[jqp]

Still a $200 Toshiba standalone HD-DVD player sounds interesting...

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070516-hd-dvd-hopes-to-lure-buyers-with-100-rebate-on-toshiba-players.html

[senad]

$200 only applies if you buy it as a combo, otherwise the price is $300 after discount. It still bits paying $1000 just a year ago. 

Now if only the format war would be over.

[jqp]

Amazon is selling the Toshiba HD-2A for $237 shipped - also gets you 5 free HD-DVDs from Toshiba

[randytsuch]

Amazon is selling the Toshiba HD-2A for $237 shipped - also gets you 5 free HD-DVDs from Toshiba

I didn't see that?

Looks like Amazon itself is selling it for $300, and they are currently out of stock.

An Amazon merchant is selling it for $200 plus $11 shipping.  He is a new seller, but you get the Amazon guarantee if you buy through them.

I was thinking Blu Ray before, but $200-300 makes the Toshiba pretty tempting.  Only drawback is that it does not do 1080p, only 1080i.  I wonder if that will make any difference after I get my new LCD TV?

Randy

[Rob Babcock]

I was thinking Blu Ray before, but $200-300 makes the Toshiba pretty tempting.  Only drawback is that it does not do 1080p, only 1080i.  I wonder if that will make any difference after I get my new LCD TV?

Randy

It may well not.  Many displays have good line doublers- it really depends on your set.

[randytsuch]

It may well not.  Many displays have good line doublers- it really depends on your set.

I am getting a Sony 52" XBR2 LCD, as soon as my family room is ready for it.  We are remodeling the kitchen, and as part of that, remodeling the family room for HT.

$200 is hard to resist, but then you need to buy HD DVD movies, and I wonder if HD DVD has staying power.

Randy

[Rob Babcock]

Supposedly the Barco 701 I'm buying resolves 720p and 1080i, although I'm told the 720p is tad soft and that 1080i looks better.  Assuming I get the Barco running without incident I'll probably have to buy one of those new HD-DVD players.  Do any of them upconvert thru component or will I have to get a scaler to do that?

[randytsuch]

Supposedly the Barco 701 I'm buying resolves 720p and 1080i, although I'm told the 720p is tad soft and that 1080i looks better.  Assuming I get the Barco running without incident I'll probably have to buy one of those new HD-DVD players.  Do any of them upconvert thru component or will I have to get a scaler to do that?

Hi Rob
Here is the Cnet review, which says it has a decent upconverter
http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/toshiba-hd-a2/4505-6463_7-32074340.html?tag=prod.txt.1

I am going to spend most of my current budget on a denon receiver, so I may wait a bit for the HD-DVD player, but it is really tempting.

Randy

[Rob Babcock]

I think the upconversion only works over HDMI, not component output.