• Hi Guest - Come check out all of the new CP Merch Shop! Now you can support CigarPass buy purchasing hats, apparel, and more...
    Click here to visit! here...

Home Theater Question

Hillbilly Steaks

Hillbilly Steaks

Dr. BBQ
Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
2,481
Location
North Carolina
So I finally broke down and bought myself a nice flat screen tv. I went with the Samsung 40" LCD. Its has all the bells and whistles that I wanted; namely 1080p Resolution, high 10,000:1 Contrast Ratio, and it has 3 HDMI Inputs that are all 1080p capable. (the HDMI inputs are important and many brands may claim 2-3 inputs, but only one being 1080p)

Anyways, I'm very happy with the TV, etc. When I purchased the TV I also signed up for Direct TV. It was a good deal. Sign up, they take off $300 from purchase price of TV, plus NFL Sunday ticket for free the first year. Then I upgraded to the Superfan package so I get all the games in HD.

There is a lot to be said about High Definintion. Once you get used to it, its damn near impossible to accept anything else.

Currently, the highest possible signal for any cable or dish network is 1080i. The new TV and most upper end sets now are capapble of 1080p. In order to see the full resolution, it has to be Via a video game system (playstation3 or XBOX 360) or a BlueRay DVD or HD DVD.

So what I have been thinking is why not get the best of both worlds. The XBOX 360 has a built in HD DVD player and gaming in 1080p. Most of the HD DVD players I have priced are fairly expensive or comparable to the XBOX 360.

My question is that even though the XBOX 360 has an HD DVD player, maybe the quality is not quite as good as some dedicated HD DVD players. I have yet to really look into the specs etc.

I know I know...1080 p....yadda yadda....HD wha???

anyone?
 
What's the question?

Comparing a dedicated HD DVD to an XBox....I'd go with the XBox because it's dual purpose.

Tho, there ae concerns as to which DVD format will take hold. Unless you pick correctly now - you may be buying another one when it
all irons out. 'When' being key.

Good luck.

Linky
 
If you plan on gaming too then it could be a good investment even if Blue-Ray doesn't win the format war. Sony will support the product for at least 5 years. Personally, I'm waiting to see who comes out on top before I upgrade.
 
If you want to read comparisons on dvd players, one of the best sites out there is the DVD benchmarks at ww.hometheaterhifi.com. They have something on the xbox here:

xbox hd review


As mentioned about the format wars, it's a cheap entry into HD DVD, especailly using the xbox as a game console also
 
I just want you to realize that if you get the Xbox, the actual system only supports 480p standard DVDs. You have to still buy the external HD-DVD drive for the xbox to go 1080p...

I already made this mistake... linky
 
i think i read somewhere there is a dual format dvd player out there now, plays both HD DVD and Blueray, that is one way to not get left behind and stuck with something obsolete (betamax).
 
There are two dual format players that are out or will be out in October. The Samsung BD-UP5000 @ $1049 list and the LG BH200 @ $999 list.
 
Buy the PS3! The Blu-Ray will be supported by Sony and ultimately it should win the format war. Your going to spend about the same money buying an XBOX 360 if you get the HD player. The game catalog right now is a little deeper for the xbox 360, all of the PS2 games work on the PS3 so right off the bat you got about 25000 games to play, a bulit in Blu-Ray player and wireless that Microsoft charges you $100 for an adapter. I have both but I will not pony up for the HD player(and that is all that it is, doesn't run games)for the 360. Unless you buy the 360 elite, it doesn't hook up via HDMI either. I'm unfortunately a dyed in the wool gamer and home theater junkie! Blu-Ray is the Shiznight! The family bought me Planet Earth on Blu-Ray for my birthday. It's amazing!!!
 
Buy either one. By the time the format war gets settled you will be able to buy either player for under $100. Personally, I think HD will win since they have the porn industry.
 
davew0670 said:
Buy either one. By the time the format war gets settled you will be able to buy either player for under $100. Personally, I think HD will win since they have the porn industry.
Click to expand...

Plus Microsoft paid mad loot to Warner, Universal and New line to go exclusivly with HDDVD.

C&R
 
Hillbilly Steaks said:
My question is that even though the XBOX 360 has an HD DVD player, maybe the quality is not quite as good as some dedicated HD DVD players. I have yet to really look into the specs etc.
Click to expand...

I believe someone pointed out the fact that you have to buy a seperate part to make it play HD dvds, but personally, I've watched DVDs on my 360, and it's a better player than my regular DVD player.

A friend of mine told me that the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 are the cheapest HD and Blu Ray DVD players on the market.
 
davew0670 said:
Paramount just dumped blu-ray for hd.

I think its going ot take while for this to get figured out.
Click to expand...

Oops! Your right, Paramount not Warner..
Stories are going around which say microsoft doesn't want either format to win. Microsoft doesn't want an HD optical disc, they would rather you download the movie/program.

McK
 
Physical media is still going to be around for quite a while... downloading is getting there, but it's not for everyone, yet. :)
 
BrewMeister said:
Perhaps this is about to be settled. Netflix has dropped HD-DVD, Warner Bros. earlier this month dropped HD-DVD and now rumors are Toshiba is throwing in the towel. ???
Click to expand...
...yes, but in the mean time, I wanted to buy a good up converting DVD player. Found a nice Panasonic for $99.00 and was about to pull the trigger when I saw a Toshiba HD-DVD player at Costco, with the HDMI cable, and two HD-DVD movies for......$139.00. I pulled the trigger and couldn't be happier. Even if I never watch an HD-DVD movie on it (which we already have) the up converting works great and I'm very happy with it.

Yeah, NetFlix pissed me off. Looks like Blue Ray may well win this one......which is too bad because I refuse to give Sony any more of my money after the RootKit fiasco. I can only imagine the spyware / malware / DRM that's screwed into Blue Ray disks...... :angry:

Regards - B.B.S.
 
thank God I'mcvered with my LG dual player in my HTPC... I can play both formats altho i prefer HD DVD - I too want nothing to do with Sony. But....HiDef movies rock, so if BluRay wins... thank goodness for software that... well, makes it better :whistling:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top