HI GUYS,I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT IF IT UPSCALE TO 1080p that's the same quality of BLUE RAY or HDDVD !!!!. 1080p is 1080p,that's it!!!!

Originally posted by bdnovice:

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HI GUYS,I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT IF IT UPSCALE TO 1080p that's the same quality of BLUE RAY or HDDVD !!!!. 1080p is 1080p,that's it!!!!

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Yes and the Maganavox $35 player also does 1080p so we don't need this $150 player from Toshiba.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=6486442

Originally posted by canuckerz:

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This kind of reminds me of 16 year olds putting a cold air intake on their civic and thinking it can beat a mustang.

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You mean it can't ??? No wonder I could never beat a mustang :(

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First of all, you should know better by now that there are cheaper models/brands of DVD players that do an average to decent job upscaling DVDs, yet there are other that indeed cost more but do a superb job upscaling DVDs.

Yes, you could buy a US$35 Magnavox DVD upconverter that could do a decent job, but you could spend more for a Toshiba XDE DVD player that will make a superb job, and really 100 bucks isn't that much to consider it an expensive investement.

The HD-A players from Toshiba do a superb job upconverting DVDs, to the point that they gained reputation as one of the best upscaling DVD players in the market, surpassing the results of other players with upscaling capabilities, which do at most a decent job upconverting DVD.

If Toshiba has been able to improve such amazing results even more with their XDE players, then I'm convinced and no matter how many times you insist in the contrary, I'm still buying one as soon as I find one availible in my local stores.

It stretches silly putty. Nothing more. Toshiba does not get a podium finish. But all of the fans still pat them on the back and say "it's ok, maybe next time. This will be lost within the rest of the up-converters.

Originally posted by ematrix:

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First of all, you should know better by now that there are cheaper models/brands of DVD players that do an average to decent job upscaling DVDs, yet there are other that indeed cost more but do a superb job upscaling DVDs.

Yes, you could buy a US$35 Magnavox DVD upconverter that could do a decent job, but you could spend more for a Toshiba XDE DVD player that will make a superb job, and really 100 bucks isn't that much to consider it an expensive investement.

The HD-A players from Toshiba do a superb job upconverting DVDs, to the point that they gained reputation as one of the best upscaling DVD players in the market, surpassing the results of other players with upscaling capabilities, which do at most a decent job upconverting DVD.

If Toshiba has been able to improve such amazing results even more with their XDE players, then I'm convinced and no matter how many times you insist in the contrary, I'm still buying one as soon as I find one availible in my local stores.

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Your argument has no logic.

If the improvement of BluRay over upconversion does not matter to you then neither should the improvement of XDE over upconversion. Everyone who thinks upconversion is good enough will settle for the cheaper upconvert players and ignore this overpriced Toshiba XDE.

UFFF!!! I just want one thing and one thing only, I just want a player that will make my DVDs, the movies I already own, look great on my TV screen, but only a few models do a superb job, therefore if the Toshiba XDE player is one of the best upscalers, then I'm buying one, simple as that. I don't care about Blu-ray and I'm not interested in buying neither a BD player nor BD movie ever. Is that clear enough for you?

Most people who do not see the advantages of bluRay will settle for the cheaper upconverters. This is another failure for Toshiba because it is too expensive compared to other upconverters.

What's the big deal with you insisting on the same argument? Really, it's getting tiresome. There're cheap models/brands, that at most will perform decently, that's why they're sold cheaper, and there're other models/brands that indeed cost more, but will perform much better, even beyond your expectations.

Toshiba's XD-E500 is more of a "top of the line" upconverting DVD player, yet it's much cheaper than other similar models. For instance most OPPO's upconverting DVD players are more expensive than Toshiba's XD-E500, yet people have bought them, and still do.

Have people ignored OPPO's upconverting DVD players? On the contrary, for years people have bought their players... why? Because people rather spend a few more bucks on a piece of equipment, that actually does the job as you expect it to do, rather than buy a cheap $35 Magnavox, that after you plug it in you want to return it to the store inmediatelly.

Originally posted by ematrix:

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What's the big deal with you insisting on the same argument? Really, it's getting tiresome. There're cheap models/brands, that at most will perform decently, that's why they're sold cheaper, and there're other models/brands that indeed cost more, but will perform much better, even beyond your expectations.

