Well, I have now had a few days to think about my Xbox 360 HD DVD Anniversary gift.
Pros:
- Amazing picture
- Easy to hookup and use
- Web extras are quite cool
- Menu systems work well
- Bookmarking is great
Cons:
- Audio down-sampling (read about, haven’t hooked up to sound system yet)
- Cost of content – $25-30 is overpriced, but just barely and it will simply make me buy less
- Format war with Blu-ray is worthless
Watched so far:
- Batman Begins (RENTED)
- King Kong (INCLUDED with player)
- 300 (RENTED)
- Transformers (BOUGHT)
I hooked up the Xbox 360 HD DVD player and so far I am very pleased. The thing that pushes this over the top for me is the absolutely jaw dropping picture and the very cool extras. It has also made me rethink my opinions as Blu-ray doesn’t yet have much of the extra features such as web-based extras (more on that soon) that are already on HD DVD. I think I have found a great system for myself. The menus are browsable while watching the movie. The extras are plentiful. There are now many options such as a commentary track that pops up a picture in picture video of the actor/director who is talking and then can fade away and let them continue commentary over the film. Within Transformers, there is a very cool web extra that puts up a H.U.D. around the film. At the top of the screen, it shows the GPS location and mapping of where the action is taking place. On the left had side there is a dimmed list of pics of all Transformers in the film. As each one comes on screen, they light up and slide out with their names. This also includes a “damage meter” that shows damage during the battles. Corny? yes. Necessary? no. Fun? Hell, yes.
I am VERY pleased, and at $129 with the 1 disc included and a MIR for 5 more, the deal is very good…