Toshiba 12x DVD $90

[ghouldini]

Well, I noticed that if you go in the front door at Steeples, that you won't find this DVD listed anymore. But the item is still in the database cause I had it cued up from 2 days ago and sent in the order today....along with the newly released $20 off $100 for returning users (I already bought and don't have a 2nd C.Card to do 2nd account). Still pretty good even without the card I think. I needed a CDROM drive bad anyway. Thing is, I don't know if the software decoder would be just as good for me since I have a V3/3000 AGP with TV out. This will be run in a Celeron 466 with 128mb PC133 cas2 on a Soyo SY-6BA+100 with the IBM ATA100 drive. I will still try to get the card but do I really need it in my case...15" monitor currently, but regular TV is 32" with svhs jacks.

 

[ghouldini]

The description at the link has now changed......It no longer lists the "Bundle" but lists Hollywood software further down the description list.

 

[Agnivarsh]

Can somebody send me the screenshot please?

 

[dcdomain]

Bensbargains.net has the screenshot in pdf... just do a search if it isn't on the first page.

In an earlier post, there was a discussion about the hollywood card making the regular computer resolution worst on your monitor? I'm not sure if I understood correctly, but to me, what they are saying is that they connect the pass thru only for watching dvd's and disconnect it when using the computer for normal stuff. So in my case, since I will be using this computer in a 1gig plus computer (putting together a computer in December/January buying parts now) would it be worth it for me to get a decoder? I'm also thinking about getting the Matrox Dual display card, and I already have the WinTheatre, so I guess one of each of the outputs on the Matrox card would have to go through the WinTheatre and the Decoder card if I got it right?

Should I hold onto the drive and get the Hollywood card, should I just hold onto the drive alone, or should I return it and buy it in December/January (the drive is just sitting there right now, don't have any more open bays in my current computer) when the price will probably be much cheaper?

Thanks for any suggestions...
hmmm thinking about using the 30 dollar off coupon for something... in general which parts of the computer does not drop in price quickly? I already bought the monitors and sound card since I figured those items don't drop in price as quickly as other components...

 

[ghouldini]

Update time. Don't know if the link is back up throught the front door again, but I tried it by going to the home page and typing in Toshiba DVD and got about 20+ results. The description is exactly the same as before except they removed the 2nd line where it says "Type Device: DVD-ROM Drive/Decoder Card Bundle" The rest is still there and it says "Software included: Hollywood Plus S/W" half way down.
I just got it in and it was a bare drive and no decoder card (Of course) and no software either.
Anyone know where that special cable can be had? I got an analog one from my old CD-Rom I can use for the one.
I still need to know whether I need that decoder card or not (see earlier post).???? Anyone know?

 

[gman98]

ghouldini: Your Celeron 466 should play DVDs fine without the card--as long as you're not beating the machine to death with something running in the background. My previous machine was a PII-400 and it had no problems playing DVDs full screen with software decoding. There were probably a few dropped frames on it and may be using your Celeron 466, but I don't think they'll be noticable.

I would recommend you go to www.cyberlink.com.tw and download PowerDVD. It's one of the best software decoder players out there. You can download a trial version that plays for like 5 minutes (and then you have to restart it)...plenty long enough to know whether or not you really need the card. Of course I'd still try to get the Hollywood card or something free from buy.com for the mis-advertisement!

 

[ghouldini]

Thanks for the info.

I wonder if anyone has gotten any of the "promises" delivered yet.

 

[ghouldini]

Called Buyme.com tonight....."Jessica" said since it was changed on the web site that she couldn't get me the bundle, but since it said Software included, I can send it back with an RMA and emailed UPS stamp thingy (no cost to me) and when it comes they will send one out with the software. If that is on a CD, I suppose they could. She also gave me the numbers to Toshiba so I could check with them if maybe that was supposed to have the card with it. Got 2 different dudes that couldn't find squat and got two more 800 #'s but it was past 8pm. I am sure that will get results tomorrow.
Now, that software, does that only work "with" that decoder card or instead of like the others mentioned in this thread?
If they can really send me the software, why not just ship it out without the swap? I wouldn't be surprised if that "software" was hard encoded on the hard card.

 

[wesman2]

I'm sure the included software: hollywood s/w, is for the hollywood card. so without the card it is worthless. Of course you could argue that now you have to buy windvd for ~$25, or a simialar software decoder to play dvds. Powerdvd runs about twice that price.

 

[LarryL]

I have been following this thred, so I ordered one Thursday. It was deleivered 20 hours later.

100.95
-20.00 $20 Off of $100
-40.00 Credit received when I called and complained
------
40.95
+ 6.38 Shipping
------
47.33 delivered ( Wow thanks for the deal )

 

[ghouldini]

Guess I am going to have to call again for a different CSR. I don't really want to ship that back even if they are footing the shipping. But I will gladly if I can get the card out of them. $40 off for me would work too. Another thing, the "compgeeks" have that decoder card. I suppose "that" software would work with that or do they have it included. I need to check that out. Hmmm.

 

[ElDiablo]

Well they sent me the same damn thing (after I had returned it once already) so I hope I can call and get that $40 credit. Don't really need the decoder anyways.

