Any News On The Next Hd E1/ Xe1 Release Date Yet.

[betty boop]

I think you are being a little rough on Toshiba.

At least the HD DVD side isn't region coded (unlike the BD players).

And you can't tell me you don't already have a DVD player ?

Andrew.

ah no andrew, if that were the case why bother with dvd replay at all ? jsut put out a hd-dvd player and expect people to keep buying dvd players

I think its a stuff up on toshibas part. has to be after all every dvd player theyve made before this one has been region free. now we're expected to spend $1599 on one that isnt. how long we're expected to have to hold onto our DVD players ? is this to keep the dvd player only making companies in business ?

dont get me wrong appreciate the region free on hd-dvd, its one of the big reason I bought into the format. but this back flip on region codign on dvd is hard to fathom and will be a factor holding me back from buyign a new toshiba.

[djOS]

I think you are being a little rough on Toshiba.

At least the HD DVD side isn't region coded (unlike the BD players).

And you can't tell me you don't already have a DVD player ?

Andrew.

I want to replace my HD-A1 and my Denon 2910 with the HD-XE1 so that's why im frustrated by this (aprox 10% of my collection is R1).

[laurie]

I want to replace my HD-A1 and my Denon 2910 with the HD-XE1 so that's why im frustrated by this (aprox 10% of my collection is R1).

Exactly replacing 2 units with one unit with upscaling capabilities which my present DVD player has not got

AndrewWilcockson

Rough on Toshiba you bet their loss and I even sent them a e-mail telling them its no different if upscaling not available on component not everyone has HDMI displays but a fair few has component

cheers laurie

[THX1979]

remember that all the CE companies can make any player region free.

they have the codes that can be punched in via remote.

Getting the codes is the hard part

I saw my Integra made region free via a special remote after enduring all the BS on sending it in to them for a mod chip .

pigs arse

[ausnew]

Due in next Wednesday I was told by my supplier this morning. Stock being flown in on weekend for shipment. I've got 3 on hold.

So, by my reckoning they are due in tomorrow right ?

(Or am I being over optimistic)

[peep]

The xe1 was a player i was considering,i was on the AVS web site and someone mentioned the us version of the xe1 was made in china but the e1 us version was made in japan,tried to find some info on this but could not find anything,does anyone here know if this is the case for us?with thanks peep.

[Tweet]

The xe1 was a player i was considering,i was on the AVS web site and someone mentioned the us version of the xe1 was made in china but the e1 us version was made in japan,tried to find some info on this but could not find anything,does anyone here know if this is the case for us?with thanks peep.

The truth is ...... Does it really matter at all ? Much of the quality brands and products we hold in high esteem are manufactured in China or Korea these days as the quality control is in place on the assembly line.

Mind you I would prefer Japan or the USA to be the place of origin but sometimes one does not always have a choice.

As long as it is superbly finished, is beautifully designed, works impeccably 100% all of the time, never wears out, never needs an upgrade and lasts forever, and finally is reasonably priced with a few extras thrown in, I am more than happy to buy Kung Fu .

C.M

[ausnew]

Well the news is....there is no news

No stock in AUS yet, and still no timing

[Bodalenko]

Just been told that no XE1's until 15th of March at earliest, and even then there's no guarantee. This is very bad for HD-DVD and Toshiba.

Looks like politics between Castel and Toshiba are going to keep us from the XE1. If only someone else made a HD-DVD player. No not an Xbox add-on or what ever they are. I want a made for OZ, stand alone "proper' HD-DVD player, that will display 1080p, so I can see the 33 HD-DVD's I bought on-line last night, on the new Sim2 1080p projector I bought yesterday!!!!

[Chesty]

Just been told that no XE1's until 15th of March at earliest, and even then there's no guarantee. This is very bad for HD-DVD and Toshiba.

Looks like politics between Castel and Toshiba are going to keep us from the XE1. If only someone else made a HD-DVD player. No not an Xbox add-on or what ever they are. I want a made for OZ, stand alone "proper' HD-DVD player, that will display 1080p, so I can see the 33 HD-DVD's I bought on-line last night, on the new Sim2 1080p projector I bought yesterday!!!!

Thats the problem when you only really have 1 manufacturer. Not good business for the format...

You bought 33 titles in one night?? Ouch...

[peep]

The truth is ...... Does it really matter at all ? Much of the quality brands and products we hold in high esteem are manufactured in China or Korea these days as the quality control is in place on the assembly line.

Mind you I would prefer Japan or the USA to be the place of origin but sometimes one does not always have a choice.

As long as it is superbly finished, is beautifully designed, works impeccably 100% all of the time, never wears out, never needs an upgrade and lasts forever, and finally is reasonably priced with a few extras thrown in, I am more than happy to buy Kung Fu .

C.M

Another thing i noticed with the us version,they have 2 hdmi connections,where as on the aust toshi site they show only 1,2 would have been good if you like to connect hdmi straight to display,i have a denon 2807,they are supposed to be pretty good to pass signal through,so i suppose it does not matter too much ?

cheers,peep.

[Bodalenko]

I hope to have some info this arvo that might confirm them here next week, 33 titles well we might see you on the trade forum a bit Bodalenko

Ya never know, but if my collection of SD DVD's is any indication then not likely. DVD pacific almost crashed when I put the order thru. Sending out 22 in one hit and the rest on back order.

