My sister happened to be at the right place at the right time and surprised me with a PS3 on Christmas Day. Although, I still had to pay for it (only cdn$640 because of a Superstore coupon), I was really happy because I had tried to get one on the opening release date. It has surpassed all my expectations. The PS3 is extremely well built and designed and I have had no problems with it. The only thing that bothers me is the fan noise and that only kicks in midway through a movie. Yesterday, I picked up an HD A2 for $492 at futureshop (price protection on Best Buy) and the initial impressions are not good. This player seems very cheaply made and the remote is the flimsiest one I've ever used. Also, it STILL has glitches. The A2 will sometimes refuse to play certain sd dvd's and the subtitle function will not scroll properly. The upconversion feature that hd-dvd proponents are raving about is no better than my Samsung dvd player. The OSD blots out 1/6 of the tv. I really expected more out of a 2nd gen player. However, with the free 3 movie mail in rebate, the price isn't bad. With the PS3, you are getting a quality machine and it is easy to see why Sony is losing hundreds of dollars on each one sold. The A2, on the other hand, feels akin to a $99 dvd player. The problems I brought up are mentioned in the owner's manual, but who wants excuses? We know this machine isn't perfect but "Oh well???". PQ is virtually the same between the two depending on the software. If you are the type of person who would spend a little more for an Imac over a PC, you won't be disappointed with the PS3. For all the hd-dvd supporters who are going to bash me, loyalty is for friends, family and country -- not for multinational corporations.

When does Sony not own Toshiba?

loyalty is for friends, family and country -- not for multinational corporations.

Well said. People get way too defensive about eletronics.

My sister happened to be at the right place at the right time and surprised me with a PS3 on Christmas Day. Although, I still had to pay for it (only cdn$640 because of a Superstore coupon), I was really happy because I had tried to get one on the opening release date. It has surpassed all my expectations. The PS3 is extremely well built and designed and I have had no problems with it. The only thing that bothers me is the fan noise and that only kicks in midway through a movie. Yesterday, I picked up an HD A2 for $492 at futureshop (price protection on Best Buy) and the initial impressions are not good. This player seems very cheaply made and the remote is the flimsiest one I've ever used. Also, it STILL has glitches. The A2 will sometimes refuse to play certain sd dvd's and the subtitle function will not scroll properly. The upconversion feature that hd-dvd proponents are raving about is no better than my Samsung dvd player. The OSD blots out 1/6 of the tv. I really expected more out of a 2nd gen player. However, with the free 3 movie mail in rebate, the price isn't bad. With the PS3, you are getting a quality machine and it is easy to see why Sony is losing hundreds of dollars on each one sold. The A2, on the other hand, feels akin to a $99 dvd player. The problems I brought up are mentioned in the owner's manual, but who wants excuses? We know this machine isn't perfect but "Oh well???". PQ is virtually the same between the two depending on the software. If you are the type of person who would spend a little more for an Imac over a PC, you won't be disappointed with the PS3. For all the hd-dvd supporters who are going to bash me, loyalty is for friends, family and country -- not for multinational corporations.
If you truly were format neutral, you wouldn't bash a format that you supported, and a player that you spent your hard earned money on. :rolleyes:

Anyone can say that word...but to me it's like saying "Honest Abe". If one were really honest one wouldn't feel the need to tell us that they were.

If you truly were format neutral, you wouldn't care what anyone thought about your comments; after all you support both.

I have both players and buy more HD DVD movies than I do BR, because I believe that there are a greater number of HD DVD movies have superior PQ overall. I neither care nor give a hoot what fanboys on either side think about how I choose to buy, or spend my money.

Besides the PS3 is not as perfect as you seem to suggest:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=776991

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=777165

If you truly were format neutral, you wouldn't bash a format that you supported, and a player that you spent your hard earned money on. :rolleyes:

Anyone can say that word...but to me it's like saying "Honest Abe". If one were really honest one wouldn't feel the need to tell us that they were.

