http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=844378

Two more days only. :)

I wonder if I can buy it separately later on... ;)

That's an ideal product. I think while Blu-ray has the advantage of storage the BD50 recordable discs are ideal and having HD DVD playback makes for some very nice HTPC solutions.

Eventually we'll have BD-R/HD DVD-R drives and the world will be our oyster.

price?

What about picture quality vs stand alone players?

It is now listed. It is too pricey right now. I wouldn't want to pay anymore than $2000 for a computer with higher end components/hd dvd/BD and a cable card tuner. Especially for an HP. Right now the price is more like $2500 for all those options. Hopefully in six months the price will drop a lot.

I'm surprised there hasn't been any discussion about this in the HTPC section. Maybe they don't want to have anything to do with HP? :)

I'm surprised there hasn't been any discussion about this in the HTPC section. Maybe they don't want to have anything to do with HP? :)



Ya know it's funny. I own a Compaq laptop, which.... is directly related to HP.


Compaq used to be THE brand to avoid. I had a friend who got in a motorcycle accident. Flew over the handlebars doing 90mph coming home from a study group one night. His laptop survived perfectly. Him.. barely.

After that.. I figured I'd buy a Compaq if they could handle that. It's been a perfect laptop ever since. Only issue is the battery went to hell, but that's typical with laptops after 3 years of use.

You can actually configure the HP with this combo drive for about $1489. The drive itself adds $560 to the price. Start with the Customize button and just add the drive...

You can actually configure the HP with this combo drive for about $1489. The drive itself adds $560 to the price. Start with the Customize button and just add the drive...

If I'm reading right, you also have to add the more expensive video card, which it says is required for the BD Drive and HD DVD. That makes the price $1669.99. But then you might want a faster processor and more ram-what they are offering doesn't seem to be much above the minimum requirements.

price?
1000 dollas....to make you holla......(oh so horny for it) :cool:

What about picture quality vs stand alone players?

?

http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/05/Hp%20Double.jpg

BTW it is actually affordable: +$560 when you add it to the config.

Here are the details from HP's spec page:

Blu-ray disc writer & HD DVD-ROM

FEATURES: Up to 50GB storage capacity*. Serial ATA interface.
BENEFITS: Enables recording, rewriting, and playback of HD video, as well as storing large amounts of data. Compatible with BD** / HD DVD** / DVD / CD formats: BD playback & recording, HD DVD playback, DVD playback & recording, CD playback & recording.
FOOTNOTES: *on dual layer BD-R / BD-RE media. HD DVD and BD media sold separately. 1GB = 1 billion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less. As HD DVD and Blu-ray are new formats containing new technologies, certain disc, digital connection, compatibility and/or performance issues may arise, and do not constitute defects in the product. Flawless playback on all systems is not guaranteed. In order for some HD-DVD and Blu-ray titles to play, they may require a DVI or HDMI digital connection and your display may require HDCP support. Some HD DVD and Blu-ray advanced features may not be supported. CPU power is dedicated to support HD DVD and Blu-ray playback functions. It is recommended that you close all other applications before and during HD DVD and Blu-ray playback. HD DVD and Blu-ray movies will only play through the HD DVD and Blu-ray player software. Advanced Access Content System (AACS) keys are integrated into your PC for copy protection purposes. Occasional renewal of the AACS key is required, and easily done by connecting to the internet.

Hmm, there's an option for solo HD-DVD ROM drive too - click on "Customize": http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=desktops&series_name=m8010y_series&tab_switch=true&a1=Brand&v1=HP+Pavilion+Media+Center&tab=specs

HD DVD-ROM for high definition movies

Experience high-definition audio and video with stunning image fidelity on your PC monitor. Specifications: Multi-format Disc Playback: HD DVD-ROM / DVD-ROM / DVDR / DVDRW / DVDR DL / CDROM / CDR / CDRW. This option requires the purchase of an HD compatible graphics card. As HD DVD is a new format containing new technologies, certain disc, digital connection, compatibility and/or performance issues may arise, and do not constitute defects in the product. Flawless playback on all systems is not guaranteed. In order for some HD-DVD titles to play, they may require a DVI or HDMI digital connection and your display may require HDCP support. Blu-ray Disc movies cannot be played on this Desktop PC.

but you'd really want to upgrade to atleast 2gb of ram.

Yeah, but you can upgrade to 2gb ram (or more) for way less than $120.
So it is pretty affordable for an HTPC that will do both flavors of HD.

Yeah, but you can upgrade to 2gb ram (or more) for way less than $120.
So it is pretty affordable for an HTPC that will do both flavors of HD.

Yep, though if you get a $600 PS3 w/ Ubuntu + linuxMCE on it, plug-in a $200 external 360 HD-DVD drive, you can play both formats too.
OTOH I'd probably rather wait until these combo writer/reader hybrid units get cheaper and hook up one of these so I can write one format and play back both. :cool:

i'm also surprised the htpc forum hasnt discussed this box from hp yet.

I like the promise in this machine, but can you guys help me with with what minimum required hardware I should get if I want to watch either format hd discs without stutter(only have a 720p samsung tv), and while dl'ing some torrents? how much ram, what kind of processor, which video card would you configure to do what I'm looking to do with this oem htpc?

thanks for the help, i'm tired of waiting for the format war to end(and the Iraq war) and I want my hdtv put to work!

i'm also surprised the htpc forum hasnt discussed this box from hp yet.

I like the promise in this machine, but can you guys help me with with what minimum required hardware I should get if I want to watch either format hd discs without stutter(only have a 720p samsung tv), and while dl'ing some torrents? how much ram, what kind of processor, which video card would you configure to do what I'm looking to do with this oem htpc?

thanks for the help, i'm tired of waiting for the format war to end(and the Iraq war) and I want my hdtv put to work!

You better off if you post this in the HTPC section instead... ;)

It has been discussed somewhat in the HTPC forum. The problem is most of us there like to build our own boxes, not buy pre-packaged machines that inevitably lack some feature we want. So if the drive is available by itself, then I am all over it ;)

Why is it +$760.00 (more then the LightScribe 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive ) now??