Toshiba HD-A1
Toshiba HD-A1
The first hardware volley in the next-generation DVD format war, a.k.a. HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray, will be fired by HD-DVD developer Toshiba. The HD-A1 ($499) may not be the first HD-DVD player on the market--the more expensive Toshiba HD-XA1 should beat it by a few weeks--but its lower price point and a nearly identical feature set (it's missing only some cosmetic features and a custom installer-friendly RS-232C port) should make the HD-A1 a popular option for early adopters on more modest budgets.
Upside: Both Blu-ray and HD-DVD are aiming to deliver the next generation of DVD experience: disc-based movies in full high-definition video. While hardly affordable compared to standard DVD players, the Toshiba HD-XA1 is significantly cheaper than any of the Blu-ray players announced at CES 2006, though the PlayStation 3 is still a wild card. The combination of the HD-A1's lower price and its earlier availability (the first Blu-ray players should ship in May) could make HD-DVD a compelling option for movie lovers seeking immediate high-def gratification. The unit supports a variety of video codecs, including MPEG-2 as well as MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1. It plays back all your existing DVDs, with the ability to upscale them to high-def resolution via the HDMI output. It also has a pair of front-panel USB ports "for convenient connection of gaming controllers;" think interactive minigames for trivia or kid's titles more than full-fledged Halo-style titles. All HD-DVD players promise Advanced Navigation, a system that superimposes functions normally relegated to external menus (chapter listings and setup options) directly on the screen as the movie plays. Furthermore, features such as commentary can take advantage of the option, allowing you to see the director onscreen with their film. Of course, it's all up to the studios to implement these new features onto the HD-DVD discs. In addition to the currently promised features, the upgradable firmware offers the possibility of additional features that would be downloaded and installed via the player's built-in Ethernet port or by using an update disc.
Downside: Compared to the thousands of films available on standard DVD, the initial HD-DVD catalog will be limited to just a few dozen. More problematic, though, is that the format has fewer major studio backers than does Blu-ray. That means many favorite films won't be available any time soon. More ominously, Columbia and MGM movies are controlled by Blu-ray kingpin Sony, which will make sure to keep those libraries--including such fan favorites as the James Bond series--as Blu-ray exclusives. Another issue is hobbled compatibility with older HDTVs. All HD-DVD and Blu-ray players will output high-definition resolutions only via copy-protected HDMI outputs, so people whose HDTVs don't have HDMI (or DVI/HDCP inputs) will have to settle for the downconverted analog image that's little better than standard DVD. And while Blu-ray players are said to be able to output video at 1080p--the most cutting-edge HD standard--the first Toshiba HD-DVD players are limited to 1080i.
Outlook: All things being equal, $500 is a great price point for brand-new technology; by comparison, standard DVD players cost more than $1,000 when they debuted in 1997. And while the Toshiba HD-A1 may very well be a solid player, the various caveats of the nascent HD-DVD format will give buyers pause--no one wants to be caught with an HD-DVD player if Blu-ray ends up winning the format war down the road. We're holding off, at least until we get more details on the release date and cost of the PlayStation 3. But for those who are ready to commit to HD-DVD, the HD-A1 will be the most affordable way to do it. We'll have a complete review as soon as the unit is available later this spring.
Upside: Both Blu-ray and HD-DVD are aiming to deliver the next generation of DVD experience: disc-based movies in full high-definition video. While hardly affordable compared to standard DVD players, the Toshiba HD-XA1 is significantly cheaper than any of the Blu-ray players announced at CES 2006, though the PlayStation 3 is still a wild card. The combination of the HD-A1's lower price and its earlier availability (the first Blu-ray players should ship in May) could make HD-DVD a compelling option for movie lovers seeking immediate high-def gratification. The unit supports a variety of video codecs, including MPEG-2 as well as MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1. It plays back all your existing DVDs, with the ability to upscale them to high-def resolution via the HDMI output. It also has a pair of front-panel USB ports "for convenient connection of gaming controllers;" think interactive minigames for trivia or kid's titles more than full-fledged Halo-style titles. All HD-DVD players promise Advanced Navigation, a system that superimposes functions normally relegated to external menus (chapter listings and setup options) directly on the screen as the movie plays. Furthermore, features such as commentary can take advantage of the option, allowing you to see the director onscreen with their film. Of course, it's all up to the studios to implement these new features onto the HD-DVD discs. In addition to the currently promised features, the upgradable firmware offers the possibility of additional features that would be downloaded and installed via the player's built-in Ethernet port or by using an update disc.
Downside: Compared to the thousands of films available on standard DVD, the initial HD-DVD catalog will be limited to just a few dozen. More problematic, though, is that the format has fewer major studio backers than does Blu-ray. That means many favorite films won't be available any time soon. More ominously, Columbia and MGM movies are controlled by Blu-ray kingpin Sony, which will make sure to keep those libraries--including such fan favorites as the James Bond series--as Blu-ray exclusives. Another issue is hobbled compatibility with older HDTVs. All HD-DVD and Blu-ray players will output high-definition resolutions only via copy-protected HDMI outputs, so people whose HDTVs don't have HDMI (or DVI/HDCP inputs) will have to settle for the downconverted analog image that's little better than standard DVD. And while Blu-ray players are said to be able to output video at 1080p--the most cutting-edge HD standard--the first Toshiba HD-DVD players are limited to 1080i.
Outlook: All things being equal, $500 is a great price point for brand-new technology; by comparison, standard DVD players cost more than $1,000 when they debuted in 1997. And while the Toshiba HD-A1 may very well be a solid player, the various caveats of the nascent HD-DVD format will give buyers pause--no one wants to be caught with an HD-DVD player if Blu-ray ends up winning the format war down the road. We're holding off, at least until we get more details on the release date and cost of the PlayStation 3. But for those who are ready to commit to HD-DVD, the HD-A1 will be the most affordable way to do it. We'll have a complete review as soon as the unit is available later this spring.