If you truly were format neutral, you wouldn't care what anyone thought about your comments; after all you support both.

I have both players and buy more HD DVD movies than I do BR, because I believe that there are a greater number of HD DVD movies have superior PQ overall. I neither care nor give a hoot what fanboys on either side think about how I choose to buy, or spend my money.

Besides the PS3 is not as perfect as you seem to suggest:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=776991

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=777165

I went to Toys R Us today to get my daughter a "prize", and saw some PS3's sitting in the display case. I started to pick one up, just for kicks.....Some good reviews, some bad. I just can't bring myself to use a console as my Blu-ray player.

I went to Toys R Us today to get my daughter a "prize", and saw some PS3's sitting in the display case. I started to pick one up, just for kicks.....Some good reviews, some bad. I just can't bring myself to use a console as my Blu-ray player.

PS3 is the only one with a sleek slot drive.

PS3 is the only one with a sleek slot drive.
Hey, the details do matter, don't they..... :D

I usually don't bother defending my position on these boards, but I think my comments were consistent with the thread title. The PQ is great, but the A2 should have been better. BTW, I am keeping both, but some people DO have to make a choice. I admit I read a lot about the XA1 and not much about the A2 -- my mistake (low expectations = satisfaction & high expectations = disappointment I guess?). I guess you are suggesting that I don't actually own an A2 or that I wanted to dislike it?!

I went to Toys R Us today to get my daughter a "prize", and saw some PS3's sitting in the display case. I started to pick one up, just for kicks.....Some good reviews, some bad. I just can't bring myself to use a console as my Blu-ray player.
Yep, I agree. I would rather buy a standalone. HD DVD Add-on makes more sense to me...just hook it up to your PC.

If you truly were format neutral, you wouldn't bash a format that you supported, and a player that you spent your hard earned money on. :rolleyes:



Actually I think you can bash a format if you are neutral. I have an HD-D1, PS3 and a Sony BDP-S1.

The Toshiba player is a piece of crap. It throws an excellent picture but is slow and I have audio sync problems on about 90% of discs I throw in it. I am waiting to look at the HD-XA2.

The PS3 has been perfect for me. The Sony has had some minor hiccups that will hopefully be fixed soon.

When does Sony not own Toshiba?

NEVER ;)

Anyway...

I have to agree with the PS3 comment. When PS2 came out, there were lots of glitches. Heck, even X360 has tons of glitches. Microsoft had to extend the 1 year warranty period.

But PS3 is one fine piece of equipment. Rarely any complains, does not get overheated, very quiet. And above all, it plays games and blu-ray!!!! it's one of the best technology investment you will ever make

I guess I am one of the lucky ones. My A1 is slow, but I have never had a glitch with firmware 2.0 The PS3 is one beautifully designed machine that has worked very well. No problems at all with either one.

The A2 is definitely not as well built as say the XA1, which just has awesome build quality. It (A2) does feel like a low end DVD player. It is understandable considering that the original A1 was subsidized, and Toshiba is now trying to avoid that with the A2 thusly you will notice this effort to cut manufacturing costs in things such as build quality and lack of analog outputs. That said, there is always the much pricier XA2 out there.....which should be a nice improvement in areas where the A2 is lacking....or you could always wait for gen 3 players.

I went to Toys R Us today to get my daughter a "prize", and saw some PS3's sitting in the display case. I started to pick one up, just for kicks.....Some good reviews, some bad. I just can't bring myself to use a console as my Blu-ray player.


Yep, I agree. I would rather buy a standalone. HD DVD Add-on makes more sense to me...just hook it up to your PC.


The PS3 is a workhorse in our house since the 25th. Yes, it does have that sleek slot drive. It is a great Blu-ray player.

