Toshiba HD-DVD player - who's buying the first batch?

[Raider]

Ok a certain DVD retailer based in the UK will soon be stocking the Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD player on import (from the US). At £369.99 delivered i'm pretty tempted!

If the upscaling with standard DVDs is as good as, or close to my Denon 1920, then £370 seems cheap for the first proper HD source to market!

Also seems like a headstart for HD-DVD, especially with initial Blu-Ray players being a few more months away and much more expensive for the cheapest player. This format war could be tough!

So who's buying one?

 

[Raider]

I think the upscaling will be fairly close though, probably inbetween the 1920 and the £100 level players.

But if I sold my Denon for £200, and effectively got HD-DVD capability for just £170 more then that's a bargain for early adoption in my book!
Worth it for the launch titles of "Batman Begins" and "The Matrix" alone

 

[Raider]

Something to bear in my mind is that most of the initial players tend to be orientated to the early adopter, and are of a very high quality.

My Sony S725D, that cost £550 7 years ago still totally destroys any current dvd player of under £250. RGB scart picture from that is very close to that from my upscaling Denon!!

Not saying the Tosh A1 will be that good (it's only £370 at launch), but if you spend £500+ on a HD-DVD player or Blu-ray then it should last you for years!
Assuming you pick the right team

And as I've said, I think the race is closer than most people think. And personally I think HD-DVD has the edge at the moment. Blu-ray may be technologically better, but HD-DVD has a lot more going for it!