Dual-Format LG Player With 10 Free Discs @ Best Buy

[jed]

Posting a story about this in the am...

The format-neutral crowd finally got its own free disc deal this week, thanks to a new online promotion for LG's dual-format high-def disc player.

While both the HD DVD and Blu-ray camps have each offered their own "Five Discs Free" offers for consumers who buy single-format players in their format, those who've opted to embrace both formats with LG's Super Blu High-Definition Multiplayer haven't enjoyed the benefit of such incentives... until now.

Earlier this week, Best Buy unveiled its own "Ten Discs Free" offer with purchase of LG's dual format player. And even better than the existing format-specific free disc deals, Best Buy is allowing its customers to chose the free discs from its entire online selection of high-def discs on both formats (excluding pre-orders and box sets).

More info:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....&type=category

[TripleM13]

But doesnt this LG dual-format player not allow HD-DVD's to use the picture in picture features?

If its true, than it is worth waiting for the Samsung dual-format since it would have all the perks.

[ARPRINCE]

Bust Buy Offers Dual-Format LG Player With Ten Free HD DVD, Blu-ray Discs

Is that a typo on the title or is it a metaphor?

[cloudy]

Originally Posted by TripleM13

But doesnt this LG dual-format player not allow HD-DVD's to use the picture in picture features?

If its true, than it is worth waiting for the Samsung dual-format since it would have all the perks.

Correct.

Now all we have to do is wait for the Samsung player to be out for 6 months, and then take advantage of the same type of sale when Samsung decides to promote it with free movies.

I would NOT touch the LG. Not only does it not support the HDI in HD-DVD. It also does not (and most likely will not) support BDj. I don't believe that it supports HDMI 1.3. And I've heard that it does not support HD-DVD very well on Sound. I thought I read a spec sheet that has it unable to produce 5.1 when TrueHD is selected for HD-DVD. I believe it has NO ethernet port (so no web features from your new "300" HD-DVD).

I know they have had firmware upgrades. So if anyone has it, please correct me. I would love to know if these issues have been taken care of.

[CaptainCanuck]

They must be pretty desperate to get that expensive boat anchor off the market.

[DanzBorin]

Not desperate enough...

$250 worth of free movies still makes that a $950 POS... lol

[irrob]

Now if they sold it for $120.00 with 10 free discs, I MIGHT consider it...

[califlaman1976]

while this machine doesnt sound that great, i am definately intrested in upgradeing my current hd dvd player to a dual format player, just not the one best buy is offering right now.
maybe that samsung one comming out, but def not this machine

[WesleyTech.com]

Bestbuy is probably trying to move this model in anticipation of the more complete and lesser priced Samsung Duo. Too bad it still won't entice many buyers at that price...

[FUHNAHTIK]

LG representative claims they sell enough of them to not need to lower the price - it's a pretty quick, sweet player of either format. No HD-DVD benefits (Anything! No PiP, No HDI, No HD-DVD Menus, No Preview screens, just straight to movie - which, by the way is awesome ...) but a full Blu Ray player. The Samsung is retail $1049, maybe about $900 street, but it is a Samsung ... This is a sweet deal.

[The Doctor]

Originally Posted by cloudy

Correct.

Now all we have to do is wait for the Samsung player to be out for 6 months, and then take advantage of the same type of sale when Samsung decides to promote it with free movies.

I would NOT touch the LG. Not only does it not support the HDI in HD-DVD. It also does not (and most likely will not) support BDj. I don't believe that it supports HDMI 1.3. And I've heard that it does not support HD-DVD very well on Sound. I thought I read a spec sheet that has it unable to produce 5.1 when TrueHD is selected for HD-DVD. I believe it has NO ethernet port (so no web features from your new "300" HD-DVD).

I know they have had firmware upgrades. So if anyone has it, please correct me. I would love to know if these issues have been taken care of.

Well, I can tell you at the very least that the LG (which I own) does support BD-J. LG recently released an update to take care of the only real issue I've had with it, the Liar's Dice game on POTC2. So the LG is a fully-featured Blu-Ray player and, IMO, an excellent BluRay player.

The LG does have a "service" port, which looks like (and probably is) and ethernet port. LG has yet to make any use of this port, though.

I'll give you the HD-DVD sound issues, as the LG only outputs 2ch on TrueHD. And nowhere in the manual does it mention anything about HDMI 1.3 (either one way or the other on support).

The best way to look at this player is that it is a BluRay player that happens to also play HD-DVDs. I'll be keeping my HD-A1 to play my HD-DVDs (and access the bonus HDi features) but it is nice to know that I could always thrown 'em in my LG and watch 'em as well.

[taygan315]

Originally Posted by DanzBorin

Not desperate enough...

$250 worth of free movies still makes that a $950 POS... lol

And with that...I will say no thanks. I like what I have for now. Maybe later when it comes down to a price with less of an offensive aftertaste.

[ccphilly1984]

for that price, i can buy a sony blueray player and two toshiba hd dvd players and I'd have 15 free movies. 500+300+300=1100... oh yeah amazon has 50 bucks off the toshiba and sony hd players... sweet... that means i can finally buy that bbc box set and the mi1-2-3 box set i've been putting off to buy. lg is a great buy... a multi format player the crippled the hdi features for the same cost as a bluray player and two hd dvd players and still money left over to buy more movies... good job lg... improve ur product and lower ur price and i might catch on then.

[bujee1]

I have to give them credit for trying. I'm afraid that with Samsung's combo on the horizon, it's too little, too late. The good news this will help prolong the format war. As the war wages on we can expect more free movies and rapid price drops. I saw an HD-AX1 on the discount table in Magnolia Electronics for $325! That's less than half of what it sold for a year ago! Standard DVD player prices did not drop this fast!

[Kurri]

Originally Posted by FUHNAHTIK

LG representative claims they sell enough of them to not need to lower the price - it's a pretty quick, sweet player of either format. No HD-DVD benefits (Anything! No PiP, No HDI, No HD-DVD Menus, No Preview screens, just straight to movie - which, by the way is awesome ...) but a full Blu Ray player. The Samsung is retail $1049, maybe about $900 street, but it is a Samsung ... This is a sweet deal.

any release date on the samsung dual player??