Anyone have names of specific CSR's they talked to so we can get the same deal??

 

[TatSteeL]

great, am about to do the same thing, cross shipping for the bundle package I guess I can't get the bundle package then damn, oh well I'll call them again until I get a better deal. Hot I have a nice CSR lady this time

 

[dcdomain]

Just returned my package. I tried dealing with two CSR's the first one was rude and wanted me to hang up. The second, a lady was very polite and even called me back. I posed as a friend of someone in this forum who had received the $40 credit. But when they dug into his order history, they told me that they never issued the credit to him. So not wanting to bother with it any further, I'm just going to return it and pick up a dvd rom drive in December/January.

 

[CyberTiger]

i called today. the first guy was very rude... he was chewing gum while talking to me and told me to call toshiba. i just hanged up and talked to another CSR and she said that she will get the decoder board and the softwared shipped to me. and she said i don't have to ship my drive back. i told them maybe they don't even have the board and software and she said they do. oh well... we will see.

 

[jugornot]

Sent a news tip with the url that shows that they were wrong to cnet. Hope this clears up the mess.

 

[joecool222111]

why do you need dvd for the computer because dvd id for good picture and sound quality for a tv

 

[sirsolo]

joecool222111

STOP posting useless messages to all the threads!!!

That is very annoying.

 

[ElDiablo]

Ha Ha. Talked to Buy.com again and this time they are cross shipping me the correct package (hopefully). The lady was very nice and had a sexy southern accent.

Good luck to y'all who need it.

Drew

 

[wesman2]

Did the CSR say she was shipping the bundle, or just shipping the item again because it was missing peices?

I called friday and the CSR said she could only ship the item again (and it would most likely be the bare drive) or give me a refund. After several minutes of asking how I could get the Item I ordered, and her saying she could only ship what was on the page currently, (and me saying, but they changed the page, that's not what I ordered how do I get what I ordered....) I asked for a super and she said there were none available at that hour (it was 5:00 AM EST) I asked when I could call back and she said they did not have full capability at night or on the weekends, so I decided to call back tommorow. I'm too busy during the daytime most week days, but tommorow I have the day off.

This next call will be my 4th call and I've emailed them three times. I did receive a prepaid postage label in the mail today, but I never asked for one. If I have to I'll send this drive back and then reorder it with the 20 off 100 coupon at the next free shipping days (missed todays offer).

 

[ghouldini]

Well I got back on the phone today, instead of just settling for the "software". First this guy answers the call, so I thought bad news, no friendly "we'll give it to you" lady. His voice sounded like "Don't bother me with this", but he spoke like he was using the manual "how to treat your customers on the phone". After telling my story he said he would modify the info put into my last call to the lady to add "decoder was in description when I ordered". Then he said he had to tell someone this by calling them and put me on hold. Here we go, now I'm dead meat. He finally gets back and says that he was told that it should have the software AND the decoder card with it. DOH! So I got the free mail in UPS label and sent it off today. To bad I didn't go for cross shipping. Anyway, I put a copy of the web page description I printed out BEFORE they changed it, in the box and the guy said he put in the report that I put the info in there. He also said if it comes againas a bare drive (no card) to call again and tell them I got it with out the card for the second time. I said "who do I call?", another CSR or can I get you. He said I could try for him and gave me his extension #. DOH! The lady wouldn't give me hers, said they weren't supposed to. The guy also said they do not open the boxes they get from Toshiba to see if it has everything. (Not smart IMO) So the note thing may help them give me the right box, oooooh I hope so. DVD and decoder card at $20 off $100..yow, that's a HOT deal....IF I get it. Anyone else get there's yet WITH the card?

 

[CyberTiger]

I just got this email: the CSR lied!!! she said she would ship the remaining items to me.

Thank you for contacting us at buy.com, the
internet superstore.

Thank you for taking the time to write to us. We're
sorry about any
difficulties you have experienced with your order
#XXXXXXXXX. We
understand how frustrating it can be to receive a
product with missing
parts. Unfortunately, we cannot replace that part
for you, but you can
contact the manufacturer directly for more
information about how to
request that missing part. You can find the
manufacturer's phone
number, email, and Web site address at our
technical support center at
http://buy.service911.com/buy/content/ProductSupport.asp.

 

[VivYip]

I'm sorry to bother everybody, but I just went to the techbargains site and they listed the 12x toshiba as a deal on buy.com, but I am kinda afraid to buy it with all the problems everybody here has been getting lately. Was anyone successful in getting their hollywood thing? Should I still buy it even if there's no hollywood inside? (The hollywood thing is still listed in the description in a small font (I want to buy it and also buy the fantasia collector's set and conveniently use the big coupon ^_^) thank you

 

[wesman2]

I'm planning on sending this drive back and ordering a second one with the 20 off 100 and free shipping if I don't get things worked out by tommorow.
$80.95 for toshiba 12x dvd shipped is a good deal even without the card.

 

[Cheese78CA]

If I have a P3-450, 256Mb memory, Riva TNT2 32Mb video card, will I need any kind of software or hardware decoder with this DVD?