Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Player drops below $100

[kweimer]

I was able to snag a Toshiba HD A3 for $199.99 at Best Buy. Took box to checkout and it rung up as $299.99. Cashier said that was the price since computer is set to price. I told cashier display price tag was $199.00. He called manager...manager and I walked over to shelf where only one remained...I had the other at the cash register. Manager took $199.99 sign down...after reading it very carefully...I walked out with the A3 for $199.99. I am now a happy camper.

[DavidEC]

The real question is.. how many of these WalMarts that sold the HD-DVD A2's will have movies like Shreik 3 on HD-DVD for sale this coming week?
--David

[dmt930]

I order one from BB Business last week and it was back ordered. They have decided to upgrade my order to the A3 for the same price. A3 for just over $100 = happier camper, no matter what format wins.

[lickness2002yahoo]

Our walmart sold out of them in less than a day. They had 10 of them left when I saw then in the am and that night, they were all gone.

[regman]

You get what you pay for. It's 1080i and won't upconvert standard DVD's. But a good price if you want to get a few more miles out of an older 1080i system.

[allargon]

You get what you pay for. It's 1080i and won't upconvert standard DVD's. But a good price if you want to get a few more miles out of an older 1080i system.

Most HDTV's sold and in the wild are not 1080p capable. The bulk of flat panels are 768p. BTW, 1080i60 is the same as 1080p on any *GOOD* 1080p60 set. 1080p is only necessary for the like two percent of displays that can actually do 1080p24 at a 3:3, 4:4: or 5:5 candence. (e.g., 72Hz, 96Hz or 120Hz.) Moreover, the A2 and A3 *WILL* upconvert SD DVD's to 1080i.

[regman]

I edited that post to correct the information about the upconversion. WalMart and Toshiba specs are in conflict. Somehow it never got in there. I think that they are having server problems (or updating their software) as 1/2 the links are dead tonight.

I am not so sure that I agree with your assessment of 1080p.

See: http://movies.consumerelectronicsnet.co ... ?id=205040

[allargon]

I am not so sure that I agree with your assessment of 1080p.

See: http://movies.consumerelectronicsnet.co ... ?id=205040

We can agree to disagree. My interpretation of your link is that 1080p displays are taking over current sales. However, I am talking about the installed base of 768p displays. Moreover, I am saying is that for any 1080p60 TV that deinterlaces properly, there should be no difference between 1080i and 1080p.

http://www.hometheatermag.com/gearworks/1106gear/

The reason why I'm staunchly replying is because I've seen way too many people on the 'net pickin on this $99 player as not being 1080p, etc., etc. I'm saying it makes no difference except for the small percentage of displays that can display a natural multiple of 1080p24. If ever you're in Austin, drop me a line. We can debate this over a beer (my treat).

[DavidEC]

Moving slightly off topic..
I have to agree with "allargon" as many manufactures even miss-advertised sets as being "1080p" displays.

Yet these sets 'Native' resolution is only 720p.. so are you sure that set you have really a 1080p set or just a set that will display a 1080p signal?

If it was not worth it I would be suing a major manufacture and retailer for mis-advertising my 42" Plasma as it was advertised as a 1080p set, and no where did it say that it was 'Native 720p' but could display a 1080p signal.... Till I wrote the manufacture about proper setting to match my A20's new 24f setting... when they informed me that none of their plasma line sold before 9/1/07 had a native resolution of 1080i/p.

--David

[regman]

The market determines the direction for the manufacturers - not the other way around, so whatever is selling is what will become the standard. As I recur, that is what happened to Beta VHS, even though it was superior to VHS.

As far as misadvertising goes, it's always been a murky world between fact and fiction. The audio people started this years ago with RMS vs. Peak power specs for amplifiers (with many other creative ways of displaying specs to be incomprehensible to all but those with EE's -and even some of them were confused).

Back to Video: To lesson my own confusion I always refer back to the original manufacturers specs (not that it's any guarantee).

As long as I have been a member here there had always been concern about stepping backwards. EDTV was one issue, when Fox decided to broadcast in 720p many were concerned that this would become a broadcasting standard. For a while there it seemed to make sense due to motion artifacts, etc.

The Big Box and mass retailers are always on the lookout for last years and slow moving models so they can offer "perceived" bargains for their purchasers, which is perfectly fine as long as you know what you are getting into, hence my original post on "you get what you pay for". Ir was not my intention to "dis" Toshiba or the model, just to alert those few who have spent the money on the top end gear that there are limitations with this piece of equipment and they should carefully consider this. The old saying that "if it seems to be too good to be true, then it probably isn't" still holds some water here. For others it's a non-issue. I am not agreeing or disagreeing, nor am I trying to start a debate (or flame war as they used to call it back in the old days).

As far as my own experience, I own a Panasonic native 1080i set (crt, direct view - purchased in 2001) and a Panasonic native 1080p plasma (which I am sure of) and I can see a noticeable difference in picture quality.

Picture quality has always been my personal benchmark for purchasing decisions. Cost is secondary. I know that for many it is the reverse and that's ok too.

I don't take ownership of any of the data on that link That was based on a Google search of statistics for 1080p sales. Shane or Dale will probably have a better idea of the reality of it.

I'll have to pass on that beer (I gave up drinking many years ago and tonsil cancer sealed the deal) but I'll take you up on a Pelligrino.