I know that there aren't many choices (if any choice) for a hybrid player yet, but I'm curious about which would be a "better" choice?

I have a Sharp AQUOS LC-32D42U, so I can only manage 720p at most. I definitely want to make the jump to a next-gen DVD player within the next year or two years, but I'm wondering WHAT next-gen DVD player to get? I want to play both formats.

I was thinking maybe getting a PS3 and the 360 HD-DVD player, since I plan on getting a PS3 anyway and I already have a 360. But I keep thinking that maybe it'd be better to wait for a standalone, full-featured hybrid player to come out, since neither the PS3 nor 360 have DVD upscaling.

Suggestions?

The HD-DVD add on has DVD upscaling. The PS3 is a great Blu-Ray player. So you would get great DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray players.

If course, if you want to get a stand alone player its a different story. The new Samsung BD-P1200 will have great DVD upscaling and Blu-Ray playing.

I would go the PS3 and Xbox360 add on since you have the Xbox console already.

Go 360+Add-on+PS3
You will get not only HD optical formats, but also two great game machines.

I don't know about the PS3, because I don't have one. But you will also have access to HD downloadable movies on Xboxlive. PS3 may have that to, if not now, then someday.

There are only a few draw backs to going this way, whereas there are a lot of benefits.

Keep in mind if you want to ge next gen in the audio department as well the PS3 is fantastic, however the HD-DVD add-on sadly is not. So it might be best to get the PS3 and a dedicated HD-DVD player. IF PQ is all you care abou then the add-on is a pretty good value if you find it on sale for $160 (Circuit had a $40 off $200 coupon that would be good to use).

The HD DVD add-on should be used with PC. With 360 you only end up with analog output.

Apparently, the PS3 doesn't output 720p for its BluRay movies, only 1080i. Is that a problem for PQ? Since the picture would be scaled twice: 1080p to 1080i, then 1080i to 720p. Also, the PS3's not compatible with my Harmony remote, which is a fairly minor turn-off.

And what about hybrid players, when they eventually come out? I'm still a little wary about using a game machine as a movie player, given my experiences with the PS2.

For that matter, is it even worth getting the HD-DVD add-on if only Universal is exclusive to HD-DVD?

I've already used Xbox Live's download service, and it's great. Actually, that's what spurred me on this path to shopping around for a next-gen DVD player, because of how much better quality stored HD movies are over DVDs and over-the-air HD.

Apparently, the PS3 doesn't output 720p for its BluRay movies, only 1080i. Is that a problem for PQ? Since the picture would be scaled twice: 1080p to 1080i, then 1080i to 720p. Also, the PS3's not compatible with my Harmony remote, which is a fairly minor turn-off.

And what about hybrid players, when they eventually come out? I'm still a little wary about using a game machine as a movie player, given my experiences with the PS2.

For that matter, is it even worth getting the HD-DVD add-on if only Universal is exclusive to HD-DVD?

I've already used Xbox Live's download service, and it's great. Actually, that's what spurred me on this path to shopping around for a next-gen DVD player, because of how much better quality stored HD movies are over DVDs and over-the-air HD.

I've never heard that about the PS3, and I suspect it isn't true. Others can chime in and correct me if I'm wrong though.

BD has about 190 movies available, not counting foreign releases. HD DVD has about 180 movies available, not counting foreign releases. If you have both an HD DVD player, and a BD player, you will have just over 300 unique titles to choose from atm.

Universal is the biggest exclusive HD DVD studio, but there are other smaller ones. DVD empire list 19 studios supporting HD DVD, and 18 supporting BD. Plus, even though a studio puts out movies in both formats, they don't always have the same ones out for both formats. So for the moment, you increase the amount of content you have at your disposal by about 60% by buying into both formats.

I'm in a similar boat, I want to check out both formats. I have a 360 and I am getting the HD-DVD add on becaase its very good value. I am getting the PS3 for gaming side of it and also because it features a Blu-Ray player. This way I'm getting good value for my buck.

The HD-DVD add on has DVD upscaling. The PS3 is a great Blu-Ray player. So you would get great DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray players.

