I wrote about picking up an Xbox 360 HD DVD Add-on drive at Fry’s for $39.99 the other day as my back-up HD DVD player. The limitation with that method is you need to have a 360 or a sufficiently capable PC (and software) to play back the movies. Many people meet these requirements, but there are plenty of others who’d prefer a more straightforward approach and just get a cheap HD DVD player instead.
Buy.com to the rescue! I’m not sure how long this lasts, but they’ve got two versions of the Venturer SHD7000 (essentially a Toshiba HD-A3) for $59.99. One comes with The Bourne Identity and 300, while the other comes with two of the following: Rumor Has It, Perfect Storm, or Firewall.
Lots of people got the last generation of Toshiba HD DVD players and there’s a resulting glut of Bourne and 300 discs in the wild, so I’m betting that most of you might opt for the second configuration where you get to find out which movies you get only when the box arrives.
- Venturer SHD7000 with The Bourne Identity and 300
- Venturer SHD7000 with two of: Rumor Has It, Perfect Storm, Firewall
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 am
seems like a good deal, just picked one up. I hope this player is decent …
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:15 am
Awesome find here Pravin. I’m definitely getting one with Rumor Has It, Perfect Storm or Firewall as I do not have any of these yet. For 60 bucks, its a done deal to keep as a backup HD DVD player.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 am
Got my Toshiba HD A-35 for the big screen in the living room, this should do nicely for the 32″ LCD in the bedroom. It can only do 720p, but it’ll upscal ethe SD DVD nicely I think.
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:41 am
i would not pay $6 for any hd dvd player, following peoples advise (ie this web page)
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:57 am
Obviously, you only do this if you have a good reason to.
I would readily pay $6 and buy a few. They’re likely to sell for more later on eBay as people need backups.
$60 - that I would pay if I had several HD DVDs and I didn’t want them to go to waste. The cost of building a collection of movies is easily more than $60.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
I bought my HD A2 for $50 at absound. It was a display. I heard indie movie studios were still releasing on HD DVD. Does anyone know what website they use?
September 4th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Indie films are probably distributed through their own studio website versus all being available through one channel. Amazon.com had the HD DVD project for this, but I don’t remember ever hearing about films that were released through that.
Does anybody know about indie HD DVD productions?
September 4th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Answer me this:
Why Do Blu-Ray Fan Boys still feel the need to rub it in that Blu Ray “won”?
I think most people who care about HD either have a Blu Player or HD DVD player and already know about which side “won”. I went to Buy.com and some Blu-Balled pansy was whining about this format being dead. No Duh, S for brains, but those of us who purchased HD DVD might like a backup player, I mean HD DVD is not looking for any new customers just making sure we take care of those of us who enjoy HD DVD. More than half of my HD DVD collection was purchased after the backstabbing by WB and the breakup of the HD DVD Forum, and Toshiba’s plan to stop making HD DVD. So why when a sale pops up on a great deal for a player or movie does Blu Bastard need to throw in their two cents?
P.S. Transformers on Blu Ray Looks JUST LIKE THE HD DVD COUNTERPART!!!
September 4th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Rick Says: “P.S. Transformers on Blu Ray Looks JUST LIKE THE HD DVD COUNTERPART!!!”
I have recently gone purple and I can confirm that on BR Transformers looks just like the HD DVD version. As far as PQ goes for HD and BR movies I cant tell the difference.
I originally went HD because of the features. As for the Blu-bois spouting about the improved audio, I dont get it. Ok, its lossless, whoopity freaking do, I have nearly $3k in my receiver and speakers and I couldnt tell the difference in sound on most discs between the two formats. Either their rabid fans have genetically or surgically enhanced hearing or they have the ability to read and are just repeating what the packaging is saying stating that its better.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
These people that keep trying to drive the nail in the coffin about lingering HD DVD deals & sales are idiots. They say the formats dead. Ok they are not making new releases. I still can use the player to buy some 250 movies that were released & get them for at least half the price of Blu-ray counter parts. I can even use it as a very nice upconverter for my standard stuff. Heck go buy an upconverter & notice that the HD DVD deals are better and many times offer movies with it. It may be a Dead format but it still have plenty of life to cash in on all the deals and enjoy the movies out there.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Screen size, clock frequency, watts, horsepower, bandwidth, dynamic range, drag coefficient, you name it… a lot of people like to spout their specs about whatever toys they own, whether or not they even know what those numbers mean or are able to enjoy it.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:14 am
I’m about to pruchase one but my question is this: Will they have the same firmware compatibility like the A3? Will Toshiba’s A3 firmware updates compatible with the SHD7000? I just want to make sure that I will get the feature functionality of the HD DVD movies based upon the level of firmware update if Venturer supports it. Any information on this is appreciated.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Well, for those of you who waited, looks like theses are now sold out. Buy.com says the item is currently unavailable and there is no indication that they will get any more in.
