XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

As I'm getting an HD Ready TV, I'm quite tempted to get the 360's HD-DVD drive too.

Everywhere I've looked is out of stock, though.


Have any of CF's 360 owners with HD Ready TVs got one of these rare beasts?


What are they like?

Where'd you find it?



:)

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

Haven't got one, but i've looked on the net also, and can't find the thing anywhere! :)

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

collect at store available or wait for stock to arrive at warehouse

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/product.php?sku=789061&camp

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

I had in look in my local PC World yesterday - completely sold out (as is everywhere else...GAME, Gamestation, etc.), & they had no idea when they'd get more in.

---------- Post added at 21:28 ---------- Previous post was at 21:26 ----------

Pity MS haven't yet brought out an HDMI cable for the 360...although I'd assume they'll eventually release one by the time the studios start enforcing HDCP.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

ebay has some if you are desperate, although komplett.co.uk says 2007-3-1, your next port of calls should be the LARGE stores of tesco and asda.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

Bah, ebay can sod off. I'm happy to wait 'till the new year.

Got a big Asda & Tesco nearby.


Anyone got an HD-DVD drive already?

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

According to their website, they have stock here.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

been told it'll be roughly january before new stock comes into store at game, so asked if they'd take my details and hold one, but told no, not sure how many are coming in, so can't take pre-orders (growl).

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

I went to my local pcworld and currys and they said that they hadnt even had any in. I really want one of these as it would complement my hdtv and 360 superbly.

By the way shouldnt this thread be in the xbox section

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

True, but a mod made the thread - so we can bend the rules this once.. :D

Im in Cov, and there was a few shops that had 1 or 2 units in stock. Rumour is when the next generation of 360 is released, the HD drive will be intergrated which would be a bummer for us lot who have the 360 now.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

The official xbox mag will be doing a full review of the HD-DVD drive in their next issue. In this months they had a small Q&A section on it:

Do I need an HDTV for it to work?
No, the Xbox360 HD DVD drive will work on any regular tv - but the picture will be scaled down to a normal resolution

Is the difference noticeable?
Yes - if you poke your nose right up against the screen. From regular viewing distance on a sofa, you might be hard pressed to see that much of an improvement over a decent DVD.

Do I need an HD lead?
Yes - playing an HD DVD movie on a console connected to a TV with a SCART lead or composite cable will again see the film downscaled to standard DVD-like 480i resolution.

So is it worth it?
Depends. If you want your films to look slightly better, then yes. If not, you might be better off waiting until the whole TV upgrading process becomes significantly cheaper.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

Nice find! :) Might wait 'till a retailer I know of has them though.


I liked this bit, lol "YOU SAVE £0.00 !!"




Same here. None of my local stores has any, & all the usual sites like GAME, Gamestation, Gameplay, Amazon, etc have sold out.




I thought about putting it in the XBox section, but decided to put it in the Tech forum, as it's not really anything to do with gaming, & just happens to be something you connect to a 360 (& also PC if you want ;) ) :)



Yup. V annoying. Nowhere seems to let you pre-order (same with the bloody Wii!!!).




That would really *really* annoy me, & I'm sure many other people, if they did that.

I've also read vague rumours that they're planning on releasing a newer version of the 360 with a built-in HDMI port (presumably for the rumoured one with built-in HD-DVD).




Hmm. May have to buy that issue then! :)


Not so sure of their Q&A though...

:confused:

Why would anyone in their right mind buy an HD-DVD drive if they didn't have an HDTV???


Hmm. Surely the difference would be the pretty much the same as playing games in 720p (or above) on an HDTV vs playing games in PAL/NTSC on a normal TV...

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

amazon in stock now go:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Xbox-360-HD-...=hotukdeals-21

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

Not anymore. :)

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

I have an order for one through Play.com - just waiting on the buggers sending it.

I can only imagine that from the time i saw "in stock" to the time i put my card details in it went out of stock again an my order is surplus.

Still it means that next time one comes in to Play.com its mine.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

yep, it didnt take long either :p:

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

Amazon soon sold out on Thursday, lol.


Amazon, Game, HMV, etc etc have no stock & aren't taking any orders at all.

Gamestation, like everyone else, has no stock. But... they are at least taking orders. I've ordered one from there, in the hope that I get one when they get some stock in "could be more than 14 days".


