Finally, the cheap Chinese HD DVD players that we've all been expecting

[Robert Spalding]

Link:

Venturer Electronics today announced the launch of its first HD DVD player for the North American market.

[lilstinky]

I don't see a price listed? How cheap is cheap? It needs to be around $150.

[Robert Spalding]

since the debate has always been that there was some "phantom" Chinese players coming, I thought the Blu group would be interested. I'm format neutral myself.

[Robert Spalding]

Originally Posted by lilstinky

I don't see a price listed? How cheap is cheap? It needs to be around $150.

I'm waiting on an email back from their marketing folks for an MSRP.

[5thDanMaster]

Originally Posted by lilstinky

I don't see a price listed? How cheap is cheap? It needs to be around $150.

We most certainly hope so.

[Robert Spalding]

Got an email back where they said they expect it to retail for under $150.

[CaCa]

Originally Posted by Robert Spalding

Got an email back where they said they expect it to retail for under $150.

WOW, at that price I'm pretty sure the HD DVD insertion rate will duplicate. It will all depend in the marketing they use (both Venturer and those behind HD DVD).

I wonder what impact this announce will have in the strategic plans from the studios in regards to their support to HD DVD.

[eapleitez]

Holy Shi+, it's starting! Pair these up at Walmart at $150, and HD DVD owns this holiday season

[BuGsArEtAsTy]

Originally Posted by Robert Spalding

Got an email back where they said they expect it to retail for under $150.

US$ I presume?

That's quite impressive, and in line with David's claim of $179.99 in Canada.

[Robert Spalding]

yep, sorry they said USD$

[lilstinky]

Originally Posted by Robert Spalding

Got an email back where they said they expect it to retail for under $150.

Looks like I'll be getting a second player for my bedroom HD set.

[pteittinen]

Originally Posted by Robert Spalding

Got an email back where they said they expect it to retail for under $150.

Who did you e-mail, btw? I sent an e-mail to veninfo@venturer.com and it bounced. Or did you contact Alco?

[BuGsArEtAsTy]

shd@venturer.com

Or actually on their website it was " shd@venturer.com" with an extra space there.

[dragonbud0]

Dumb question. Does HD-DVD or BR come in different region as SD DVD? If so, is this player "region free"?

[BuGsArEtAsTy]

BR is region coded, but with less regions than DVD. For example, on BR, Japan and USA are the same region.
HD DVD has no regions at all, so you can play HD DVDs from anywhere in the world.

On both formats, DVD playback remains region coded however.

[dsmith901]

I see they took my suggestion (LOL) and got rid of that awful half silver half black design they first showed.

Anyone know if HDMI is 1.3 and will pass DD-TruHD and DTS-HD audio?

[Leterface]

Of course, Andy Parsons, the Blu-ray Disc Association spokesman, has a different take.

"The memo is for a Chinese HD-DVD format only," he offers, "So it's a bit of a stretch to suggest that this will translate into cheap HD-DVD players being exported into the United States."

[dragonbud0]

BuGsArEtAsTy,

Thanks. More reason to go HD. So I would still need a HD player with a SD-DVD region free playback in the future.

[BuGsArEtAsTy]

Originally Posted by dsmith901

I see they took my suggestion (LOL) and got rid of that awful half silver half black design they first showed.

Anyone know if HDMI is 1.3 and will pass DD-TruHD and DTS-HD audio?

In all honesty, I'd have to say that the the HDMI 1.3 and DTS-HD fall into the "Who cares?" category for a player like this.

TrueHD is mandatory, although only 2.0. However, I suspect it will be the full 5.1 because they specifically mention TrueHD in the press release. For HDMI 1.3 it is totally irrelevant. For DTS-HD: MA, it will likely only play the core DTS track.

Originally Posted by Leterface

Of course, Andy Parsons, the Blu-ray Disc Association spokesman, has a different take.

"The memo is for a Chinese HD-DVD format only," he offers, "So it's a bit of a stretch to suggest that this will translate into cheap HD-DVD players being exported into the United States."

What memo is he talking about? There was some mention of the specs for the Chinese standard a few days ago.

[Rom]

If Ventura's SD players are anything to go by, I suspect there will be some kind of remote region hack available for this new HD player

[8ohms]

I only hope the word QUALITY has not been lost in all of this. If this player can load as fast and play as good or better than the Toshiba units then it's game over for the other side.

[byronmhome]

Originally Posted by Rom

If Ventura's SD players are anything to go by, I suspect there will be some kind of remote region hack available for this new HD player

Not really needed since HD DVDs have yet to be region encoded - but i guess good for SD disks i suppose

[Leterface]

Originally Posted by BuGsArEtAsTy

What memo is he talking about? There was some mention of the specs for the Chinese standard a few days ago.

In a story from The Hollywood Reporter, it seems "the steering committee of the DVD Forum has approved the final draft of a memorandum of understanding with the leading Chinese developer of optical discs, paving the way for the creation of a Chinese HD-DVD format."

[SamwisetheBrave]

Originally Posted by dsmith901

I see they took my suggestion (LOL) and got rid of that awful half silver half black design they first showed.

Anyone know if HDMI is 1.3 and will pass DD-TruHD and DTS-HD audio?

J6P: Whaddja mean...connect it up to a receiver and speakers?

I don't think s(he) cares about those things.

[mikek747]

If accurate, I think this does a lot more than just push up the acceptance numbers for HD-DVD. We are probably 18 months to two years away from HD-DVD becoming the defacto standard for all DVD players. With pricepoints continuing to drop at this rate, it will push out all the standard DVD players, even the inexpensive Chinese brands. The "cheap" DVD players will in fact be HD-DVD players. A consumer walking in to Wal-Mart looking for a $59.00 DVD player will eventually walk out with an HD-DVD player whether they were looking for one, or not.

If standard definition players fall by the wayside, standard definition DVD's will also. The standard DVD will be an HD-DVD, or for the very near future, an SD\HD combo disc. This would force even the BD exclusive studios to produce HD-DVD's.

This is a very interesting development. I'm looking for a $99.00 HD-DVD player on Black Friday, with the Toshiba's possibly hitting $199.00 by then.

Mike

[kevivoe]

Originally Posted by lilstinky

I don't see a price listed? How cheap is cheap? It needs to be around $150.

I received word from Venturer this morning that MSRP is $199.99.

[Ayreon]

Originally Posted by byronmhome

Not really needed since HD DVDs have yet to be region encoded - but i guess good for SD disks i suppose

Hell, if it can be made region free for SD DVD, and it's able to play back PAL discs I might even use this for my primary HD DVD player and move the A2 to the bedroom!

[BuGsArEtAsTy]

Originally Posted by kevivoe

I received word from Venturer this morning that MSRP is $199.99.

Canada or US?

[rhcorolla]

Originally Posted by kevivoe

I received word from Venturer this morning that MSRP is $199.99.

Quite odd that they wouldn't have listed this enticing # in their press release, as it is a major pyschological barrier/threshold that has widely been reported. They will get far more press coverage w/ this amount referenced.

Maybe it's because they might change the # even lower depending on the competition this fall/ early winter.

If this player release is not delayed, & it reaches the big retailers for the holidays... the format war scales will officially be WAY tilted in the other direction...

[BuGsArEtAsTy]

Originally Posted by Goatse

Refuse to buy anything chinese if I have to, I suggest the same. I'd glady pay extra for a quality product and don't give a cent to that courrpt country.

Do you own a Toshiba player? Cuz the current models are made in China.