I'm in. Say hello to my A30.

[AnalogBalrog]

So, I went into Bestbuy yesterday an walked out with a Toshiba A30. It was open boxed, someone had JUST returned it, un-opened. I got it for $269 out the door, no tax. I didn't need the 1080p (yet), but for $20 more than the A-2, how could I ignore it.

Not to mention, there were free copies of 300 and Bourne Identity inside which sealed the deal and actually made it cheaper than the A-2.

Are you kidding me!?

Deal of the lifetime.

So...anyway....I ultimately chose HD DVD because of Blu-Ray and Sony's ridiculously high prices. Yeah, I wanted Die Hard, Pixar flicks, Black Hawk Down, T2 and Kingdom of Heaven for Blu-Ray, but I didn't feel like shelling out $500 for the hardware. I think they're blowing it on their pricing scheme.

Also, call me crazy, but I like the HD-DVD logo, the motto, the red, and the low prices. Yeah, maybe that doesn't matter to some...but HD-DVD to me, is first class all the way. Blu ray is "too little, too late...for waaaay too much money." And I can finally stop going back and forth over the PS3 and just enjoy my Wii and A-30.

I watched "Seabiscuit" last night and it looked stunning on my Sony XBR970. I don't care what anyone says about having a tube TV, because this thing puts out a picture that destroys me. I'm only at 1080i and it looks magnificent IMHO.

Now, to figure out what DVD's to get. Blade Runner started this whole thing for me, but it's a ways off.

Welp, I'm rambling...thanks for reading and glad to be on board.

[Blurry]

You won't regret it, even if you add Blu-ray later on, HD DVD has much more reasonable price of entry with just as good quality and better interactive capabilities.

[MarkG]

how did you get it for no tax????

[AnalogBalrog]

I live in NH. No sales tax.

Awesome, huh!?

[Rking4441]

Grats and welcome!

[ZoSo]

Sounds like a great deal. You can't beat that, no brainer. Welcome aboard!

[rmoody]

Lucky dog! gratz and welcome!

You may know this, but you can get T2 imported and the VQ is better than the BD release (MPEG on the BD is why).

If you want some instant eye candy, get Planet Earth or if that's too steep, get Galapagos and then go back the next day for Planet Earth because you will want to see more of that awesome stuff! Also The Last Samurai was very good to watch. If you have a great sound system, Superman Returns was great cranked up.

Wish I could find a deal like that on an A30 at my BB, we only have the A2's in stock (this is one of the tiny boxes, smallest floor plan that BB has, better than a crappy CC or nothing). Maybe next time I travel to Memphis (the closest large city) I can get lucky and find one.

[AnalogBalrog]

Yeah, I just got Planet Earth in the mail about an hour ago and popped it in.

Looks phenomenal.

And so the addiction begins....

[Arkadin]

oh I'm with you all the way. XBR970 destroys 85% of members pq on here easy, and they have no idea.

[Theprospect29]

Damn dude....what a great deal. I'm jealous. I paid $399.00 for my A30 last week. I do love it though so far.

[The_Omega_Man]

Welcome one and all to the world of HIGH DEF!

[AnalogBalrog]

So, we had the whole family over last night for a little "Planet Earth" on HD DVD.

Wow, wow....wow.... WOW. WOW.

That was the consensus. You're right Arkadin, I simply LOVE my XBR970/A30 combo. It was truly stunning. I have biased-lighting behind the TV, and it really gave an enormous depth to the blacks and shadows on the picture and helped the other colors just POP out of the TV.

I don't know if it is how I've calibrated my TV (with DVE) or what, but I thought some scenes in the Planet Earth series looked a little "soft". Maybe it has to do with the fact this series was shot in the wild, from helicopters, etc., but I thought, while the colors were off the charts and the blacks and shadows were drool-inducing, that some scenes did in fact look a smidge soft...not as clear, crisp as one would expect. I threw in Seabiscuit later in the evening, and it indeed looked sharp and vibrant...so maybe it is just the Planet Earth disc and they way it was filmed. Although, I've read that it was filmed in HD for HD...so if that's true, then what gives? Anybody else have that prob?

Otherwise...another brilliant and mind-numbing evening chalked up to HD DVD. Polar Express coming in the mail today for the kids. That ought to be a visual treat too.

[AnalogBalrog]

Hey rmoody ... where can I pick up the import of T2? I'm very interested in that. Any reviews out there of that HD DVD disc?

[Sporadic]

Originally Posted by AnalogBalrog

Hey rmoody ... where can I pick up the import of T2? I'm very interested in that. Any reviews out there of that HD DVD disc?

http://xploitedcinema.com/catalog/te...e-p-11233.html

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...d.php?t=257961

[AnalogBalrog]

@Sporadic - Whoa! That site has quite a few titles that I had written off as not available for HD DVD.

Brotherhood of the Wolf
Mulholland Drive
Total Recall
Terminator 2
Underworld

and... I simply cannot believe I'm seeing Band of Brothers there. What!?

Wow. I'm very stoked on this link. Thanks!