no, they don't make drives, they make player SW. An HTPC created with the right specs and setup will work.


the question was "is there a player that can decode DTS-HD MA". I don't remember that Bryan Levy would consider good for an install being in it. A piece of gear that one installer will consider the best an other will consider a piece of crap. How many swear by Prontos while others hate them? Some people like HTPCs, I am not one of them, some hate consoles I like the PS3 as a player, it is all a matter of taste. Maybe a client wants a player now that can handle DTS HD MA and then there is a solution for it, if you want to offer it.

They got paid for a press release that's all there is to it. There is no way in hell they really would have signed an exclusive contract to support HD DVD, for all eternity. It may have even been for the remainder of 2007. HD DVD gets a nice push comming in to 4th quarter and they get to run with it through Christmas. Come January we may see a whole different kind of press release, especially if Blu-ray still moves titles at a 2:1 margin across the 4th quarter.

Derek

My thoughts exactly. You must be joking. The ability to play DTS-HD MA is based on hardware. All the software in the world will not help without the right hardware.
So I will ask one last time. What player did your friend use. Please include model number.
I will not ask again.

There is a bogus piece of logic. One can debate many things but using a HTPC for a DVD player in a consumer installation is not one of them. Sure you are welcome to use it in your home and it may get you most of the way ( illegally, but what's copyright infringement among friends ) toward a Kaleidescape and 7/8s the price. But it will in no way be as reliable as the Kaleidescape nor the Pioneer/Sony/Samsung/LG ( how ever bad Rick thinks the LG may be in terms of reliability ) Toshiba or any other consumer machine. Nor would I personally call a PS3 a solution even if it is reliable and mass marketed. For me the debate begins and ends not with some bit of software some Krell wrote for his one of suped up hard drive but when there is a real product for sale in the consumer electronics chain.

Feel free to define acceptable any way you may like. But I think most of us, no matter what we might think of a Pronto, would dare compare it to a home brew HTPC. The Pronto is a product and what ever its failings it is still a consumer product. You are now classifying a home brew HTPC as a consumer product that would be fit for sale and installation as part of a CI project? I think there will be few who will agree with you here even if your other points may be valid.

Alan

I dont see anything on Cyberlinks website indicating that any of the software supports dts hd ma. Power dvd ultra does say it supports dts hd, but this is not the same thing. Am I missing something?

Boy, you had me 'til this statement showed up.

The tide has just shited in favor of HD-DVD, the war is now officially over, someone call Sony.

Alan: I might have been too hard on Eastside A/V maybe he did get over excited and thought it would be a product he would feel comfortable installing without looking at it, but his response (including past history on the subject) did hit a high mark on the BS meter. Let's face it, if anyone is installing the Sony, Pany, Pioneer, Toshiba or Philips they know that they can't do DYS-HD MA in the current models at this time. The PS3 is the only one that might be able to do it but to this day I don't know of such a FW being out. If I pointed out a no name brand (like the Daewoo coming that was announced) would that be something you feel comfortable installing? if it was a Japanese model, would you feel comfortable? The reality is that most installers I know tend to feel comfortable with a few manufacturers and even fewer models.

My point was that






he still has not admitted he is wrong on the player front.

again if anyone got over excited on there is currently a player and thought he had the solution (without asking more questions) I apologize to them. Though correcting ignorant fools is what sites like this exist for, so that we all go home more informed when we leave and not dumber by beleiving the BS posted by ignorant morons.

what is DTS-HD? I know quoloqualy it is used for DTS-HD High resolution but go to DTS to find out more about it.

During an interview with CED (I think it was at IFA) a Toshiba executive admitted that they paid Paramount for the change of mind. For all those that were sure it was not true and thought it was because Paramount loved not selling movies.

So there is a player....?


So there isn't a player....?

Someone put another check mark on the ignorant column.

I'm confused.... :/

dts hd is a lossy codec, similar to dd plus. dts hd ma is a lossless codec similar to dolby true hd.

Today's Sony press conference was interesting. Their two examples of how much better the BD version sold of titles released in both formats included Warner's 300 and Paramount's Shooter (which is ironically one of Paramount's last BD titles). And then the next slide showed all the studio support - minus Paramount, of course. Subtle hint?

Not really sure where you were going with this, but for what its worth I am not the least bit offended, I do believe HD-DVD will probably win out in the mass market this holiday season based on price (and price alone), unless the Blu-ray camp matches the HD-DVD hardware prices.

If that makes me a fan great, but other then hating SONY in general (yes I'm Biased), I'd be happy to buy a Pioneer Elite or even a samsung Blu-ray player without a second thought if the price were around $200 (and this from someone who does not yet own an HD capable TV)...for me having multiple players is just fine. I will have to have an extra player for my DVD-Audio and SACD Discs anyways.

I would put my money on the choice being made by whateveer the hell Costco & WalMart decide to whore out this season as the final deciding factors.

ME TOO! after reading that i fealt as though he decieved me into reading his endless ranting threads throwing arounds all kinds of specs that are now obviously just being made up as he goes along.

the player he has been ranting endlessly about is a hypothetical HTPC....??? WHAT A JOKE!

well with this recent shift in power combined with a $200 player being made available for Xmas would lead me to believe that HD-DVD is on the rise. i can well imagine someone around here will feel pretty silly if they win out in the end. have you even considered this scenario Anthony?