What is the difference between the new a2's and the Xbox HD-DVD players

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#1 difference is that to use the addon you must already have an Xbox 360, making direct cost comparisons indeed apples and oranges.


If we were to compare just the ability to play an HD-DVD movie disc then the

Minimum cost for Xbox is: 360 core $299 + hd-dvd addon $199 = $498


Of course you get hdmi along with the maximum audio encode on standalone while on the 360 you get entirely other functions like Media Center extension and oh btw, video games so it's still apples and oranges on the whole value equation.

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So functionality and feature wise, the HD-DVD is close to the same? The $500 price tag is still half that of the new a2 (premium edition one). So again, what am I gaining for the $500. I am seriously trying to figure out which one I should go with (save up for if it is the A2), and I don't see why I shouldn't go for the Xbox one unless I am missing something that it can't do that the Toshiba can.

The reason the 360 w/ HD-DVD is so cheap is because of competition with the PS3 and also because money is made on the games and accessories, not the consoles.


The 360 is in direct competition with the PS3, and this competition is what is lowering the prce on this HD-DVD add on. It really is a funny situation. More people are interested in gaming than the Hd-DVD blue ray formats. It's this interest in gaming that is bringing the formats into the light. See, all gamers what to have the best system, they argue online back and forth about which one is faster, or has the most features, or the best games, or the most options or capabilities. So you've got people who were only interested in games now touting the advantages of the hi def formats simply because the PS3 comes with the blue ray player and this has forced MS to want to include one at a good price. This is all great for us, it is bringing direct competition into an area which otherwise would be mostly overlooked by consumers. In other words, the fact that these new consoles have the hi def formats has fueled interest in the new formats, and will lower prices.


Now having said all that, console's as DVD players generally do not perform as well as standalone DVD players. We'll have to wait and see, but I would say that if you have even the slightest interest in gaming, get the 360 w/ the HD-dvd drive, but if watching movies is your main concern, the a standalone HD-DVD player should ideally have a better picture. We'll have to wait and see though.

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The reason you aren't getting a straight answer is because nobody knows. I can't tell you whether the 360 add-on is going to be better than my HD-A1, but when it comes out, I have friends that are getting them, so I'll let you know then.


We can talk about specs... oh, wait, M$ hasn't released any. We don't know what the add-on is going to be capable of, but unless Microsoft gives us a HDMI cable, the HD audio formats are out. This was a big one for me in deciding to get the A1. You can't get the HD audio from the add on if cabling stays as is, because the 360 doesn't have 5.1 analog cables.


We'll have to wait and see how M$ does,

JU1CYFRU1T

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No, it has nothing, it's basically just a USB HD DVD drive that plugs into the Xbox 360. That's why it's only $199, because it's just a "transport". All you've got are the outputs that come on the 360.

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You don't, best you can get it Dolby TrueHD converted to DD by the 360 and sent over S/PDIF.


FWIW, Amir has confirmed all the above.


That's said, being an Xbox 360 owner, I'm getting one. The Toshibas have no appeal to me as I refuse to use a set top movie player. If they won't let me play it on my HTPC, I'm not interested. The 360 HD DVD addon will be a nice demo of HD DVD, and maybe it will even work in my HTPC