IGN Blog talks about how inadequicies of HD DVD 360 add-on

[SlapnutsGT]

Was surfing IGN at work today and found this blog by someone at IGN. Talks about the limitations of the HD-DVD add-on for XBOX and even mentions how great his Blu-Ray looked!

http://blogs.ign.com/Zen_Dragon/2007/11/25/72679/

I switched to my Xbox 360 and popped in Transformers, with TMNT at the ready as another benchmark. Transformers and my 360 update the HD DVD drive, then the movie began playing per normal. However, my picture flickered ever so briefly as the HD DVD drive began outputting audio and video, and the signal display at the top right corner shocked me - 1080i? 1080i?! What the hell! I went back into the 360 configuration and found that yes, it was set to 1080p. Then it hit me - even though Xbox 360 games output at 1080p over Component Video, apparently HD DVD movie discs will not; they're limited to 1080i, tops.

I decided to try a BluRay disc first - Doctor Strange. The movie was smooth as silk, and suddenly I could distinguish the details hidden in the dark black shadowing of the movie, something I couldn't make out on my old TV. I could also see the detailed runes in the spell casting circles, a small detail that was unnoticeable in 720p. Audio was crisp and beautiful, and it really immersed me in the movie itself. I did a double-check of the signal - 1080p, as expected.

I have his exact TV and was seriously considering buying that HD DVD add-on a few weeks ago, glad I didn't!

[darkpoet25]

My brother has the add on for his 360 and he has to crank up the audio for it to sound decent. Meanwhile I have to lower the volume while watching BD's on my PS3. I think it's funny how all these 360 and M$ fanboys keep bragging about hd dvd, when it is pure utter crap! The funny thing is is that the 'Offical' Xbox magazine wrote how it's now cheaper to get the add on for buying into a dying format.

[JBowen]

nice find! And I almost bought one of those HD DVD add-ons for my 360

[ryoohki]

No device can output HD movie in Component 1080p, the Xbox 360 is no exeptition, it will work for Games, but that's it..

[sonicbox]

Correct. Movies @ 1080p is not allowed by AACS over Component. For 1080p output, you would need HDMI... or VGA. (HDMI video output does exist on newer Xbox 360s, FYI.) If your TV isn't badly designed, the difference between 1080p and 1080i over Component should be next to nothing... both are still analog, unlike HDMI.

[sonicbox]

Here is the blogger's follow-up, FYI: http://blogs.ign.com/Zen_Dragon/2007/11/26/72768/