The fact that it is also a game console makes it a bargain. To play a driving game before or after watching a movie, for example, is just plain fun and the WAF due to its exceptional functionality range is very high. The user interface makes it easy to switch between games and movies.

Hooking up a 360 add-on to a PC would test the patience of a lot of spouses who are not HTPC hobbyists in operating such a lashed up drive.

The PS3 is a workhorse in our house since the 25th. Yes, it does have that sleek slot drive. It is a great Blu-ray player.

The fact that it is also a game console makes it a bargain. To play a driving game before or after watching a movie, for example, is just plain fun and the WAF due to its exceptional functionality range is very high. The user interface makes it easy to switch between games and movies.

Hooking up a 360 add-on to a PC would test the patience of a lot of spouses who are not HTPC hobbyists in operating such a lashed up drive.
It's not that I'm against the PS3 per se, just that after 17 years of being a hardcore home theater enthusiast, using a gaming console as my primary player seems....wrong some how. Especially this close to CES, and any new anouncements

But PS3 is one fine piece of equipment. Rarely any complains, does not get overheated, very quiet. And above all, it plays games and blu-ray!!!! it's one of the best technology investment you will ever make
Hear hear. my sentiments exactly.

If you truly were format neutral, you wouldn't bash a format that you supported, and a player that you spent your hard earned money on.

Do you honestly believe that? I have a xbox 360 and a PS2. The xbox 360 runs at least 5 times as hot and 10 times as loud as the PS2. I think the Xbox 360 is built like junk and sounds like it too. Doesn't mean i am not going to keep it and enjoy the heck out of it. It seems like you've run out of things to support your hd-dvd bias and resorted to nonsense. FYI, it does not help your cause.

Do you honestly believe that? I have a xbox 360 and a PS2. The xbox 360 runs at least 5 times as hot and 10 times as loud as the PS2. I think the Xbox 360 is built like junk and sounds like it too. Doesn't mean i am not going to keep it and enjoy the heck out of it. It seems like you've run out of things to support your hd-dvd bias and resorted to nonsense. FYI, it does not help your cause.
Unlike you sir, I don't have a cause; I HAVE A PET PEEVE! I am tired of frauds who claim to be format neutral in order to have the passport to trash the other format supporter's product.

I own a PS2, and it is a good product, my son owns the 360 as well, but your comment of "I think the Xbox 360 is built like junk and sounds like it too." doesn't add up to me. Why keep it when it is obviously in your mind inferior to the PS2? :rolleyes:

It's not that I'm against the PS3 per se, just that after 17 years of being a hardcore home theater enthusiast, using a gaming console as my primary player seems....wrong some how. Especially this close to CES, and any new anouncements

IMO until the cell works its way into standalone players (which it's rumored to do just that) There really is no better player than a ps3. It has the network connection, HDMI 1.3 truHD decoder & soon to be DTSHD decoder all inside.
And it plays games & SACD?

owning both an updated sammy and the ps3, the ps3 is atleast AS GOOD if not BETTER in pq than my sammy. It is definately Faster! not that the sammy is even really slow.

IMO until the cell works its way into standalone players (which it's rumored to do just that) There really is no better player than a ps3. It has the network connection, HDMI 1.3 truHD decoder & soon to be DTSHD decoder all inside.
And it plays games & SACD?

owning both an updated sammy and the ps3, the ps3 is atleast AS GOOD if not BETTER in pq than my sammy. It is definately Faster! not that the sammy is even really slow.
I'm sure the PS3 is a great movie machine, but I think you made the point I was getting at when you used the word "until".....For what it's worth, my wife gave me a 360 for Christmas (and one game which is half as many as I played on the original xbox :D ), and I have no intention on playing games on any more than one console. In fact, I started to return the 360, but thought I would give it a chance. I'm glad I did, as it's pretty fun. I guess, in short Brian, I want a better stand alone player than what's out there now for Blu-ray. Enjoy.