If course, if you want to get a stand alone player its a different story. The new Samsung BD-P1200 will have great DVD upscaling and Blu-Ray playing.

I would go the PS3 and Xbox360 add on since you have the Xbox console already.

You dont need the HD Add on for upconverting just the 360 itself with VGA cables.

I agree tho get the Add on for HD and the PS3 for Blu Ray

Chris

I went the Xbox 360 add-on route and then got a PS3. I couldn't be happier (except the DTS to DD conversion on the 360). I plan on getting a stand alone player later on when the war is either settled or when players are cheap enough to afford both. I output to 1080i and it looks great. I have also hooked my PS3 up to my 720p LCD and it also looks fantastic, not near as good as my 65" 1080i rear projection set but still looked good enough for a buddy to get one for his 720p set.

PS3+add-on, no contest

The PS3 makes a fantastic BD player. The playback PQ is great, it's future proof with HDMI 1.3, and has a lot of other features beyond BD. It's also one of the cheapest BD player options out. I think that they fixed the 720p issues a while ago. I can't confirm because I have a 1080p Ruby.

As for HD-DVD, I can't say since I don't have a 360, but it seems to me that the add-on is priced right and works. You already have a 360, so that seems like a good option. The stand alone players are cheap too.

I've read that the LG universal has some audio shortcomings.

I already had an XBOX 360, and a Samsung 46” LCD (1080P). The add-on was a no-brainer, for me. I do not have an HDMI switching receiver, so the audio limitations were not terribly concerning (and the TV accepts 1080P via component). My primary concerns were ease on entry into HD and picture quality. From that perspective, I am quite impressed with everything HD has to offer, so far. I also suspect that the add-on will benefit from better/more on-going manufacturer support, compared to standalones which are replaced by newer units in the product line up, much quicker.

Last week, I had the opportunity to pick up a PS3 on the cheap. I pulled the trigger, and have finally got it setup. The PS3 is probably the most future-proof of any BR player, and while I have no games for it, eventually there will be one I want (read: Gran Turismo!!!). I've purchased a few discs already and the PQ is equally as impressive as HD-DVD (though I was disappointed with the T2 transfer, this isn’t the players fault, obviously from a less-than-ideal source).

If you can do both, do it! You’ll have less in than some of the single-format standalones, and get to enjoy the full PQ improvement of both (and maybe BRD's audio depending on your setup). Besides the white/black sitting side by side on the same shelf has a nice ying-yang effect! ;)

I had a chance to try out my cousin's PS3 as a BluRay player this weekend on a full Sharp 1080p LCD, and I must say, I'm equally impressed and disappointed.

Impressed because of how good the picture looks, and disappointed because it froze no less than three times while watching Kingdom of Heaven! It didn't freeze at all during the Prestige, though, so it might just be KoH. I also still have some doubts if I'll see a HUGE difference between 480p upscaled and 720p.

Anyway, I might just pick up the HD-DVD add-on soon, then get the PS3 in a few months. Alternatively, I could get that OPPO upscaling DVD player I've had my eye on, and wait on HD entirely until later in the year.

If you're thinking about a PS3, then that's great. Don't have one, and don't think I'll ever spend that much on a game console. However, if you think about it as a Blu-Ray player, stevenjw has a great point--it's not too expensive, and people seem to like it. I'm not certain about the current offering of PS3 games right now, but I'm sure sooner or later there will be some seriously good software available for it.

If you already have a 360, the add-on is kind of a no-brainer: it can be found for a hair less than $199 in some places (if sales are going on). I have the 360 add-on, and have nothing but great things to say about it. Some complain about the lack of HDMI---I personally could care less about HDMI--I hooked up a second HT system with HDMI and a brand-spankin'-new HDMI switching receiver, and the HDMI response time to switch sources (on the video end--likely due to HDCP-handshake delays) was so abysmal (60-75 seconds on average)that I tore it down and reconnected with component and optical cables. I'm sure many have been successful with HDMI, but I have certainly not had similar positive experiences, and I've been in the HT world now for 6-7 years, so I'm not a newb. :) HDMI is not something I'm going to pay attention to for another few years.

At any rate, my little HDMI rant aside--for someone to go with both HD formats, I think this would be the way to go--it minimizes your up-front investment while the formats are still finding their feet.

