Lurker1]

Originally posted by: doornail
I got one but it's aggravating the hell out of me.

It refuses to upconvert DVD's over component video which is pretty much what I bought it for. Why would they even care about scan doubling old content? My widescreen predates HDMI. Crummy bastards.

Umm, WTF? It had better output 1080i for HDDVD over component. If not... there might be one for sale asap. I note the specs state that upconversion is only possible for HDMI.

However, I should note that you can get a HDMI->component conversion cable and that HDCP currently isn't required for most content.

 

[Teetu]

Originally posted by: Lurker1

Originally posted by: doornail
I got one but it's aggravating the hell out of me.

It refuses to upconvert DVD's over component video which is pretty much what I bought it for. Why would they even care about scan doubling old content? My widescreen predates HDMI. Crummy bastards.

Umm, WTF? It had better output 1080i for HDDVD over component. If not... there might be one for sale asap. I note the specs state that upconversion is only possible for HDMI.

However, I should note that you can get a HDMI->component conversion cable and that HDCP currently isn't required for most content.

I don't think any of the HD-DVD players will upscale dvd over component, but there are some brand name dvd players that will do it.

To be honest with you there isn't a huge difference in PQ on newer tvs and players when it comes to upscaling. Most of the newer sets (last 2 years) upscale dvds just as good as any of the players do.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Lurker1

Originally posted by: doornail
I got one but it's aggravating the hell out of me.

It refuses to upconvert DVD's over component video which is pretty much what I bought it for. Why would they even care about scan doubling old content? My widescreen predates HDMI. Crummy bastards.

Umm, WTF? It had better output 1080i for HDDVD over component. If not... there might be one for sale asap. I note the specs state that upconversion is only possible for HDMI.

However, I should note that you can get a HDMI->component conversion cable and that HDCP currently isn't required for most content.

It DOES output 1080i for HD DVD over component (and HDMI).

What it doesn't do is output 1080i for standard definition DVD over component, because it's not allowed. ie. No DVD upscaling over component, just over HDMI.

However, HD DVD over component at full resolution is perfectly fine.

 

[doornail]

Originally posted by: Eug
Well, don't blame Toshiba. They are bound by the rules. It's for this reason all the major name brand upconverting DVD players will only do so over HDMI (or VGA). It's simply not allowed over component. (Note that some off-brand players do upscale over component, but they're not supposed to.)

I will blame Toshiba. I have a TV that will do 1080i (ironically, also Toshiba), and hundreds of legally purchased DVD's but if I want to watch them up-converted I guess should have bought from a manufacturer that cares more about pleasing customers than force feeding stupid encryption.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: doornail

Originally posted by: Eug
Well, don't blame Toshiba. They are bound by the rules. It's for this reason all the major name brand upconverting DVD players will only do so over HDMI (or VGA). It's simply not allowed over component. (Note that some off-brand players do upscale over component, but they're not supposed to.)

I will blame Toshiba. I have a TV that will do 1080i (ironically, also Toshiba), and hundreds of legally purchased DVD's but if I want to watch them up-converted I guess should have bought from a manufacturer that cares more about pleasing customers than force feeding stupid encryption.

Trust me, I'm sure Toshiba WANTS to upscale over component. Microsoft sure does, and managed to wiggle around the rule for analogue by upscaling over VGA (which doesn't have the same rules).

However, they simply are not allowed.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: doornail

Originally posted by: Eug
Well, don't blame Toshiba. They are bound by the rules. It's for this reason all the major name brand upconverting DVD players will only do so over HDMI (or VGA). It's simply not allowed over component. (Note that some off-brand players do upscale over component, but they're not supposed to.)

I will blame Toshiba. I have a TV that will do 1080i (ironically, also Toshiba), and hundreds of legally purchased DVD's but if I want to watch them up-converted I guess should have bought from a manufacturer that cares more about pleasing customers than force feeding stupid encryption.

Toshiba didn't make that rule....And you're not missing anything. I wouldn't be surprised if the upconverter in your TV is the exact same the upconverter in the player. Either way you are watching the upconverted content.

 

[Peter007]

I couldn't sleep the night before......decide to screw the sleep and drive over to Walmar @5:50am. There was already 4 people ahead of me. The line grew to around 20 people by 7am. I ran the fastest to the electronic isle and become the first person with both the HD DVD Player & the Laptop. I don't really need a laptop, but the price was so cheap that I'll keep it until I get a better deal on BF.
The A2 Player is awesome! The sound is bright & brilliant, I could not belive the sound that is coming out of my ancient Onkyo 250 watts DTS surround sound. The internet update didn't work for me. The good news is that the firmware is available for download online. I have just finish installing firmware 2.5 version that improve the dynmaic range of the color spectrum as well as adding new languages.
My only grips is the 480p output limitation when you use Component Video Out to play standard DVD ( my old HDTV doesn't have HDMI). Ironically, when I play my I RIPPED (copied) DVD, I get full 1080i upconversion. All in all, $98 is a great deal.