Toshiba's XD-E500 is more of a "top of the line" upconverting DVD player, yet it's much cheaper than other similar models. For instance most OPPO's upconverting DVD players are more expensive than Toshiba's XD-E500, yet people have bought them, and still do.

Have people ignored OPPO's upconverting DVD players? On the contrary, for years people have bought their players... why? Because people rather spend a few more bucks on a piece of equipment, that actually does the job as you expect it to do, rather than buy a cheap $35 Magnavox, that after you plug it in you want to return it to the store inmediatelly.

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That's exactly right. Walmart sells the bottom of the line models. Look at the model numbers on them. Most of them will not be the same at Circuit City, Best Buy, or other places. Companies will make similar models with cheaper components so companies can sell them cheaply. Then, the companies benefit because they don't have to price match it as they are not the same models. Most anything electronic that Walmart sells (IMO) is not worth taking home and hooking up.

Originally posted by bdnovice:

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HI GUYS,I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT IF IT UPSCALE TO 1080p that's the same quality of BLUE RAY or HDDVD !!!!. 1080p is 1080p,that's it!!!!

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No I don’t think so you are obviously clueless!

Originally posted by ematrix:

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UFFF!!! I just want one thing and one thing only, I just want a player that will make my DVDs, the movies I already own, look great on my TV screen, but only a few models do a superb job, therefore if the Toshiba XDE player is one of the best upscalers, then I'm buying one, simple as that. I don't care about Blu-ray and I'm not interested in buying neither a BD player nor BD movie ever. Is that clear enough for you?

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And since you thrive in the past you will always have this dilemma and by the way your argument doesn’t change either and also gets tiresome as well.

The Toshiba will most probably look sharper around the edges then the typical upscale player and if you have 500 DVD’s, I have about half that, it might be worth the $150. For me it’s not worth it I’ll suffer with upscaling or normal play who needs another expensive deck I’d just buy a BD player if I’m going to go that route. The average person isn’t going to waste their money on this when they can get a BD player for a little more and MUCH better quality. Yes the movies are expensive, too expensive, but they will come down in price and you can still rent in the mean time.

Let's wait and see what this player really can do before we condem it. It just may give BD a run for the money. Most people, as I, have a sizeable dvd collection, and are not interested in going to another format. If this player gives me 90% of BD (or even 80%), I'll be happy.

I know that the audio streams will not be as defined, but on a good HT audio system, it will be more than good enough.

Just my thoughts

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Toshiba should have kept HDDVD alive. Instead of giving up after losing the war, they should have aimed it to the computer world. I would love to have the capability to archive my Family pictures, videos, etc in a single 30GB Disc. I don't see cheap BD recordable media hitting the stores soon. Not if Sony has its way. It's simply not in their interest. Also, with the transition to HDTV, imagine all the broadcasts you could record in HD using HDVD. It would have made a great recording appliance for your Home System.

Originally posted by mr.movies:

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And since you thrive in the past you will always have this dilemma and by the way your argument doesn’t change either and also gets tiresome as well.

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Was I talking to you? I don't thrive in the past, rather I'm objective and living the present, and presently I see no advantage in investing in another optical disc format, but I respect that you may aprove BD, even so you don't hesitade to condem the XD-E500 just for existing.

Yes, the XD-E500 costs more than the average cheap brand DVD players, but it's not as expensive as other top of the line players, and those who do have large DVD collections, investing on the XD-E500 is worth it, specially if they wish to avoid investing more money on a BD player, which will do at most a decent job upscaling DVDs, and avoid repurchasing movies on BD they already own on DVD.

Quote:

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Yes, the XD-E500 costs more than the average cheap brand DVD players, but it's not as expensive as other top of the line players, and those who do have large DVD collections, investing on the XD-E500 is worth it, specially if they wish to avoid investing more money on a BD player, which will do at most a decent job upscaling DVDs, and avoid repurchasing movies on BD they already own on DVD.

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Judging by this logic, you either:

A)Never owned VHS films and started your video collection with DVD's. This would make sense as it seems you are trying to squeeze the last bit out of your large DVD collection. And I would understand. Unfortunately, if you never existed during the VHS<DVD conversion years, you really don't understand and your point is thusly muted when you argue quality.

