HD DVD truck makes a pit stop at Microsoft

Nice segment. I'm trying to get my hands on an add-on for the xbox 360 right now.

Too bad the no HDMI is such a big issue for so many people. I know my TV can only output 1080i without HDMI, so I'll get next-to-best from the player...

~ddv

Nice segment. I'm trying to get my hands on an add-on for the xbox 360 right now.

Too bad the no HDMI is such a big issue for so many people. I know my TV can only output 1080i without HDMI, so I'll get next-to-best from the player...

~ddv

Yeah, the no HDMI is kind of a bummer. I don't think it's THAT big of a deal, but I would've preferred it.

Yeah, the no HDMI is kind of a bummer. I don't think it's THAT big of a deal, but I would've preferred it.

Coincidentally I was at Microcenter today looking at computers, and there was a more expensive one that had an HD-DVD drive. It was like $400 more because of the drive. The sales lady was really trying to push it on me. Commission and all that good stuff. Anyway, I said "If I ever want HD-DVD I can just buy the $199 add on for my 360." She got this total "damn it" look on her face like she knew she'd been one-upped. It's such an amazing value. HD-DVD is something I'll probably invest in in the not too distant future. Standard DVD, while great, just doesn't hold up all that well when put on a 1080 plasma screen television.

Coincidentally I was at Microcenter today looking at computers, and there was a more expensive one that had an HD-DVD drive. It was like $400 more because of the drive. The sales lady was really trying to push it on me. Commission and all that good stuff. Anyway, I said "If I ever want HD-DVD I can just buy the $199 add on for my 360." She got this total "damn it" look on her face like she knew she'd been one-upped. It's such an amazing value. HD-DVD is something I'll probably invest in in the not too distant future. Standard DVD, while great, just doesn't hold up all that well when put on a 1080 plasma screen television.

The video links seem to have been confused.. Tina.

WMV = 2Mb while WMV(High) = 500Kb

I was like: 'That's an interesting goof up, making the (High) video look like crap that is trying hype a supposedly HD video disk...'

--

Also Tina try using a higher audio bitrate on the 2Mb file.. 128Kb is too poor. You get that characteristic WMA underwater effect.. and VBR could also keep some of the quality of the original file without the file being too large.

--

The drive though will only be impressive at this point for VIsta once game developers start putting games on HDDVD, like EA (Crysis, Sims 3, Simcity 5), EPIC (Unreal Tournament 2007, Gears of War [A proper definitive bug-free edition for VIsta] or Gears 2 for 360 and VIsta, and of course Halo 3*) etc.

*should be on HDDVD without question even if it has to be bloated with high resolution textures and extra multiplayer maps to justify being the first 360 HDDVD disk you know people will upgrade to buy it.

Cause without games for 360 having need for HDDVD it's kinda pointless to sell the drive for use as just-another-dvd player... that's what PS3 is for.

The video links seem to have been confused.. Tina.

WMV = 2Mb while WMV(High) = 500Kb

I was like: 'That's an interesting goof up, making the (High) video look like crap that is trying hype a supposedly HD video disk...'

--

Also Tina try using a higher audio bitrate on the 2Mb file.. 128Kb is too poor. You get that characteristic WMA underwater effect.. and VBR could also keep some of the quality of the original file without the file being too large.

--

The drive though will only be impressive at this point for VIsta once game developers start putting games on HDDVD, like EA (Crysis, Sims 3, Simcity 5), EPIC (Unreal Tournament 2007, Gears of War [A proper definitive bug-free edition for VIsta] or Gears 2 for 360 and VIsta, and of course Halo 3*) etc.

*should be on HDDVD without question even if it has to be bloated with high resolution textures and extra multiplayer maps to justify being the first 360 HDDVD disk you know people will upgrade to buy it.

Cause without games for 360 having need for HDDVD it's kinda pointless to sell the drive for use as just-another-dvd player... that's what PS3 is for.

The high res video that looks like crap should be renamed "Blu-Ray Version". Wah wah....

The high res video that looks like crap should be renamed "Blu-Ray Version". Wah wah....

Panasonic made a high definition pit stop outside the McGuire AFB BX this weekend for the holiday sale and I took the opportunity to check it out.  I'm at something of a loss to see just what the excitement is all about.  High definition really doesn't come off on anything bigger than 25" so far.  I'm sure that's a big deal for home theater buffs (sometimes myself), but it doesn't impress me the way DVD did back when it first came out.

I believe HD-DVD is the way to go for home theaters at the moment.  While it's suited for affordable digital media, I'm rooting for Blu-Ray as a gamer.  One thing that HD-DVD buffs continue to neglect is disc capacity.  Blue Ray stands to offer 40-60% more content on a disc...at the moment.  Capacity is a big issue when it comes to gaming.  We could be getting more for our money in the long run.  However, HD-DVD seems to be a more reasonable format at the moment.

