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ashleyman · Nov 27, 2006, 10:27 AM

Has to be the Xbox 360 for me as I have not used any of the other ones. In fact they are not even out in the UK yet!

Eug · Nov 27, 2006, 11:00 AM

Microsoft insider confirms DTS output for the Xbox 360 HD DVD is on its way.

"Just a quick FYI that we are looking at this problem. I don't have an update on it because I was on vacation for a while. But for now, wanted to let you know that we are finalizing our DTS encoder which once done, should produce the same experience as the Toshiba player which everyone was happy with...."

For those of you unaware, right now all HD DVD audio tracks are re-encoded to Dolby Digital 5.1 for output from the Xbox 360. This DTS option would simply change the output to 1.5 Mbps DTS for all tracks. This would likely solve the flat-sounding-audio issue that some have complained about. (I have a Toshiba HD-A1 HD DVD player with DTS output, and it sounds fuller.)

Dark Helmet · Nov 27, 2006, 01:16 PM

I saw the HD-DVD drive in a store this weekend. They had about 3 on the shelf and the box was much smaller than I thought i would be.

Still don't want it though but the price is good if you have an Xbox already and want HD movies.

mdc · Nov 27, 2006, 03:15 PM

I saw them at Target today. Contemplated getting one.

I did buy the Zelda collector's box with sword and shield though

starman · Nov 27, 2006, 03:20 PM

I got one. It was completely impulsive. It came with King Kong. I did NOT yet hook it up to my 360. I was more curious about getting it working on my PC. Unfortunately, the Toshiba drivers don't work on my x64 version of Windows, so now I have to install all the stuff on my older 32-bit PC and hope it's fast enough to play HD movies.

If it works, I have a serious problem. The HTPC I use doesn't play HD content fast enough. It's a 2GHz PC which plays back HD videos with bad stuttering. My newer x64 3.6GHz PC plays them fine, which means that _IF_ this works, I'll have to buy a new HTPC, but the upside is maybe I can get rid of the Toshiba HD-DVD player I got.

icruise · Nov 27, 2006, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by mdc

I did buy the Zelda collector's box with sword and shield though

Heheh. So did I. I like Master Replicas stuff and when I heard they were doing a Zelda sword/shield set I ran out and got it. Haven't opened it yet, as it's going to be a Christmas present from my wife to me...

smacintush · Nov 27, 2006, 04:00 PM

Well, I got a 360. Paid $340 for it and got Gears of War and Call of Duty 3 for $35 each. I think I did alright considering that since my wife manages the electronics dept. at the store I got it from I can exchange it for the new .65 nm units with the (rumored) integrated HD-DVD next year.

Dark Helmet · Nov 27, 2006, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by smacintush

I can exchange it for the new .65 nm units with the (rumored) integrated HD-DVD next year.

What rumors? I am more interested in the power bar being smaller and the unit more quite.

smacintush · Nov 27, 2006, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

What rumors? I am more interested in the power bar being smaller and the unit more quite.

The rumor that when the .65 nm process 360's ship next year they will also have integrated HD-DVD for the same price, instead of doing a price reduction on the units.

At least I thought it was a rumor, or is it confirmed?

Eug Wanker · Nov 27, 2006, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by smacintush

The rumor that when the .65 nm process 360's ship next year they will also have integrated HD-DVD for the same price, instead of doing a price reduction on the units.

At least I thought it was a rumor, or is it confirmed?

It's just people with a wishlist, but there definitely is no evidence that HD DVD will be included. In fact, MS has specifically stated the exact opposite on more than one occasion.

smacintush · 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

It's just people with a wishlist, but there definitely is no evidence that HD DVD will be included. In fact, MS has specifically stated the exact opposite on more than one occasion.

Well, yeah I know how rumors are, but it would make sense to compete with the PS3's Blue-ray capability.

Edit:

I found this Albert Penello quote from an article dated this month:

We were curious if Microsoft was considering releasing a redesigned Xbox 360 that included an integrated HD DVD drive. Penello spoke carefully: "anything's possible...maybe if HD-DVD takes off," he offered. But does that mean that Microsoft is strongly considering such a move? "Is [integrating the HD DVD drive] technically feasible? Yeah, sure," Penello said.

I'm not trying to argue that I believe that it's going to happen, I just think it's plausible. The idea that it would be at the same price seems pretty delusional though. I could see it for an additional $100 or something.

screamingFit · Nov 28, 2006, 06:39 AM

As soon as they can get the HD drive at the same price point as the built-in DVD drive, I could see them doing it.

Dark Helmet · Nov 28, 2006, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by screamingFit

As soon as they can get the HD drive at the same price point as the built-in DVD drive, I could see them doing it.

That could easily take 2 years so by then the HD disk war could be neck deep or over.

screamingFit · Nov 28, 2006, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

That could easily take 2 years so by then the HD disk war could be neck deep or over.

Well, other than their HD player, what type of investment does Microsoft have in HDDVD technology being the winner over Blu-Ray? I couldn't see them taking a huge loss on each machine just to have a built in HDDVD drive other than to give Sony a bother.

I would rather they wait until the war is sorted out and then use whichever format wins. I'd be pissed as anything to buy the HD player, invest in movies and then reinvest everything to Blu-Ray when (if) it wins.

Considering the next MS console will be coming out at about the time it is predicted the format war to be settled, I think they'll wait till then to package in a new format drive.

Dark Helmet · Nov 28, 2006, 12:42 PM

I have the feeling the XBOX 3 and playstation 4 probably won't even use disks at all and most likely be all downloads.

Super Mario · Nov 28, 2006, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

I have the feeling the XBOX 3 and playstation 4 probably won't even use disks at all and most likely be all downloads.

Yeah future is all download. Then Bluray or HDDVD won't matter. What a waste of time.

Dark Helmet · Nov 28, 2006, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Super Mario

Yeah future is all download. Then Bluray or HDDVD won't matter. What a waste of time.

Yep. But 5 years is a long time. Even then we are going to need some leaps in storage and much faster internet for everyone.

mdc · Nov 28, 2006, 01:15 PM

Hopefully it'll be faster downloads than microsoft's movie downloads