B) You WERE alive during the days of VHS and even owned a VCR or two. You saw the benefit of a better format and converted to DVD at some point and rendered your VHS collection dead. Now you are refusing BD because it is "too expensive" and are completely forgetting your previous upgrade. I agree that Blu dics are pricey as hell right now. They can be obtained however in many places cheaply online and many times sub-DVD prices. You then have gone on to discout Blu-ray for the SAME reason that you credit another upscaling player... price.

If you dont want to buy blu-ray dont. Its cool. Just dont push hypocracy all around like its fact.

I just love when you guys attack others that differ your oppinion, specially when it comes to disregarding anything that's not Blu-ray, or calling people hypocrital, when in fact I have been fair, objective and consistent on my position.

DVD was a huge revolutionary step from VHS, because after 20 years of broken VCRs and chewed, filled with fungus VHS tapes, you could get movies on a disc the size of a CD, which are easier to handle and store, and less expensive at that time, than larger LD movies.

Yes, not only did I have several VCRs, but also a large VHS movie collection. Now I have an even larger DVD movie collection. The reason why I upgraded to DVD wasn't because it looked and sounded better than VHS, but because it offered multiple languages and subtitles, or additional content, all of which you couldn't get from VHS, and mainly because I wanted my movie collection to endure, and DVD is a more reliable media than VHS ever was... that's the keyword... BETTER MEDIA.

Multiple languages and subtitles, additional content, etc.?... DVD has been offering that since a decade ago. Web connectivity, pop-up trivia tracks, etc.? DVD has done that before and users showed little to none interest for that... so what has to offer Blu-ray so you can say it's revolutionary?

I'm sorry, but Blu-ray is not revolutionary at all. It still uses optical discs as media, granted with higher storage room, but isn't more reliable or easier to handle and store than DVD, as even with Durabis they aren't impervious to scratches, heat exposure, etc. and there are less expensive options for digital storage room, that are more reliable than optical discs.

Despite this, the reason why most people worldwide, are still content and preffer DVD, it's because is a well established FORMAT and MEDIA, with players, recorders and blank media, and in some cases, even movies at affordable prices available everywhere. In a manner, DVD has became the VHS of the 21st century. If people like it, there's no reason why should they stop using them.

BD is just an slight upgrade from DVD, but not a substitute for DVD, since besides a overall minor improvement in sound and picture, anything that BD has to offer, has been offered on DVD before. Nobody is denying that BD offers a higher picture resolution and a slighter higher audio quality than DVD, but overall DVD still offers a very high quality in picture and sound.

The only reason why anybody needs to purchase a upconverting DVD player, is to watch their DVD movies on flat panel screens, and this has nothing to do with their native resolution, rather that they have a hard time matching picture quality compared with traditional CRTs. Yes, I have even seen BD movies on screens that offer such awful picture, that looks you're playing a worn out VHS tape or a poorly encoded VCD disc.

But you keep insisting that if you own a flat panel screen, or planning to get one, should use it to watch BD movies only. Once you buy your screen, it's yours to use it as pleases you. If you preffer to use for BD movies, or for DVD movies, that's everybody choice and you should respect that.

Yet precisely because I remember the ordeal that was, and the huge spending involved to upgrade my entire VHS movies collection for DVD counterparts, that I refuse to do so again, and I'm sure that I am not the only one that feels the same. You can pull the "Amazon" card all the times you like, it doesn't change the fact that around the world, BD players and movies are priced much higher than within USA.

Even so it's not that BD players and movies are expensive, but that the overall minor improvement isn't enough for me to face such ordeal, and investment to upgrade my entire movie collection again, not even part of it, I have better and more important things in which to spend my money, than to repurchase movies I already own... again I'm not the only one that feels the same, and you should respect that.

But you quickly disregard the XD-E500 as "too expensive"... too expensive compared to what? Too expensive compared to other low brand upscaling DVD players, or most BD players, that at most will do a decent, but not a superb job? Too expensive compared to other top of the line upscaling DVD players, that do a superb job but actually are priced higher?

This is a matter of choice, and overall $150 isn't much of an investement for Toshiba's XD-E500, which will allow those who own a flat panel screen, to enjoy a sharper, richer, more detailed picture from their entire DVD movie collection, while saving thousands of dollars that you would had spend on upgrading those movies to Blu-ray.