Charles, I believe there were actually over 500 titles released on HD DVD, some more obscure than others, but I agree with you that they can be purchased for at least half as much than a Blu disc. I bought my first HD DVD disc and player AFTER the war ended and have grown my library to about 75 HD DVD titles. I have no plans on buying a Blu Ray player and don’t own a PS3.
For me, it’s mostly about price. I bought a high definition player for less than $100, and most of my HD DVDs for $10 or less (of course, some imports from the UK and Australia ran my about $20). The resolution is the same and I see no reason to switch to Blu ray until the price of the players AND the discs drop by at least 50%.
True, it would have been nice to see HD DVD continue, but I certainly have enjoyed the spoils of war…
September 5th, 2008 at 7:36 am
ogscorpion, I read in the user manual that you can hook up a network cable to the player and you can upgrade the firmware that way. I haven’t read anything about Toshiba’s updates working on this player, though. You can contact Venturer customer support if you have more questions at support@18002526123.com.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
See that’s my point - over 500 movies at bargin prices. Many of them costing what standard DVD’s cost & people are still not getting it. I for one am sad to see HD DVD loose but Happy about all those great deals that U have gotten. I sink money every chance I get to get these top tier movies as rock bottom prices.
Marcus are you a member of the bomb shelter - Yahoo group?
September 5th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Charles, no I am not a member of TBS (yet), but I am looking into joining.
September 9th, 2008 at 3:04 am
my mate at work is now copying hddvd movies i OWN onto his pc then copying them on blank 25gb or 50 gb bluray disc’s for me (as i dont have bluray burner) all so far work fine with no drop in video or audio quality. my bluray player panasonic dmpbd30. once he has finished off my collection i will sell hddvd’s and hope for the best price. its cheaper the buying then on bluray. will use my hddvd player as a door stopper or something!
September 9th, 2008 at 6:08 am
People who joke about door stoppers in this way must have really large doors and no worries about anyone tripping over such a large obstruction.
You might actually do better by selling the player as well.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:48 am
LOL at Money saver.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:50 am
@money saver: I’m curious… Have you actually copied the files over and burned them to Blu-ray discs, or is this theoretical?
The cost of buying a Blu-ray burner and media is not cheaper than just selling off your HD DVD stuff and buying new movies. In your case your buddy paid for the burner so that’s a big saving, but blank BD discs start at around $10 (and go up from there) for 25GB. In the end, you may break even on your costs, if you’re lucky or wait for BD media to get much cheaper.
As for “converting” movies, I don’t think it works in such a simple way like that. I think the video might end up getting transcoded and losing some quality. It’s definitely not going to bring the interactivity over and you’ll just have one long video file to watch on a PC, and I’m not sure what the Blu-ray disc making software will do. But, I’ve never done this or seen the results, so I’m also theorizing.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Funny thing is, he calls himself ”money saver” yet he spent (hypothetically) how much on an HD DVD player and he wants to use it as a door stopper? Idiot.
September 9th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
@money saver: How about this, you can give me your door stopper and HD DVD collection and I’ll kick you in the nuts, then we will call it even!
September 10th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Now see I simply laughed at Money Saver because I thought he was an idiot. I guess its a proven fact that anyone with half a brain would invest in an HD DVD player and use it as a door stop instead of using a door stop. Sounds like a Blu Ray loving Drag queen. LOL
September 18th, 2008 at 3:32 am
all the bluray movies my mate has copyed so far work like they did on my hd dvd player, yes bluray burner costs a bit, but it seams to be paying for its self over time copying hd dvd to bluray for many people at a cost (hes not charging me a penny) bluray blanks disc’s are very cheaper over in the uk on the web (not $10.00) but new bluray movies are 2 or 3 times the cost of dvd’s. so yes it is cheaper! using my hddvd player as a door stop WAS A JOKE GUYS. i will sell it but not expecting much for it. i got it free with a toshiba tv package june 2007. so only making money on the player
September 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Money Saver,
I was kidding to but you just seemed to make light of HD DVD when there are many of us that still treasure the format. Take it easy & note that you are in good company. LOL
September 18th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Money Saver,
Me Three, take no offense but I don’t really want to be that close with your ummm…. “boys”, LOL! Live on HD DVD! Glad to hear that recordables in the UK are priced so well! Cheers!
September 19th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Please let HDDVD die.
I mean can’t this web space be used for something more useful?
Who really cares, its dead, its over, move on.
September 19th, 2008 at 8:01 am
It’s a hobby, Ryan. The site is a resource for the hobbyists. Do you see me writing articles proclaiming the return of HD DVD or that Blu-ray and everything else sucks? What’s bugging you so much about all of this?
September 19th, 2008 at 9:13 am
He covets blu-ray. It hurts him to see HD DVD still have life. The fact is this “The format war is over but plenty of people were prefer & were more excited by HD DVD. What is so wrong with that.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Stop giving my name a… well… a bad name!
This is the ‘last-comment-of-the-Top-5-HD-DVD-Post’ Ryan, and seeing as this web space is hddvd.com (emphasis on the hddvd), I don’t know what else it could be used for? Let alone what would be “more useful.” I think you were looking for blu-ray.com (trust me, it exists and I think you’ll like it there much more, they never let HD DVD live in the first place).