Lagosian, I am starting from ground zero in the hi def sweepstakes. I got my PS3 on the 25th and my A2 on the 29th. I have 2 blu ray movies (one was a gift) and one hd-dvd movie. Before you edited your critique of me, you mentioned that you had 70+ hd-dvd titles. Who is format neutral here and who isn't? If you are happy with the build and operational quality of your A2 player, then fine, to each his own. I prefer that Toshiba reps read the comments here and take steps to improve future models. Anyone who owns both the PS3 and A2 KNOWS what I'm talking about (the PS3 is a totally different beast than the PS2). Anyone who owns a $10 universal remote KNOWS what I'm talking about. BTW, when accusing someone of being insincere and a fraud, don't reference Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest men in your country's history.

If you truly were format neutral, you wouldn't bash a format that you supported, and a player that you spent your hard earned money on. :rolleyes:

Anyone can say that word...but to me it's like saying "Honest Abe". If one were really honest one wouldn't feel the need to tell us that they were.

If you truly were format neutral, you wouldn't care what anyone thought about your comments; after all you support both.

I have both players and buy more HD DVD movies than I do BR, because I believe that there are a greater number of HD DVD movies have superior PQ overall. I neither care nor give a hoot what fanboys on either side think about how I choose to buy, or spend my money.

Besides the PS3 is not as perfect as you seem to suggest:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=776991

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=777165


Good perspective. When I go format neutral (I'll get a PS3 for now) I won't be bashing my A1. It's been a workhorse and a great pleasure to watch HD movies and lossless audio.

Please stop personal attacks. A few posts were deleted, Challange the Information not the poster.

Please stop personal attacks. A few posts were deleted, Challange the Information not the poster.
Thanks, there is no place for that in this forum. :)

I believe one can be format neutral but also have negative comments on one or the formats "hardware". I don't believe anything was mentioned about the HD-DVD format being crap, they were referring to the A2.
Having said that, I haven't even seen one so I can't comment on it's build but people need to keep perspective on it. Toshiba was able to put out a HD-DVD player waaay before anyone else AND at a price point that was ridiculous. Kudos to Toshiba. I wouldn't be suprised if there were some compromises made and as a result it might not be the prettiest player but from what I hear it works pretty well. If your going to compare a player which was designed to get to market quickest and proliferate HD-DVD in an affordable way with a game/player which represents sonys latest and greatest gaming machine try to remember which one is the apple and which is the orange.

It's not that I'm against the PS3 per se, just that after 17 years of being a hardcore home theater enthusiast, using a gaming console as my primary player seems....wrong some how. Especially this close to CES, and any new anouncements

Based on reading the last couple of your posts, it might make sense to wait for CES.

The really neat part about the PS3 is that detailed and real-time information about both the audio and video codecs is provided. For example, it would indicate the video codec format and the bit rate. Further, the set up for both audio and video is very good.

The PS3 also provides a nice on screen interface to select among movies, music, photos as well as games.

The form factor may not be like the typical rack mount unit. And that may be the hiccup. However, what it can do for the money is impressive.

I have read various comments about the inferior build quality of the A2 compared to the A1. Let me tell you a story.

I've been around this video stuff for a long time, and I remember when 3/4 U-Matic came out. It was the first really viable videocassette recorder-player. This was BEFORE VHS and Beta. Anyway, we were starting to distribute video on U-Matic, and were using mostly Sony machines, and they really did a fine job, and were pretty mechanically stable. The deck was made of stamped sheet metal though, and as an old audio recording buff, I thought metal castings, like the GOOD reel-to-reel audio decks used, would be better.

Well, NEC came out with a new machine, and we got one for evaluation. Let me tell you, it looked AMAZING! All cast parts, and the tape threading mechanism was a sight to behold. It looked perfect - until we started to evaluate performance. It was not NEARLY as stable as the "inferior" Sony decks.

Since then I've put more emphasis on performance, and less on apparent quality.

Dave