Also...


PCWorld's website has them listed as having an in-stock estimate of 30/12/06 - today.

Before it hit the 30th, they were unavailable using either the "Delivery" basket or the "Collect@Store" basket. They're still (for me) unavailable using the Collect@Store basket, but, they *are* (or at least were half an hour ago) available for Delivery - I've placed an order, & am waiting for confirmation.

I'm also gonna pop into my local (5 min walk) PCWorld Sat morning, in the hope they actually do have some stock in store.


Interesting thing I read the other day:

HD-DVDs do not, as yet, have any region coding at all! :)

So you can quite easily order nice cheap American HD-DVDs & play them on your UK HD-DVD player :)


I've used the Canada-based www.dvdboxoffice.com loads in the past for Region 1 DVDs - they also sell HD-DVDs & their prices seem OK.

I've also had www.movietyme.com recommended to me by people on another forum - good prices, & free delivery, for US DVDs & HD-DVDs etc.


[And they even have the 360's HD-DVD drive in stock, although it's the US version].



First discs I want to get when I eventually get hold of a drive...

Batman Begins

Superman 1, 2 & Returns

The Departed

T3

maybe MI3.


I don't really care whether the HD-DVD drive still comes with a free copy of King Kong when it gets back in stock, as although it'd probably look stunning, I really don't want to waste another 2 hours + of my life watching it.


Wish list:

The Matrix

The Terminator

Terminator 2 - extended edition

LOTR Trilogy

Indy Trilogy

SW I to VI

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

A couple of good links there mate, PlayUSA have a selection of HD movies too.

Just remember to change the currency from $'s to £'s, I'd start buying right away because the present exchange rate won't hold forever.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

http://www.dixons.co.uk/product.php?sku=789061

In stock NOW at Dixons! (9.99 Delivery)

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

... and it's gone, lol.


Dixons: out of stock

PC World (Delivery & Collect@Store): out of stock


I popped into PCWorld & Currys this morning, just in case they had some in store....nope, none at all.


My PC World online order seems to have progressed...had the 1st two emails now, currently waiting on email no.3, the delivery email.


I really don't understand why MS have been so bad at supplying these. The demand for them seems huge, not Wii-levels, but still big. But no-one seems to be getting any decent supplies in.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

i dont think its a manufacturing problem rather they dont want to flood supply of them incase they dont sell, HD-DVD's are still hard to get hold of, although hmv do them at shop level all, the majority of sales really goes to e-retailers online to make purchases of HD-DVD's, im sure they are making a loss on these.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

You mean media?
They wont be making a loss as they hardly have to adapt existing production facilities to produce these so costs are not much different to a standard dvd. Blu Ray however needs a totally new manufacturing process so initial costs of these media will be more expensive or subsidized elsewhere

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

im not talking about the PC drive, im talking about the xbox-360 hd-dvd drive, it doesent have write capabilties, your correct about the rest however.

depending on the build quality and laser manufacturing, plus costs associated with the laser producer i dont think MS turn a profit on these, hd-dvd players are expensive.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

I thought when you said HD dvds you actually ment the media ie films in a shop I wasnt relating my point to a writable drive and I know im right about the rest ;)

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

Where does it say that Zingle is talking about the PC drive? ;)

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

enough smart **** i didnt make my post clear enough ;)

oh right, thats ok then ;)

here is what i meant to put in clearer terms:

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

well thats clearer :)

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

With the level of the demand there's been, I think they'd easily sell. £130 for an HD-DVD drive is a bargain.


Disc availability will surely increase, but only if people can buy something to play them on.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

yep, i dont know if the demand pickup is related to the aacs circumvention though ;)

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

My PCWorld order is on it's way :D


Currently at some BusinessPost depot. Due to arrive with me on Saturday 6th "between 8am & 12pm".

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

Nice one mate, you got any movies for it yet?

360 Hd-dvd
 

Anyone know of a store with this in stock again yet?

Or indeed has anyone heard when they are likely to be back in stock?

Re: 360 Hd-dvd
 

in stock now:

http://www.woolworths.co.uk/ww_p2/pr...l?pid=50787989

Re: 360 Hd-dvd
 

thank u sir

Re: 360 Hd-dvd
 

In stock here to.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/sto...&category_oid=

Re: 360 Hd-dvd
 

the pcworld link says in stock but i can't find a store where I can collect it at!

