HD DVD for computer

I have not seen the HD-DVD drive available via retail as a stand alone component. The drive won't help you anyhow. Once HDMI-HDCP based video cards come onto the market, then both WinDVD and PowerDVD will have software. I believe Toshiba will be making a laptop with integrated HDMI-HDCP and that should be available pretty quick. I think it'll be using WinDVD.


Vern

Abit has a HTPC motherboard that fully supports HDCP/HDMI set to launch in June. It would be a nice companion to a HD-DVD PC drive.

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2255

I have a question.


It would seem to me that one would not only need an HDMI-compliant video card but also a new monitor that is HDMI-compliant. Clearly, if you had a card that would output standard (unencrypted) VGA/etc. signals, this would reopen the "analog hole".


Is this correct?

Quote:
Correct, so when everyone wants to upgrade their computers to HD-DVD/Bluray they'll need to upgrade their monitor as well. I was hoping this generation of Dell LCD monitors would support it as I'm looking to upgrade my old CRT but it looks like HDCP support won't be added until the next generation (hopefully).

Not necessarily HDMI, DVI (with HDCP) can also be used to connect DVI (HDCP-enabled) display and DVI (HDCP-enabled) port of the PC. I don't think early average mainstream video cards will support HDMI, maybe the higher end ones. The cheaper alternative maybe video cards with DVI (HDCP-enabled) connectors.