Upconversion is a poor compromise no matter how it's done.

Who cares if it's fake HD, a poor compromise, etc. if it looks good enough and people preffer it, and if the XD-E500 can make upscaling DVDs look even better, then respect that others do apreciate and value this rather than BD. Period.

Upconversion is fake HD, a poor compromise, and can never be good enough for anyone who truly appreciates his HDTV.

As long you guys keep repeating the same lame arguments, attacking anything and everybody that doesn't support Blu-ray, we'll keep insisting on the contrary, as tiresome as it can be... things will be a lot easier if you give it a rest, accept and respect that others don't share your oppinion.

Just accept it, no matter how many times you keep insisting that upconversion is fake HD, a poor compromise, we don't care... we just want to enjoy our already owned DVD movies, at the best quality possible, rather than invest thousands of dollars in Blu-ray.

If we, the 99% of worldwide population, are satisfied and content with the results from upscaling DVDs on their HDTVs, then you should give it a rest and move on.

Keep them coming man. I'm with you all the way on this one. Like I said before, I'm just interested in high capacity optical media for storage.

I just paid a lot of money for my LCD. I'd like to get my money's worth out of it. I feel that TRUE 1080p is worth my purchase as opposed to "almost" or "near" HD quality. I wouldn't have spent the $$ if I didn't like the improvements.

The movies I own on DVD will outnumber my Blu-ray discs for a while. But they will still pale in comparison quality-wise. I also don't plan to upgrade all my films to BD as many of them are fine upscaled (and yes I watch them that way too). Newer releases of films that benefit from better resolutions and master quality audio (and even older films) I will pick up on Blu-Ray in an effort to see them in a way that not even upconverting can provide. Some films dont need this upgrade and I can agree on that much. I won't need "When Harry Met Sally" on Blu-Ray to see the how Meg Ryans lips used to look more normal. But F#@Kin AILIENS on Blu-Ray.... Hell yes.

HDTV is an acronym that defines the level of content it is meant for in the first two letters. You don't have to like Blu-Ray. With the Prices the way they are, I can't say I blame you all that much. But instead of spending more precious $$ on yet ANOTHER player to squeeze whats left out of DVD and still not make HD Par seems ironic and silly. The problem is... Blu-Ray is the most accessible HD format for film right now.. so that is where I look for HD quality films. You CAN get them other places... you can download them if your bandwidth will make it remotely conveniant for you. You can even watch it via your local comcast affiliate... you dont HAVE to use Blu-Ray if you hate the product.

... problem is, there isn't a BETTER solution for ACTUAL HD right now. Another 150$ upconverter isn't going to justify the fact that Blu-Ray is expensive... unless it offers a comparable quality film.

The problem is that you guys keep insisting that flat panel screens should not be used to view upscaled DVDs, yet one of the few rights we haven't lost is freedom of choice, and last time i checked, not one flat panel screen indicates "should be used exclusively for viewing Blu-ray movies - not for DVD movies".

You have to respect and accept that there's a lot of people that feel, that investing on a flat panel screen and a upconverting DVD player, so they can view upscaled DVD movies is worth it, rather than investing thousands of dollars on a new format player, and repurchasing at least part of their movie collections.

Indeed nobody is forcing you to repurchase movies on BD that you already own on DVD, but if you aren't going to buy BD movies then what's the point in investing money on it. You have to accept and respect that others don't see much of a improvement in BD, to invest money on it.

Also agreed that Blu-ray isn't the only source fo HD content, you can download movies from iTunes, or view HD channels, etc... yet the resulting image from upscaling DVDs, is at least identical to the image quality from those HD sources; therefore when most consumers are content with the image quality from these HD sources, they're equaly content with the results from upscaling DVDs, and see no point in investing on Blu-ray.

Again, this is a matter of respecting everybody's choice, therefore you shouldn't condemm the XD-E500 simply because it's against your preference for Blu-ray, when you could just accept it and move on, after all "the sun shines for everybody"

I stopped by the Shomi Technologies booth, who do video improvement stuff, at this years ASIS show and saw the real-time demo referenced in http://www.hdtvuk.tv/2008/09/shomis_hd_sd_te.html . The group I was with left the demo a bit shocked at what they can do with video. It blew the 1080p XDE box out of the water and none of us could pick out the 480i content vs. the Blu-Ray content. I then talked to them in detail on surveillance specific bandwidth reduction stuff they have, but they did say to watch them in this market too, they are scheduled to be at the CES show in January with more of the HD@SD stuff. For what its worth...

