Blu Tide Continues to Turn: Porn Studios Ready to Abandon HD-DVD?

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I'm a Sony video fan and work at their DADC facility in Indiana. I purchased a PS3 at the end of September and it's performed flawlessly with both DVD and Blu-ray discs. In Novenber Walmart had a one day sale on the HD-DVD HD-A2 for $98. I purchased one thinking it can always be used for upscaling DVD if they lose the war. I also wanted to have HD versions of Transformers and the Bourne movies.

The HD-DVD hasn't performed very well at all. Twice during play it locked up and required unplugging before it would continue. I also had problems getting several SD DVDs to play. Thinking it was a defective unit, I returned it and bought the HD-A3. I should have taken the hint when first there was a warning to upgrade the firmware right in the top of the box. Another warning appeared following the initial setup in the manual. There were also warnings in each of the two movies I received with the player. Sure enough, on power-up I received vertical black and teil stripes, ticking in the audio and video dropping in and out. I performed the upgrade, but it resulted in no change.

I returned the unit and found a HD-D3 on sale and took it home only to discover the same bahavior. Checking back through my cabling I decided to run my HDMI directly to my Sony KDL52XBR5 display and video appeared. I had it running through my Sony flagship STR-DA5300ES w/HDMI 1.3, but it appears they don't communicate well with each other. Has anyone else had these experiences with their HD-DVD players? I have audio connected via optical, but I'd waited for a receiver with HDMI 1.3 and want the option of the new audio formats only available via HDMI. Any suggestions.

My first A1 was a disaster. It hiccuped, froze, and could barely get through a movie. 4 firmware upgrade later, it became a decent player. My XA-1 was a total disaster. Returned it to get the XA-2. It function pretty well, but when they added the 24fps firmware upgrade, it continually lost dialog sync. When warner made their announcement, there was a huge dump of players on EBAY. I picked up a A-35 for $250. It has been a hit and miss on HD DVD movies, but a total kick with DVD. Toshiba just didn't not do well with its HD DVD line of players, and there were no other manufacturers willing to get in the HD DVD corner with other OEM designs. So we are all stuck with underperforming players. The PS3 has been the single best thing I have added to my hometheater in years. Excellent SACD playback, music streaming via Pandora, rock stable playback of both DVD and Bluray discs, excellent PQ and SQ, and full profile. This is a videophiles dream.

[Groundbeef]

. The PS3 has been the single best thing I have added to my hometheater in years. Excellent SACD playback, music streaming via Pandora, rock stable playback of both DVD and Bluray discs, excellent PQ and SQ, and full profile. This is a videophiles dream.

You got in on the top of the heap. Sony is now killing the 80GB PS3. 60GB has been killed. The 40 GB is all that is left.

It doesn't offer SCAD playback or PS2 B/C. It does still offer BR playback, but I have been reading that there are issues with 1.3 HDMI that it may not be able to overcome. I think your's will be ok, but it seems the 40 GB "economy" is just that. They cut out all the good stuff to make it cheaper.

[GMichael]

You got in on the top of the heap. Sony is now killing the 80GB PS3. 60GB has been killed. The 40 GB is all that is left.

It doesn't offer SCAD playback or PS2 B/C. It does still offer BR playback, but I have been reading that there are issues with 1.3 HDMI that it may not be able to overcome. I think your's will be ok, but it seems the 40 GB "economy" is just that. They cut out all the good stuff to make it cheaper.

A 120/160GB is around the corner.

[pixelthis]

A 120/160GB is around the corner.

why cant hackers put one in like they did with TIVO to increase recording time?
Or is that a dumb question?
I know it wouldnt adress the sacd, etc, but it would increase capability.

[GMichael]

why cant hackers put one in like they did with TIVO to increase recording time?
Or is that a dumb question?
I know it wouldnt adress the sacd, etc, but it would increase capability.

You sure can. I've seen a few threads about how to do it on other boards. Doesn't seem very hard to do. We just specify the drive size to keep each model straight in our heads. We know the 40GB has no BC or SACD. The 60 is 98% BC. The 80 is 90%. Any of these can have their drives changed but will still be the 40, 60 or 80 when trying to describe them. The 120 or 160 that may or may not be coming out may have other changes as well.

Not a dumb question at all. A very good one.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

You sure can. I've seen a few threads about how to do it on other boards. Doesn't seem very hard to do. We just specify the drive size to keep each model straight in our heads. We know the 40GB has no BC or SACD. The 60 is 98% BC. The 80 is 90%. Any of these can have their drives changed but will still be the 40, 60 or 80 when trying to describe them. The 120 or 160 that may or may not be coming out may have other changes as well.

Not a dumb question at all. A very good one.

It really is easy to do. It took me about 5 minutes to swap my 60 to a 250gb one. This is from somebody who little liar says is afraid of computers.

[pixelthis]

It really is easy to do. It took me about 5 minutes to swap my 60 to a 250gb one. This is from somebody who little liar says is afraid of computers.

What do you want, a medal?
I really dont remember when I SAID THIS if you're talkin about me, and I probably
dont beleive it.
Hell, you probably ARE a computer, an old 486 running an expert program in DOS 6.1
stashed in a closet under a pile of old clothes.
Would certainly explain your personality