Now if Castel will just come thru with the goods all we'll be forgiven.

[ausnew]

A new fly in the ointment...

Units have confirmed to be not available until middle of March earliest, but the question now is will it be Castel distributing the units, or being so close to Toshiba transition, will the units come from Toshiba directly instead.

My guess - units will be released 1st April, and it won't be Castel. Toshiba will want to start off with a bang, and no better a bang than releasing their flagship HD-DVD player as a start.

This will also ease the issues as far as distribution and warranty issues which will be clean with only 1 party involved.

[ausnew]

Like you Ausnew have now had mid month as most likely, I can however confirm Toshiba will distribute only, Castel will still handle repairs and service issues, my source here is generally reliable, also because of delays it is most likely we will get most up to date firmware in our players.

I wonder if that firmware will include support for 24fps.

I know what it won't include - region free on SD !

[laurie]

My guess - units will be released 1st April

hmmm how funny is that April Fools day lets hope we are not the fools to believe that is true

cheers laurie

[momaw]

Quite a poor review over at high def digest

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/hreview_hdxa2030207.html

[Versus]

I don't yet own either a HD DVD or Blu-Ray player, so please take this with a grain of salt.

In my opinion that review's a worry. Particularly with the lack of true native 1080p processing and the video stuttering.

Further, I think HD DVD is going to *massively* suffer from this haphazard and delayed launch in Australia.

If the PS3 is out it will sell tens of thousands of Blu-Ray players well before any mainstream consumer even knows about HD DVD.

A certain critical mass will spur on further sales.

What average purchaser is going to purchase a $1K or $1.5K HD DVD player when they can get an 'all-in-one games console with Blu-ray?

I consider myself a reasonably educated consumer and I'm pretty much contemplating a PS3, only purchasing HD DVD in the unlikely event that a considerable amount of content is otherwise unavailable.

The Xbox 360 add on has been similarly mishandled, and with 1080p only available through HDMI on my TV, unsuitable for my needs.

With JB Hi Fi's exclusivity and advertisements for the PS3 on Today Tonight (if anyone saw tonight's program), I think HD DVD have a very tough time ahead.

[betty boop]

Quite a poor review over at high def digest

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/hreview_hdxa2030207.html

glad I got my xa1 which works like a dream. 3rd gen before I'll be worrying about an upgrade

ok back to watchign "the thing"

[momaw]

Think you need to point out here that this a review of the HD XA20 and not the XE1 Mo, plenty of positive feedback on the XE1 here

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480285

and settings for the XE1 here

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=482499

It's the XA2 which is the same as the XE2 but without the PAL stuff.

[momaw]

Not like you mate I was surprised, that's what you get for hanging with Andrew all day

no, it was the XA2 not the XA20. I re-looked (man now I'm not even using real words) and amended my previous comment.

[Versus]

But people are not buying it specifically for Blu ray and yet again the marketing for both formats suck, why: because we are not even a player in this game, proven by Sony's decision to leave certain elements out, proven by virtually no marketing of HD DVD here.

No doubt the marketing will come but not for a long time in this little backwood place

Think you need to point out here that this a review of the HD XA20 and not the XE1 Mo, plenty of positive feedback on the XE1 here

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480285

and settings for the XE1 here

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=482499

I'm pretty much intending to buy it for Blu-ray, but I certainly agree many won't. But that's an important point. Many people will have Blu-ray in their homes before they even realise that there's any competition in the HD format.

Is there much difference between the HD XA20 and the XE1? Because that review contained some issues that seemed germane to a review I read of the E1 - ie. video stuttering.

[Cody]

glad I got my xa1 which works like a dream. 3rd gen before I'll be worrying about an upgrade

ok back to watchign "the thing"

mines doing ok as well, wouldnt say it works like a dream though as it suffers from most of the "bugs" mentioned in the article.

btw, what did you think of the thing?

It's the XA2 which is the same as the XE2 but without the PAL stuff.

so the XE2 gets the Reon VX as well then?

[momaw]

mines doing ok as well, wouldnt say it works like a dream though as it suffers from most of the "bugs" mentioned in the article.

btw, what did you think of the thing?

so the XE2 gets the Reon VX as well then?

XE1 is the local version of the XA2 so gets the Reon.

I really liked the XA1 while I had it, new firmware out shortly or now is supposed to address some of those "bugs"

[betty boop]

mines doing ok as well, wouldnt say it works like a dream though as it suffers from most of the "bugs" mentioned in the article.

btw, what did you think of the thing?

~

just finished watching it "the thing". hmm quirky movie ! I liked it as do like a bit of scifi, but my wife wouldnt watch it ! not her 'thing' hehe

seriously have watched quite a few movies on the xa1 and it indeed does work liek a dream. very happy with it. only things I've expereienced is the very ocassional lip synch and I mean very ocassional, and a pause and resume with the play button seems to get it back in gear. the only other thing is I wish it did infact have a resume feature so can stop and then resume. the load speed not a biggy for me as usually by the time get a drink and sit down tends to be fired up ready to go. I love the back lit chunky remote on the xa1 and never experienced any of the other grumbles the guys talkign about. I really am pretty happy with my machine and think I'll ride with it til something genuinely a step up worth the upgrade comes out.

[DuyKha]

... double post