 

[Shadowknight]

After you installed the latest update, Ethernet functionality should now work. Why they didn't get that part of the software ironed out before shipping, I dunno.

 

[skywhr]

Got 1 @ 8:05 am friday morning, they had 12 at my local walmart i was 7th in line

 

[TwiceOver]

Well, I'm off to Wal-Mart to exchange mine. I spent 5 hours trying to get it to play a full disk and failed each time. Even after updating the firmware both HD and Non-HD disks would freeze. The longest I got into a moview was 20 minutes.

Also, did anyone else have an absolutely ridiculous time updating their firmware? What a pain in the ass.

 

[Lurker1]

Originally posted by: TeetuI don't think any of the HD-DVD players will upscale dvd over component, but there are some brand name dvd players that will do it.

To be honest with you there isn't a huge difference in PQ on newer tvs and players when it comes to upscaling. Most of the newer sets (last 2 years) upscale dvds just as good as any of the players do.

It makes no difference on my TV, I have a 2001 Mistubishi Platinum HDTV, and it basically only outputs 1080i, no matter what the inputs are (this would be the 3 9" CRT rear projection set).

I'll have to say the picture is awesome with the Planet Earth HD DVD (from the BB deal last week). I look forward to watching the Matrix again next. (same deal)

I haven't even updated the firmware yet. No freezes, just a little slow coming up. It wasn't as bad as I was led to believe from some of the posts.

 

[fatpat268]

What benefits do you get out of upgrading the firmware?

Mine works perfectly fine, and from what I've heard, a firmware upgrade is pointless for me.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: fatpat268
What benefits do you get out of upgrading the firmware?

Mine works perfectly fine, and from what I've heard, a firmware upgrade is pointless for me.

The latest firmwares fix bugs and allow newer discs to be played. Some newer discs don't work at all on older firmwares.

The latest firmware is 2.5 for the A2.

 

[OdiN]

I bought it when CC had it for $197.

I took the Wal-Mart ad for $98 in there yesterday (screenshot of the webpage)and they did their 110% price match, so I ended up getting it for $94.

Don't know if this will work for anyone else, but worth a try if you're in the same situation I was in.

The person I got at my CC didn't call Wal-Mart or anything.

 

[conehead433]

Originally posted by: fatpat268
What benefits do you get out of upgrading the firmware?

Mine works perfectly fine, and from what I've heard, a firmware upgrade is pointless for me.

As a general rule if it works fine don't mess with the firmware. So I watched King Kong last night, followed by The Matrix. I'm not disappointed in the PQ, it looked significantly better than an upscaled DVD at times while at other times looked about the same or slightly better than an upscaled DVD. I guess I already want something better, how about 3840 x 2160.

 

[jpeyton]

Got one for $82 at Sears.

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: fatpat268
What benefits do you get out of upgrading the firmware?

Mine works perfectly fine, and from what I've heard, a firmware upgrade is pointless for me.

Some of the older firmwares caused "black crush" where things would be too black, losing shadow detail. After I finally updated my A-2 last week, image quality was MUCH better with the black-crush fixed.

 

[TwiceOver]

Well just finished The Matrix HD-DVD so this player is working better than the last one I reported on.

I noticed my audio levels are quite a bit quieter using the optical cable than my previous standard DVD player. Other than that, visually (at least with The Matrix DVD which is old), I couldn't see much of a difference. Still need to get an HDMI cable though.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: conehead433

Originally posted by: fatpat268
What benefits do you get out of upgrading the firmware?

Mine works perfectly fine, and from what I've heard, a firmware upgrade is pointless for me.

As a general rule if it works fine don't mess with the firmware. So I watched King Kong last night, followed by The Matrix. I'm not disappointed in the PQ, it looked significantly better than an upscaled DVD at times while at other times looked about the same or slightly better than an upscaled DVD. I guess I already want something better, how about 3840 x 2160.

Not in this case. Certain new discs won't even work unless you update the firmware.

I highly recommend updating your A2 to firmware 2.5.

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Got one for $82 at Sears.

Score!

 

[Jim]

People that are whining about no upconversion over component really need to head over to the AVS Forum and educate themselves about issues like this. You really do look foolish.