Yeah, I've noticed the weather has been rather rough in Seattle lately.  I hope everything is okay for everybody out there...V360 included.

Panasonic made a high definition pit stop outside the McGuire AFB BX this weekend for the holiday sale and I took the opportunity to check it out.  I'm at something of a loss to see just what the excitement is all about.  High definition really doesn't come off on anything bigger than 25" so far.  I'm sure that's a big deal for home theater buffs (sometimes myself), but it doesn't impress me the way DVD did back when it first came out.

I believe HD-DVD is the way to go for home theaters at the moment.  While it's suited for affordable digital media, I'm rooting for Blu-Ray as a gamer.  One thing that HD-DVD buffs continue to neglect is disc capacity.  Blue Ray stands to offer 40-60% more content on a disc...at the moment.  Capacity is a big issue when it comes to gaming.  We could be getting more for our money in the long run.  However, HD-DVD seems to be a more reasonable format at the moment.

Yeah, I've noticed the weather has been rather rough in Seattle lately.  I hope everything is okay for everybody out there...V360 included.

Thanks for your concern.

Yeah, I'm going freak'in CRAZY!!!!

No beer and no TV/Xbox 360 make Vigilante360 go something, something...

Thanks for your concern.

Yeah, I'm going freak'in CRAZY!!!!

No beer and no TV/Xbox 360 make Vigilante360 go something, something...

VERY crazy

VERY crazy

Your idea of on10 personalities vs. fans would rule. I'm calling you out, Festive Turkey!

Your idea of on10 personalities vs. fans would rule. I'm calling you out, Festive Turkey!

Hey Tina-
Ok, I will admitt that the HD-DVD truck was really cool, but I was suprised that they didn't have any remotes out to interact with the players, especially the 360 add-on.  It was basically an HD demo real playing over and over.  I was really hoping to get my hands on a remote to really see how the whole experience would tourn out. But no.  I did get a very large t-shirt for showing up.
Take care,
Rice

Hey Tina-
Ok, I will admitt that the HD-DVD truck was really cool, but I was suprised that they didn't have any remotes out to interact with the players, especially the 360 add-on.  It was basically an HD demo real playing over and over.  I was really hoping to get my hands on a remote to really see how the whole experience would tourn out. But no.  I did get a very large t-shirt for showing up.
Take care,
Rice

Sounds rough.  I hope everything clears up soon for all of you and nobody gets hurt.

If you make it home for Christmas, you can be sure the weather is much nicer there.  Also, CES is imminent and the weather is always nice in Vegas.

Take care, Tina

Sounds rough.  I hope everything clears up soon for all of you and nobody gets hurt.

If you make it home for Christmas, you can be sure the weather is much nicer there.  Also, CES is imminent and the weather is always nice in Vegas.

Take care, Tina

Yeah, I've caught some of the weather reports. I hope everyone is doing all right, and the weather isn't causing too many problems. It seems like the weather has been goofy everywhere lately. It's either too warm, or too cold, not normal. Maybe Al Gore was right!

Yeah, I've caught some of the weather reports. I hope everyone is doing all right, and the weather isn't causing too many problems. It seems like the weather has been goofy everywhere lately. It's either too warm, or too cold, not normal. Maybe Al Gore was right!

September will be a busy month in the maternity wards.

September will be a busy month in the maternity wards.

Hey Tina sorry, must have beeen in a mood, didn't mean to sound so negative or point out so many things, keep up the good work!

Hey Tina sorry, must have beeen in a mood, didn't mean to sound so negative or point out so many things, keep up the good work!

Maybe?  There is no maybe...he is right!  Unfortunately, people could care less so long as it doesn't directly effect them.  See what happens.

Maybe?  There is no maybe...he is right!  Unfortunately, people could care less so long as it doesn't directly effect them.  See what happens.

I have been running the HD DVD add-on for a few weeks now and have had no issue with the video quality through a component connection. In fact I am more than impressed with the picture quality on my 51" Sony rear projection CRT TV. So far I have been very impressed with picture and sound quality on all of the HD DVD's I have watched and even the standard DVD's look a bit better at 480P through the HD DVD drive. I have the ability to go with HDMI if the 360 should ever support it, but for now the component works just fine at 1080i.

I have been running the HD DVD add-on for a few weeks now and have had no issue with the video quality through a component connection. In fact I am more than impressed with the picture quality on my 51" Sony rear projection CRT TV. So far I have been very impressed with picture and sound quality on all of the HD DVD's I have watched and even the standard DVD's look a bit better at 480P through the HD DVD drive. I have the ability to go with HDMI if the 360 should ever support it, but for now the component works just fine at 1080i.

yes i am an HD freak..okay i admit it.  this segment makes me want one of those trucks! lol

yes i am an HD freak..okay i admit it.  this segment makes me want one of those trucks! lol