There already is. I saw them at Frys the other day.

Nope.

Blu-Ray has 3 regions. Sans this wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-Ray#Region_codes

:D

HD-DVD is currently region-free, I think, but the spec can change.

Neither HD-DVD nor the Blu-Ray specs are finalized. This is like 1996 for DVDs all over again. Who else here remembers all the trouble of new DVDs not playing on players from 1996-2000?

1 good thing is the firmware upgrades

After having read everyones opinion on this topic I went ahead and bought the Toshiba HD A-30 from amazon.com. As a matter of fact, amazon.com is having a promotional sale where you get 10 free HD-DVDs with the purchase of select Toshiba HD-DVD players, as you can imagine I took advantage of the promotional sale. Here's the link if anyone else is interested in the sale:

http://tinyurl.com/2t3vby

As far as Blu-Ray goes, I'll just use my PS3 to watch Blu-Ray movies. I also went ahead and purchased the HDMI cables @ monoprice.com that were recommended to me by konfusion. It was also nice to see that monoprice had a 5 x 1 HDMI switch that I also picked up.

It already has. My Toshiba says "region 1 only" right on the box.

That's too bad, well, I guess we've got to keep our region free dvd players around.

Yes, it is. :(

I've comfirmed it for myself, the HD-DVD player is in fact region coded for standard dvds. Moreover, I'm still unclear as to whether or not HD-DVDs/blu-ray DVDs from other contries will play on US HD-DVD and blu-ray players?

Just buy it already dan.[88] Sheeeeeeeeeeeese..[:p]



It will become obsolete by the time you make up your mind ;)[88]

Buy it. Try it for a day. You dont like it. Return it to which it came[:p][88][88]


You know the LS testing methods ;)[(#)][88][88]

If you read further up the thread, you'll read that I have indeed already bought the DVD player. I was simply saying that I tried a R4 standard disc, all I got was a "region error" message.

As to whether or not the HD-DVD or Blu-Ray formats will fade away like laser disc did, I really don't think it will, lots of companies are investing lots and lots of money promoting both these formats, (certainly more than was spent on the promotion of either laser disc or beta-max). What I think will eventually hapen after the "format war", (resulting in a virtual draw), is that most companies will quickly develope "combo-format" players to compete with the LG BH-200 or the Samsung BD-UP5000. Both formats will stick around for a longtime until a "newer & better" technology is developed and marketed as the "latest & greatest".

I read. Must torment anyways lol

I do believe that a good majority of the DVD players manufacturers will just start producing hybrid DVD players and avoid the whole mess. I believe they have them now, but they cost around $1,000.00.

That's about right on the price. I saw them the other day. [:u][:u][88][88]

Well, Warner Bros. has sided exclusively with Blu-Ray now. Seems like everyone believes the format war has ended with this final move from WB. I think this is great, especially in the fact that it'll be able to end this format war that should have never been. Blu-Ray had been winning all along (at least from what I've seen) and this is very good for Blu-Ray. So I hope for the format war to end now. =)

im waiting for universal and paramount to switch back so i dont have to spend an arm and a leg to get the rare blu-ray versions of certain movies