Question re: HDMI DVD players.

[New2BD]

Sorry if this seems a dumb question
I'm just curious to know if the currently sold HDMI DVD players will be able to play those high def HD-DVD or Blu-ray discs?
If not then can someone tell me what is the point in buying these for exactly. One store clerk told me that their Panasonic (DVD-S77) model should be able to play those HD-DVD as soon as they are released since it has the HDMI connectors!
Then I read on panasonic's web site that the unit has 720p and 1080i upconversion with an HDMI connection.

What is the "upconversion" above reffered to?


Thanks for your time!

[Gorkab]

It is said that the HD-DVD is retro-compatible with ancient DVD players. But with what they said, I'm not sure about the HD-DVD compatibility just because there's an HDMI in

[Blue]

Sales people will say anything for a sale - most totally ignorant of what they are saying. There is NO device available for sale that can play HD-DVD or Blu - Ray known by a few different variations the official being BD.
DVD's will play on both BD and HD-DVD (assuming it actually gets up)
HD-DVD and BD are totally incompatible with each other they will NOT work on standard DVD players. There are however going to be Hybrid disks that will paly on BD and DVD players however these are effectively a BD disk and DVD disk glued together.

There are NO BD Movies available - except for some specially made (Charlies Angels) by Sony for hardware manufacturers. These are not for commercial sale. There are no HD-DVD disks available either. In 6 months time expect BD players and disks everywhere, but they only exist in Manufacturers Laboratories at the moment. Expect to see the samples at this coming CES 5 - 8 Jan and then for them to appear for sale shortly after (if 6 months or less is soon)

[New2BD]

Thanks for your replies.

So far I've seen claims stating that the new HDMI interface supports image resolution all the way up to 1080p!

What eludes me is the fact that manufacturers would use this interface on standard DVD players to play standard DVD's, which themselves are limited to 540 line of resolutions.

Does that seem odd to any one else also or am I missing something?

Thanks in advance!

[thunderhawk]

Originally Posted by New2BD

Does that seem odd to any one else also or am I missing something?

Yes it seems odd... But in theory, it won't improve the picture quality.

[Shadowself]

Originally Posted by New2BD

Thanks for your replies.

So far I've seen claims stating that the new HDMI interface supports image resolution all the way up to 1080p!

What eludes me is the fact that manufacturers would use this interface on standard DVD players to play standard DVD's, which themselves are limited to 540 line of resolutions.

Does that seem odd to any one else also or am I missing something?

Thanks in advance!

Not really odd. The first iteration of HDMI (nit pick: the I stands for interface thus HDMI inerface is like saying GSL loan or PIN number) was only capable of transmitting up through 1080i (not 1080p). It was more than capable for 480p (or even the SD version of NTSC).

For a manufacturer that wanted a pure digital interface HDMI was (and is) the clear choice. DVI requires the additional use of analog audio lines. There are cables/converters that can go from HDMI to DVI+Analog audio.

So if you want to put the fewest number of connectors on your box and reach the widest audience you might put 3 types of connectors:
1) HDMI (which can address TVs with HDMI or through an adapter cable DVI+ analog audio)
2) Component (which is 100% analog for all video and audio cables)
3) S-video (added bonus: you can use the component audio connectors for the audio for the S-video users)

Thus these three connectors cover most of the consumer market of today.

For BD and upcoming systems this will probably converge down to just HDMI -- especially for those who want to go with a 1080p/60 system. AFAIK only HDMI will support the data rates for 1080p/60 and even then it will take the latest version of HDMI.

[thunderhawk]

Yeah but for the normal consumer...