Thursday, 01 June 2006
,
Written by
Jeremy R. Kipnis
Introduction
With
tremendous hype and noted delays, HD DVD players have hit the market,
allowing consumers to see HD movies from a commercially available disc
for the first time. Two players mark the launch of the format: the
Toshiba HD-XA1 ($799.95) and HD-A1 HD DVD ($499.95). The launch is a
cautious one, with reportedly only 15,000 units being shipped for the
first run of players, leaving stores like Sears and Best Buy to sell
off their small number of players relatively quickly.
Initial software offerings are quite pleasing, with
Warner Bros. correctly featuring “Phantom of the Opera” and “The Last
Samurai” alongside Universal’s “Serenity” (apparently alternating with
Warner’s “Million Dollar Baby,” which came out the following week, due
to a mastering concern by the producers). Also available in the second
week (Tuesday, April 25) were releases that included Universal’s
“Apollo 13” and “Doom” for a total of six HD DVD titles at the end ...
