The LG BH100 Review Thread

[Dave]

LGs combo HD DVD/Blu-ray player could very well be the killer blow for HD DVD. What's that you say? Well, the combo player fully supports Blu-ray's interactivity, BD-J, but the BH100 seems to have forgotten all about HD DVD's interactive features, iHD. That's right, none of it - no PIP, next-gen menus, user bookmarks, HD DVD downloads/updates - nothing that will "WOW" the average Joe. However, when our friend Joe pops in a Blu-ray disc, the menu pops with excitement and is accompanied with, well, PIP, downloads/updates for instance. Why would Joe buy an HD DVD the next time out when the Blu-ray discs offer so much more? (He won't) Is this player the saving grace for both formats, nope, but it may well turn out to be the saving grace for Blu-ray. Plus, with the $1200 MSRP, you could make your own combo player by getting a PS3 ($600) along with a Toshiba HD-A2, ($410 at Amazon) duct taping 'em together. Then you can sit back and enjoy the best of both worlds with enough money left over to buy some titles on both formats. We just hope Warner's Total Hi Def hybrid disc doesn't have any skeletons in the closet.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/09...lu-ray-player/

[Knight-Errant]

haha good old LG

[Blackraven]

Of course the HD-DVD zealots should know that if LG DOES NOT release a firmware update to add more interactivity features, then this won't even suffice as a complete HD-DVD player.

[blitz6speed]

Microsoft announced that they will not allow the player to be released due to it not being able to play HDi. I was so disapointed with the news when i first heard about it being a real dual format player. Amir was flying high, so happy. Then the news broke that the hd-dvd portion is crippled and now LG is public enemy #1 to the microsoft guys. CES, you have provided endless hours of entertainment to me! I LOVE IT!

I am sure that the press is going to love that microsoft is in charge of denying a dual format player into the market. As if people dont hate microsoft enough as it is lol.

[JTK]

I hope it's a killer blow but I have a concern, in general, that dual format anything simply and needlessly prolongs and delays the inevitable.

[ProvenFlipper]

I'm thinking LG knew this would happen, so they made a prototype, provided pricing and availability dates to retailers (BB has an in date of the 3rd week of Feb.) to make it look legit. All this does it make people hold off on buying HD-DVD players. LG will probably strip the HD-DVD playback out of the player and ship it as the BD player they planned on releasing. Hopefully they can get a player out at less than the $800 that the Sammy costs, if all this happens.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by ProvenFlipper

I'm thinking LG knew this would happen, so they made a prototype, provided pricing and availability dates to retailers (BB has an in date of the 3rd week of Feb.) to make it look legit. All this does it make people hold off on buying HD-DVD players. LG will probably strip the HD-DVD playback out of the player and ship it as the BD player they planned on releasing. Hopefully they can get a player out at less than the $800 that the Sammy costs, if all this happens.

I'd absolutely love it and laugh my ass of for real if that ended up happening.

A lot can happen between now and when this thing is actually supposed to hit the streets.

CES is where a lot of talk, hype, what ifs, and prototypes get shown off but I'm sure we can all recall things for previous years' shows that were talked about and never saw the light of day for any number of reasons.

[Zinn]

Originally Posted by blitz6speed

Microsoft announced that they will not allow the player to be released due to it not being able to play HDi. I was so disapointed with the news when i first heard about it being a real dual format player. Amir was flying high, so happy. Then the news broke that the hd-dvd portion is crippled and now LG is public enemy #1 to the microsoft guys. CES, you have provided endless hours of entertainment to me! I LOVE IT!

I am sure that the press is going to love that microsoft is in charge of denying a dual format player into the market. As if people dont hate microsoft enough as it is lol.

Can you please post a link to that, need it to fight here in sweden.

Thanks

[Zvi]

With the triple layer HD DVDs in development and pending approval for Q3 2007, which will apparently obsolete all current HD DVD players how or why would anyone buy HD DVD player now I don't understand. So much for HD DVD being cheaper HD solution...

