I've got to admin, Sony's got brainwashing down perfect!

[superklye]

The A1 does decode Dolby True HD. All stand-alone HD DVD decks must. It's a standard.

[Butter Bandit]

The A1 does decode Dolby True HD. All stand-alone HD DVD decks must. It's a standard.

My Jeep is a standard.

[DarthBeavis]

The A1 does decode Dolby True HD. All stand-alone HD DVD decks must. It's a standard.
U picked one out of several requirements dude. A1 <> 1080p and <> operating like a standard DVD player (meaning lame operation). It is ghey to have company over and have to wait 5 minutes for the HD DVD unit to warm up and load . . .


A1 = teh SuX, if you think otherwise then you just allowed yourself to settle for lameness. If the later models have improved then great for them. It still does not take away from the A1 sucking. Does the 360 do everything? hell no. There is definately a trade off. For me the convenience outweighs cons. Once the format war is settled maybe I will pop for a dedicated unit. Until then the consoles will suffice.

[superklye]

My Jeep is a standard.
I don't think I follow you.

[superklye]

U picked one out of several requirements dude. A1 <> 1080p and <> operating like a standard DVD player (meaning lame operation). It is ghey to have company over and have to wait 5 minutes for the HD DVD unit to warm up and load . . .


A1 = teh SuX, if you think otherwise then you just allowed yourself to settle for lameness. If the later models have improved then great for them. It still does not take away from the A1 sucking. Does the 360 do everything? hell no. There is definately a trade off. For me the convenience outweighs cons. Once the format war is settled maybe I will pop for a dedicated unit. Until then the consoles will suffice.
Load times aside, why is 1080p important? You have the same TV as evilchris and he's stated on numerous occasions the TV has a built-in scalar or whatever you want to call it that takes 1080i60 feeds and deinterlaces them to 1080p30

[Ruined]

The A1 is buggy as hell and I don't mean just bad load times. It takes an act of congress to get the damned thing to even play or eject a dvd. I guess I would consider a dedicated unit if it offered 1080p, TrueHD, and worked like a standard DVD player in terms of load time. I use my Sony 5 disc upscaling DVD changer for SD DVDS so upscaling does not matter (the only SD DVDs I watch are Taekwondo training DVDS anyways). I stand my statement the 360 HD DVD add on is superior to the A1 or at least equal to it.

If you find the A1 is "buggy as hell" and you have the latest 2.2 firmware loaded, it sounds like you have a defective or failing unit. There are no significant bugs to speak of with the latest firmware, and if you have such problems your unit likely needs to be repaired.

[evilchris]

If you find the A1 is "buggy as hell" and you have the latest 2.2 firmware loaded, it sounds like you have a defective or failing unit. There are no significant bugs to speak of with the latest firmware, and if you have such problems your unit likely needs to be repaired.

Quit speaking facts...

[Ancient]

U picked one out of several requirements dude. A1 <> 1080p and <> operating like a standard DVD player (meaning lame operation). It is ghey to have company over and have to wait 5 minutes for the HD DVD unit to warm up and load . . .


A1 = teh SuX, if you think otherwise then you just allowed yourself to settle for lameness. If the later models have improved then great for them. It still does not take away from the A1 sucking. Does the 360 do everything? hell no. There is definately a trade off. For me the convenience outweighs cons. Once the format war is settled maybe I will pop for a dedicated unit. Until then the consoles will suffice.
I prefer the 360 add-on connected to the HTPC. You get the benefit of good load times, PQ that easily can rival the best stand-alone unit, and fine-grained control of the picture and sound that a stand-alone can't match. The only drawback is that it's uglier than sin. Though if internal HD DVD drives ever come out in the US that will be a problem of the past.

[J-Mag]

The only drawback is that it's uglier than sin. Though if internal HD DVD drives ever come out in the US that will be a problem of the past.

You can use the X360 HD-DVD drive internally if you want. There are slimline to IDE/4pin Molex adapters out there. Although, I am not sure if the bare drive has proper screw holes for a 5.25 bay.