Personally, I’ll let it die when my players and discs cease to work. Also, just because it’s “dead” and/or “over”, doesn’t mean I haven’t “moved on” in the sense I believe you’re suggesting - my BH200 will attest to that.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
“Hey Doc, my HD-A3 has no pulse.” HD Consumer says.
“Well, then it must be dead.” says Doc.
“But my movies still play on it.” HD Consumer says.
“Then it truly is alive!” Doc replies.
The format maybe “dead” but the movies live on forever (and in HD)!
September 19th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I have a PS3 & that’s about all I will get as the current & coming Blu Ray players pricing is too expensive. I get the same joy watching an HD DVD as I do a Blu-ray movie. IMO pricing is what is hindering Blu-ray from thriving as Sony, Samsung, Panasonic & other envisioned. Lower the pricing & the masses will come.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Well, I received my player finally. It is a Toshiba HD A-3x player almost exactly! Shipping took forever as I just got it yesterday and you can see from my above post when I ordered it. But it works well on the bedroom 32″ 720p LCD TV. I immediately updated the firmware via the internet. It took about 15 minutes or so but it worked fine. It seems to have exactly the same setup menu as my Toshiba HD A-35 player which leads me to believe it’s really a Toshiba player on the inside with a Venturer case on the outside. The first movie I watched was Firewall as that was one of the two movies that I got with it. That and The Perfect Storm. What did everyone else watch first?
September 24th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Hi. Has anyone heard of an HD DVD version of P2? I know the movie is crap but it was never scheduled as HD as far as I know. I just saw one on Ebay and kept wondering whether it is legit or not. Thanks for your help. By the way, I have 3 hd players and none is being used as a door stop, in case you are wondering. Trainspotting still coming out as HD DVD, anyone!?
September 25th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Any new good deals? Seems like things are drying up & not much happening.. I have shopped on Inetvide.com & amazon & a few others but not much new. Just curious.
Does anyone on the forum do trades?
I have Oceans 13 & Black rain I am looking to part with for something else.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:27 am
This place has over 4,000 copies of the HD DVD version of P2.
$27 for one copy + $6 shipping = $33
Here is a review. Personally, based on the high price, I would steer clear unless your goal is to have a collection of all HD DVDs ever made.
You can get it used on DVD for $7 ($4.99 + $1.99 ship) from Family Video.
September 25th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Star Trek in HD- Thank you. I cannot see the place you are talking about in your message. The movie is pure crap; I was just curious as to why some people in Ebay are claiming this is the new Holy Grail for HD collectors. Thanks again.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
HD DVD version of P2 =
http://www.dvaspecial.com/Welcome/P2-A-New-Level-of-Terror-New-HD-DVD
a review =
http://www.moviemansguide.com/reviews/DVD/read.php?id=p2-hddvd
used on DVD for $7 =
http://www.familyvideo.com/catalog/product_used.php?products_id=-285277
Not sure why the links are not showing up with underlines. I think the attraction is some people say this *may* be the last official HD DVD release; others say it *may* be an unreleased title (whatever that means for a title available commercially in ample quantity).
September 25th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Thank you.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
sellout.woot.com has the Venturer HD DVD player for $49.99 + $5 shipping.
Includes two random HD-DVD movies (from the five at the top of this page).
Today only(!)
September 26th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Hi. I’m wondering if someone can help me. I bought the Venturer HD DVD player and am trying to update the firmware. I have broadband, have read through the instriuctions, and no matter what I try, I keep getting a message that says “Server not found” or something like that. I have contacted Venturer customer support, but it’s been over two weeks and I have had no response. If you have done this successfully, perhaps you can email me at dvdlover@juno.com and we can chat about what I might be doing wrong. I’d appreciate it.
September 26th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
New big sale at inetvideo.com!!
September 26th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Marcus it has something to do with your IP settings. I had that problem before as well.
September 26th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Marcus,
Are you using a router? If you are try a direct connection. Your HD DVD player is not finding a open port with the router!
September 26th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
So anyone in this forum up for any HD DVD trades???
September 27th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Charles, I have the following HD DVD titles available for trade. Dragonheart (Australian Import), Lethal Weapon, Billy Madison, The Bourne Identity, Pulse, The Searchers, The Perfect Storm. All are NEW. If you (or anyone else) are interested in a trade, send me an e-mail at dvdlover@juno.com
September 27th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Great I will send you a small list of what I have.
October 19th, 2008 at 5:50 am
I bought a 42″ Venturer plasma TV. Though I am happy with the TV, the remote is non functional… I am using a universal with it but I would like them to replace my remote under the warranty… I have emailed their support address numerous times but never get any responce. I have tried email them from both my gmail account and my ISP mail account. support@1800customersupport.com
Has anyone been able to successfully contact them??
January 9th, 2009 at 2:17 am
You can find quite a list @ half.com, an ebay company.