[Helicon]

Well I got a report about this new LG player at work to day (work at Scandinaviens biggest hi-fi chain).

We where also informed, that this player (possibly) will be illegal to sell in europa, so I do not know how relevant this player is, yet.

go blu-ray

But I hope, that we soon get better prices on blu-ray players... In Denmark where I live, the only player available is the Samsung BP-1000 and it still costs $1750....

HD-DVD is not awailable yet, but the Toshiba HD-a1 will cost $870.

[Blackraven]

Originally Posted by Helicon

Well I got a report about this new LG player at work to day (work at Scandinaviens biggest hi-fi chain).

We where also informed, that this player (possibly) will be illegal to sell in europa, so I do not know how relevant this player is, yet.

go blu-ray

But I hope, that we soon get better prices on blu-ray players... In Denmark where I live, the only player available is the Samsung BP-1000 and it still costs $1750....

HD-DVD is not awailable yet, but the Toshiba HD-a1 will cost $870.

The Sony BDP-S1 should arrive in "Euroland" this month.

This should complement the already available Samsung and Sony stand-alone players.

Also, PS3 is gonna be released there this March so expect that to push Blu-ray further.

[frankc4s]

March looks like being a good month for Blu Ray in the UK.


PS3 Should launch second week

Sonys BDP-S1 Should also appear towards the end of March.

Loads of Great titles slated for a March release.

No word on the Pioneer Elite at the moment, no firm info from Pioneer when I called today.

[JToddler]

The format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray has prevented any manufacturer from releasing a player that will handle both formats...until the LG BH100. At CES 2007, LG introduced the first player capable of playing both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. We were skeptical that any company could deliver a combination player at the show, but the LG BH100 is the real deal. LG demonstrated how you can seamlessly switch between HD DVD and Blu-ray, changing discs, skipping chapters, and watching true HD (1080p) movies in either format without a hitch. Perhaps the most surprising part is that the LG BH100 is ready to roll: the $1,200 player will be in stores, including Best Buy and Circuit City, in February 2007. The LG BH100 finally allows consumers to purchase high-definition discs according to which movie they like--not which player they own. Read more about the LG BH100 click below:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12760_7...5.html?tag=txt

Any comments?

[Maximus]

Hmm, I think this player is a real Trojan Horse for BD, anyone who buys it will get a HD DVD when both are available as they are generally cheaper, but when the BD is only available they will notice the difference in the quality of the menus, extras, etc. I think it could work out well for the BDA.

[JToddler]

As for me I don't think that this so called "Best in Show" CES 2007 product will be part of my purchases anytime soon. I don't like the idea and I won't be buying HD-DVD's either so what's the point?

[goodstuff]

Plus it won't work with the iHD HD-DVD's anyway.

[phloyd]

They were certainly making a lot of noise about it.

Also, due to the lack of HDi, this is definitely a BD player with HD DVD 'for free'

From what I hear, HDi is the worst aspect of HD DVD.

It is expensive in hardware and software space. It adds little of real value and appears to be the reason that 'resume after stop' and 'frame forward' do not work.

Congratulations Microsoft on a job poorly done.

(hey with no HDi, perhaps the LG player will resume on HD DVD discs!)

[Iceman_II]

I don't think it will ever see the light of day...

From what I understand the HD-DVD camp is threatening legal action because it doesn't adhere to the full HD-DVD specification... If I were LG, and trying to throw them a bone, and they threatened to take me to court, I would just say, "piss off ya' ******s"

[GTP]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Hmm, I think this player is a real Trojan Horse for BD, anyone who buys it will get a HD DVD when both are available as they are generally cheaper, but when the BD is only available they will notice the difference in the quality of the menus, extras, etc. I think it could work out well for the BDA.

In the U.S.....the BD versions are usually cheaper than the hd dvd versions of dual format discs.

[thunderhawk]

Mmm Not sure if it'll arrive guys!