[evilchris]

I prefer the 360 add-on connected to the HTPC. You get the benefit of good load times, PQ that easily can rival the best stand-alone unit, and fine-grained control of the picture and sound that a stand-alone can't match. The only drawback is that it's uglier than sin. Though if internal HD DVD drives ever come out in the US that will be a problem of the past.

Add-on PQ absolutely can not rival, even close, the best stand alone unit. You also should NEVER be controlling ANY picture and sound parameters with the playback device. Your display and audio processor should do that.

[Ancient]

You can use the X360 HD-DVD drive internally if you want. There are slimline to IDE/4pin Molex adapters out there. Although, I am not sure if the bare drive has proper screw holes for a 5.25 bay.
Yeah. I've seen the website that details the process and don't care much for kludges. I'd rather suffer through temporary ugly. I'll be selling the 360 add-on too once the PC internal drives become available so that's another reason not to tear it apart.

[DarthBeavis]

If you find the A1 is "buggy as hell" and you have the latest 2.2 firmware loaded, it sounds like you have a defective or failing unit. There are no significant bugs to speak of with the latest firmware, and if you have such problems your unit likely needs to be repaired.

I don't remember what firmware it was at when I gave up on it . . .it was when the 360 add on came out. So you are telling me it loads way faster? It does not freeze up? I will have to hook it up (have a 50" 1080p Samsung in my bedroom).

[Ancient]

Add-on PQ absolutely can not rival, even close, the best stand alone unit.
Why not? Seems that HD DVD players are basically PCs (http://geekswithblogs.net/lorint/archive/2006/04/21/75795.aspx). The G8x cards have some great video processing capabilities too. I haven't seen a stand-alone yet that can beat what my HTPC can output in HD.

You also should NEVER be controlling ANY picture and sound parameters with the playback device. Your display and audio processor should do that.
Being able to control codecs, filters, etc. and the added flexibility that provides is an advantage, imo. ymmv.

[evilchris]

Why not? Seems that HD DVD players are basically PCs (http://geekswithblogs.net/lorint/archive/2006/04/21/75795.aspx). The G8x cards have some great video processing capabilities too. I haven't seen a stand-alone yet that can beat what my HTPC can output in HD.


What have you seen? A HTPC would be a downgrade in my setup.

[DarthBeavis]

What have you seen? A HTPC would be a downgrade in my setup.

We can't all have $30k projectors . . .at least my computer is "probably" better than yours . . .have to have something better than Evil Chris . . .I am sure my manhood would not cut the mustard ;) tho my belly probably puts you to shame :captnkill:

[Ancient]

What have you seen? A HTPC would be a downgrade in my setup.
I've seen the A2 connected to the same model TV that I have (JVC HD-61FN97) and an XA2 running on a different TV from mine, and I've run mine through the XBOX 360 as well though the difference there could be due to 1080i component/upscaling vs. 1080p through DVI->HDMI from the HTPC.

Have you tried running HD DVD through an HTPC in your setup?

[-=Gib-McFragger=-]

I don't get info from reliable sources, I just pull it out of my ass....Fixed. ;)

[-=Gib-McFragger=-]

If you find the A1 is "buggy as hell" and you have the latest 2.2 firmware loaded, it sounds like you have a defective or failing unit. There are no significant bugs to speak of with the latest firmware, and if you have such problems your unit likely needs to be repaired.I agree totally. I have the A1 myself, and other than less than fast boot/load times (it IS basically a PC with an Intel P4 processor, 1GB PC2700, etc, etc, so I can forgive that), I haven't had a single problem with it. It has played everything I have thrown in it without a hitch.

[evilchris]

Fixed. ;)

Yeah I'm totally to new to this whole thing.

[CainSyris]

Yeah I'm totally to new to this whole thing.


At least you admit it. ;)

[evilchris]

At least you admit it. ;)

I feel so inexperienced with all you PS3 High Definition masterminds around me.

[superklye]

I feel so inexperienced with all you PS3 High Definition masterminds around me.
Did you know the PS3 plays games, too?