As a side note, I do have the Oppo upconverting player (on my second HT system), and I rave about it. Great for standard DVD's. However, it still pales in comparison to HD-DVD. You really have to see it to understand what you're missing.

Given the reported prices of the HD-A1 or HD-D1 (and the HD-A2 to a lesser degree), I would say ignore the 360 addon unless you want to hook it up to your PC for some nefarious purposes.

The HD-A2 is still a much better player than the 360 addon, and other than the excruciatingly long load times, the HD-A1/D1 is a pretty good HDDVD player that is also very cheap.

Don't get the LG hybrid, it doesn't even do IME and iHD properly. A PS3+HDA1 is actually still cheaper.

Given the reported prices of the HD-A1 or HD-D1 (and the HD-A2 to a lesser degree), I would say ignore the 360 addon unless you want to hook it up to your PC for some nefarious purposes.

The HD-A2 is still a much better player than the 360 addon, and other than the excruciatingly long load times, the HD-A1/D1 is a pretty good HDDVD player that is also very cheap.

Don't get the LG hybrid, it doesn't even do IME and iHD properly. A PS3+HDA1 is actually still cheaper.
I'm not seeing the HD-D1. I do see an HD-XA2, though. What's the difference between the HD-XA2 and the HD-A2? 1080p output? (Which I have no use for....)

I hear that the add-on can upscale if you use VGA cables. So save your money on a player and just get the cables....unless your TV does not have an input for it....then i retract my statement.

1.) get a ps3 (or other blu-ray player)
2.) enjoy

thats all you'll need, my friend. i'd say seriously avoid wasting money on a dying format like hd-dvd.

At any rate, my little HDMI rant aside--for someone to go with both HD formats, I think this would be the way to go--it minimizes your up-front investment while the formats are still finding their feet.

As a side note, I do have the Oppo upconverting player (on my second HT system), and I rave about it. Great for standard DVD's. However, it still pales in comparison to HD-DVD. You really have to see it to understand what you're missing.


How does X360's upconverting DVD ability fare against Oppo?
I'm in a market mostly for a good upconvering SD player because of my huge DVD collection. I have PS3 but unfortunately it doesnt upconvert DVDs at this point.
my friends suggest me to get a HD-A2 but I find it too expensive. I'm not an audiophile so an optical output (especially with DTS output coming) will do just fine for me.
i'm just curious to know if 360 makes a good upconverting DVD player compare to oppo? (I already have the VGA cable).

While it delivers excellent PQ, the 360 add-on definitely suffers in comparison to the PS3 on the audio side. Even if/when MS fixes the gimped 5.1 DD output issue, this will remain the case.

Upconversion is limited to VGA. Given the various vsynch issues which have yet to be fixed IIRC, as well as the way most displays handle their VGA inputs, it's not nearly as desirable as component. If/unless/until we get Zephyr that is...

If you have a 360 already, the add-on is a decent option for a format which is now most definitely dying and which may not last until 2008.

The PS3 cannot scale anything itself, so it cannot and does not output BD movies in 720p. You have a choice of 1080i and 1080p there, but hopefully your TV has a decent scaler and this won't be a problem for you. If the scaler in your TV is an issue for you, you'd better look into a standalone BD player which can scale 1080p to 720p because PS3 can't help you there.

1.) get a ps3 (or other blu-ray player)
2.) enjoy

thats all you'll need, my friend. i'd say seriously avoid wasting money on a dying format like hd-dvd.

How can one, in good conscience, really recommend this? If you're on a tight budget, I can understand, but one on a tight budget is probably not buying a PS3, anyway. If you ALREADY HAVE the 360 and can afford the <$200 cost, the Add-on gets you great movies that will not likely be on Blu-ray for some time... By buying a few disks on sale prices, it's pretty easy to recoup the costs.

I have both XBOX360+Add-on and the PS3 sitting side-by-side, and get to enjoy the best of both worlds in 1080P from each, with the 360 connected via component and PS3 via HMDI... My hope is that one of the two will allow for upconversion in the future (via F/W updates), and I'll be able to remove my DVD player completely.