Amazon heats up HD format war

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Aug 2007 4:38 User comments (15)

The giant retailer Amazon has begun a huge promotion that should heat up the already hot next-gen format war. They have dropped the price on three Toshiba HD DVD players and the Sony PlayStation 3 as well as add combo packages that lower the price even furthur.

Purchasing the three standalones, the Toshiba HD-A2, Toshiba HD-A20, or Toshiba HD-XA2 will get you 3 HD DVD movies instantly and stacks on with the "Five Free" promotion that has been running for awhile now. At its best, the promotion will get you a Toshiba HD-A2 plus 8 movies for $211 USD. The movies instantly available are such hits as "The Departed", "300", "TMNT" and "Happy Feet" among others.

If you are an Xbox 360 owner, the deal gets even sweeter. Buying the drive will get you the 8 movies as well as an extra "King Kong" title for $180 USD.

The deal for the PlayStation is almost equally as good as the HD DVD deal. Buying the system will get you 8 Blu-ray movie titles with a final price of $472 USD.

For interested parties, I'd say check these deals quick before they run out, they are the best deals for those interested in HD I've seen to date.

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15 user comments

128.8.2007 17:13

NexGen76

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Thxs. DVDBACK23 Dam that is a deal...Question Which HD-DVD player has the best upscaling of DVD's is it the HD-A2 ? Im looking into buying a HD-DVD player.

228.8.2007 17:46

kaosX

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sweet.. sounds like not too far in the future i can get one of these players for under a bill.

328.8.2007 18:32

Unfocused

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Damn, these prices are looking sweet.

428.8.2007 18:36

sk8flawzz

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damn i cant wait to see the prices on black friday
or the month of december..woohoo

528.8.2007 18:41

tony2toes

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I saw a fry's add here in houston that had the hd add on for $169 plus the movies. Thats worth it.

629.8.2007 07:30

DVDBack23

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Originally posted by NexGen76:
Thxs. DVDBACK23 Dam that is a deal...Question Which HD-DVD player has the best upscaling of DVD's is it the HD-A2 ? Im looking into buying a HD-DVD player.

the XA2 is the top end of the line, so id say (although not officially) that it is best at upscaling standard def.

729.8.2007 07:51

eatsushi

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I agree with DVDBack23. I have the XA2 and I think it's the current title holder for video processing with its Silicon Optix Reon HQV chip. I know error5 and dblbogey7 also have XA2's and I know they think highly of their machines.

However, there's speculation that the 3rd generation players from Toshiba will feature a VRS chip from Anchor Bay.

http://www.dvdtown.com/media/news/toshibahddvd/1.jpg
http://www.9web.co.uk/abt/products/ABT1018chip.html

VRS processing on paper should be as good, or even better in some instances, than HQV. Anchor Bay is well known in videophile circles as the maker of the highly regarded DVDO iScan line of external video processors/scalers.

http://www.anchorbaytech.com/vrs_technology/index.php

I'm sure there will be people comparing HQV to VRS when the 3rd gen players come out.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 29 Aug 2007 @ 8:01

829.8.2007 16:26

NexGen76

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Quote:
Originally posted by NexGen76:
Thxs. DVDBACK23 Dam that is a deal...Question Which HD-DVD player has the best upscaling of DVD's is it the HD-A2 ? Im looking into buying a HD-DVD player.
the XA2 is the top end of the line, so id say (although not officially) that it is best at upscaling standard def.

Thanks but that player is out my price range..I will wait

929.8.2007 17:38

hughjars

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Interesting how it is working out.

The Toshiba HD A2 is the best selling DVD player on Amazon (not best selling HD DVD or high def but of all DVD players).

HD DVD movie sales (not freebies) have also shot up.

1030.8.2007 05:18

dblbogey7

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Originally posted by eatsushi:
I agree with DVDBack23. I have the XA2 and I think it's the current title holder for video processing with its Silicon Optix Reon HQV chip. I know error5 and dblbogey7 also have XA2's and I know they think highly of their machines.

However, there's speculation that the 3rd generation players from Toshiba will feature a VRS chip from Anchor Bay.

http://www.dvdtown.com/media/news/toshibahddvd/1.jpg
http://www.9web.co.uk/abt/products/ABT1018chip.html

VRS processing on paper should be as good, or even better in some instances, than HQV. Anchor Bay is well known in videophile circles as the maker of the highly regarded DVDO iScan line of external video processors/scalers.

http://www.anchorbaytech.com/vrs_technology/index.php

I'm sure there will be people comparing HQV to VRS when the 3rd gen players come out.

Good heads up eatsushi. BTW, I won't be attending the CEDIA in Denver. We had to push up some project deadlines at work. My A/V dealer/installer will be there though. I told him to look into the new Onkyo and if there's any news of Integra and Meridian players.

NextGen76: If the A3 has the VRS chip and it's priced around $299 then that's the one I would recommend for you.

1130.8.2007 07:23

eatsushi

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Originally posted by dblbogey7:
Good heads up eatsushi. BTW, I won't be attending the CEDIA in Denver. We had to push up some project deadlines at work. My A/V dealer/installer will be there though. I told him to look into the new Onkyo and if there's any news of Integra and Meridian players.

NextGen76: If the A3 has the VRS chip and it's priced around $299 then that's the one I would recommend for you.

Too bad you're not going dblbogey7. I agree with you though. If the A3 does come out with a VRS chip then it would definitely be worth looking into for NexGen76.

1230.8.2007 13:10

NexGen76

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Originally posted by dblbogey7:
NextGen76: If the A3 has the VRS chip and it's priced around $299 then that's the one I would recommend for you.

Thxs guys that price is within my range..When does this player come out ?

1331.8.2007 08:41

DVDBack23

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Quote:
Originally posted by dblbogey7:
NextGen76: If the A3 has the VRS chip and it's priced around $299 then that's the one I would recommend for you.
Thxs guys that price is within my range..When does this player come out ?

Amazon said October.

142.9.2007 14:20

borhan9

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this is like a see saw we just go back and forth with moves to beat the other one.

152.9.2007 17:54

hughjars

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Not really.
HD DVD keeps bringing genuinely new generations of players to market (these are gen 3 players) whilst Blu-ray can't even get what is supposed to be their full and final spec to market.

'Profile 1.1' - which is supposed to unleash all the advanced extra content Blu-ray are using to advertise their stuff - has been delayed yet again.

Unfortunately for the paying punter Sony et al are now rushing as many players as they can to various markets before the new Nov deadline when all Blu-ray players are supposed to be 'profile 1.1 compliant'.

In other words the players you're expected to buy now cannot do everything claimed for the format.

.....and that's before we even consider 'profile 2.0' which is supposed to bring in the internet connectivity etc etc.
No-one knows when that one will come in.

Talk about 'built-in obsolescence'!

It's not even as if they're being sold cheap.

But nevermind, apparently mentioning this kind of stuff (that the fanclub and manufacturers won't) is being a 'fanboy' and we should all just shut up and uncritically accept whatever they serve up and lump it.

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Amazon heats up HD format war

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