Originally posted by ematrix:

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I just love when you guys attack others that differ your oppinion, specially when it comes to disregarding anything that's not Blu-ray, or calling people hypocrital, when in fact I have been fair, objective and consistent on my position.

DVD was a huge revolutionary step from VHS, because after 20 years of broken VCRs and chewed, filled with fungus VHS tapes, you could get movies on a disc the size of a CD, which are easier to handle and store, and less expensive at that time, than larger LD movies.

Yes, not only did I have several VCRs, but also a large VHS movie collection. Now I have an even larger DVD movie collection. The reason why I upgraded to DVD wasn't because it looked and sounded better than VHS, but because it offered multiple languages and subtitles, or additional content, all of which you couldn't get from VHS, and mainly because I wanted my movie collection to endure, and DVD is a more reliable media than VHS ever was... that's the keyword... BETTER MEDIA.

Multiple languages and subtitles, additional content, etc.?... DVD has been offering that since a decade ago. Web connectivity, pop-up trivia tracks, etc.? DVD has done that before and users showed little to none interest for that... so what has to offer Blu-ray so you can say it's revolutionary?

I'm sorry, but Blu-ray is not revolutionary at all. It still uses optical discs as media, granted with higher storage room, but isn't more reliable or easier to handle and store than DVD, as even with Durabis they aren't impervious to scratches, heat exposure, etc. and there are less expensive options for digital storage room, that are more reliable than optical discs.

Despite this, the reason why most people worldwide, are still content and preffer DVD, it's because is a well established FORMAT and MEDIA, with players, recorders and blank media, and in some cases, even movies at affordable prices available everywhere. In a manner, DVD has became the VHS of the 21st century. If people like it, there's no reason why should they stop using them.

BD is just an slight upgrade from DVD, but not a substitute for DVD, since besides a overall minor improvement in sound and picture, anything that BD has to offer, has been offered on DVD before. Nobody is denying that BD offers a higher picture resolution and a slighter higher audio quality than DVD, but overall DVD still offers a very high quality in picture and sound.

The only reason why anybody needs to purchase a upconverting DVD player, is to watch their DVD movies on flat panel screens, and this has nothing to do with their native resolution, rather that they have a hard time matching picture quality compared with traditional CRTs. Yes, I have even seen BD movies on screens that offer such awful picture, that looks you're playing a worn out VHS tape or a poorly encoded VCD disc.

But you keep insisting that if you own a flat panel screen, or planning to get one, should use it to watch BD movies only. Once you buy your screen, it's yours to use it as pleases you. If you preffer to use for BD movies, or for DVD movies, that's everybody choice and you should respect that.

Yet precisely because I remember the ordeal that was, and the huge spending involved to upgrade my entire VHS movies collection for DVD counterparts, that I refuse to do so again, and I'm sure that I am not the only one that feels the same. You can pull the "Amazon" card all the times you like, it doesn't change the fact that around the world, BD players and movies are priced much higher than within USA.

Even so it's not that BD players and movies are expensive, but that the overall minor improvement isn't enough for me to face such ordeal, and investment to upgrade my entire movie collection again, not even part of it, I have better and more important things in which to spend my money, than to repurchase movies I already own... again I'm not the only one that feels the same, and you should respect that.

But you quickly disregard the XD-E500 as "too expensive"... too expensive compared to what? Too expensive compared to other low brand upscaling DVD players, or most BD players, that at most will do a decent, but not a superb job? Too expensive compared to other top of the line upscaling DVD players, that do a superb job but actually are priced higher?

This is a matter of choice, and overall $150 isn't much of an investement for Toshiba's XD-E500, which will allow those who own a flat panel screen, to enjoy a sharper, richer, more detailed picture from their entire DVD movie collection, while saving thousands of dollars that you would had spend on upgrading those movies to Blu-ray.

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ematrix, you got my vote of confidence ! You are spon on with your argument(s) !

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Thanks! By the way, since some thought that the XDE-500 had a high price and was an impediment to consider getting it, currently this player is sold under US$100, and a lot of consumers of this player have given real positive reviews for it.