totalrecal
Toshiba uses Blue Laser and HD VMD uses Red Laser in their HD Players. Does this make a difference for he consumer? If HD VMD sells for 250$ and offers 1080p resolution is it not good enough? Does Toshiba offer anything more than HD VMD?
Answer
Toshiba currently has 3 players ranging a street price of about $200 to $750 US. The lowest priced (HD-A2) is adequate for most people and is sold at a 'bargain" price to promote sales to the average consumer. The middle model (HD-A20, $100 more than the HD-A2) has 1080p output rather than 1080i, but is otherwise the same. The highest priced model (HD-X2) offers a better (and more expensive) scaling chip and 1080p output.
Frankly, the HD-X2 is way overpriced (and Toshiba has apparently recognized this because the 3rd generation model that will replace it (HD-A35) has a MSRP of $499 US.
The replacement for the HD-A2 (HD-A3) at $299 and for the HD-A20 (the HD-A30) at $399 show a more logical and defensible price scale.
In addition the upper level 3rd generation models will handle HDMI 1.3 and output 1080p/24 fps ... desirable features, but unfortunately ones few consumers have equipment to exploit.
Bottom line is for the average consumer there is no reason to buy the higher priced models, and frankly the current price differential is only to take advantage of the early adopter that cares more about having the latest and "best" more than the cost.
VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disk) is an attempt first introduced in China and India now being tried in Europe to provide an alternative to HD DVD (and Blu-Ray). It has some good points but has no support from major Western movie studios (so far limited to Bollywood and a few European houses). So, HD DVD offers HD versions of some major films while Blu-Ray offers others ... so if these are your interest VMD is not very useful. If you are interested in HD versions of films supported on VMD it may be a viable option.
Frankly, I find normal DVDs on a good upscaling Player give a pretty darn good picture (and I have an HD player too) and the DVDs are available much cheaper and for a much wider choice of films.
The future of blue laser disks (and VMD) is very much up in the air. Unless the format war ends it is likely some other format / mechanism (e.g. online movies) will be the successor to DVD ... not either HD DVD or Blu-Ray (or VMD).
The three links provide info on the above. Hope this helps.
Toshiba currently has 3 players ranging a street price of about $200 to $750 US. The lowest priced (HD-A2) is adequate for most people and is sold at a 'bargain" price to promote sales to the average consumer. The middle model (HD-A20, $100 more than the HD-A2) has 1080p output rather than 1080i, but is otherwise the same. The highest priced model (HD-X2) offers a better (and more expensive) scaling chip and 1080p output.
Frankly, the HD-X2 is way overpriced (and Toshiba has apparently recognized this because the 3rd generation model that will replace it (HD-A35) has a MSRP of $499 US.
The replacement for the HD-A2 (HD-A3) at $299 and for the HD-A20 (the HD-A30) at $399 show a more logical and defensible price scale.
In addition the upper level 3rd generation models will handle HDMI 1.3 and output 1080p/24 fps ... desirable features, but unfortunately ones few consumers have equipment to exploit.
Bottom line is for the average consumer there is no reason to buy the higher priced models, and frankly the current price differential is only to take advantage of the early adopter that cares more about having the latest and "best" more than the cost.
VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disk) is an attempt first introduced in China and India now being tried in Europe to provide an alternative to HD DVD (and Blu-Ray). It has some good points but has no support from major Western movie studios (so far limited to Bollywood and a few European houses). So, HD DVD offers HD versions of some major films while Blu-Ray offers others ... so if these are your interest VMD is not very useful. If you are interested in HD versions of films supported on VMD it may be a viable option.
Frankly, I find normal DVDs on a good upscaling Player give a pretty darn good picture (and I have an HD player too) and the DVDs are available much cheaper and for a much wider choice of films.
The future of blue laser disks (and VMD) is very much up in the air. Unless the format war ends it is likely some other format / mechanism (e.g. online movies) will be the successor to DVD ... not either HD DVD or Blu-Ray (or VMD).
The three links provide info on the above. Hope this helps.
Best DVD Player?
srikanth s
I have a lot of scratched DVDs with Divx and VOB content... Which is the best player available in India that I can buy, price does not matter. Readability is prime.
Answer
Ps3
Ps3
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