Re: 360 Hd-dvd
 

Its been like that for ages now. None of their stores seems to have any.

Re: 360 Hd-dvd
 

Well,, it arrived yesterday morning :)



Sadly not :(


Doesn't seem to come with a free copy of Kong anymore. Although I find Kong overlong & boring, it still would've been nice for a quick demo & then I could've sold/traded it.


I've got a couple of discs on order from Movietyme, but they haven't come yet...

I'm gonna try & pop into HMV in the week & see what they have on the shelf. Most likely cost a lot more than getting them online though.





Doesn't seem to be any stock anywhere.


PCWorld, Dixons, Currys, Amazon, HMV, Game, Gameplay, Gamestation, Sendit..........no stock at all.


Gameplay.co.uk will let you at least place an order for one, to get you in the queue for when they finally get more stock.


Sendit.com will also let you place an order, for when they finally get more stock in. I emailed them about it last week, & was told that they should have more stock by the end of January.

http://www.sendit.com/game/item/6000000003652


No other sites seem to let you place a backorder for one.


Movietyme have them, although they are selling the US drive (still works, just needs the right power lead). Costs more though, plus..... they use Citylink, & I have read many posts on various other forums from people who had no end of trouble with their Movietyme orders, due to - allegedly - Citylink's service.



I've not found any actual high street shops which have them in stock, at least not in my area. GAME, Gamestation, HMV, Currys, PCWorld, etc......none.


It's only in stock for "Collect@Home". And, as you've found, that's not really accurate, as when you then put your postcode in, it says there aren't any.


It was - very briefly - in stock for delivery on Sat 30th December. I ordered mine shortly after midnight, & then all the stock sold out within half an hour.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

HMV and Gamestation are charging between £17.99 and £24.99 on their websites, so I don't expect them to be any more expensive instore.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

My Batman Begins HD-DVD is finally on its way from Movietyme :)

(still waiting on Mission Impossible 3)


However........

I took my HD-DVD drive back to PCWorld this evening.... :( :rolleyes: :mad:


I installed the software (very easy - just pop the disc in & follow the instructions), & hooked it all up.

Lacking any HD-DVDs, I decided to try a couple of DVDs, just to check if the thing actually worked.

Put Aliens in... GRIND WHIRR GRIND WHIRR GRIND WHIRR...

Put V for Vendetta in... GRIND WHIRR GRIND WHIRR GRIND WHIRR...

Put PotC2 in... GRIND WHIRR GRIND WHIRR GRIND WHIRR...


Hmm.

Tried them in the internal drive....all fine.


So, my drive was screwed.


Took it back (5 min walk, so easier than faffing about returning it via the website), & got a full refund. The assistant did initially claim he couldn't refund my delivery charge, but I pointed out to him PCWorld's own Terms & Conditions for returning faulty goods, & one of the other assistants backed me up, so I did get the whole lot back.


Agh.


Now back to placing backorders online again...I wish I hadn't cancelled my Gameplay backorder now...

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

Damn that sucks.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

My drive is on its way from Play.com just now - i'll let you know if Kong is included - i'll be ****ed if its not.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

quick offer these two HD-DVD's for 5p each

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-...-1sn6-4-6.html


http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-...-1sn9-4-6.html

sorry to hear about your drive matt d :(

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

BOLLOX!!!!

Its arrived but no Kong DVD - FFS - we didn't exactly get much of a chance with this did we. :mad:

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

My HD-DVD drive came today :D



I gave up waiting for the various retailers to actually get the UK drive in stock, so cancelled my backorders, & ordered a US drive from SoftUK.com on Thursday night last week.

Arrived this morning, via CityLink.

Cost a little more (£150 rather than £130), but had free delivery, & came with King Kong.

Set it up tonight.

Unlike the one I got from PCWorld a month ago, this one actually works! :D (well, so far, touch wood).


Watched M:i:III on it tonight. Very nice!

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

oooh whats King King like as a movie?
I know the movie about the big ape thing, is King King similair?

;) :dunce:

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

Oh? Ah, you, erm, noticed my deliberate mistake, well done. :erm: :dunce:


Anyway.


Great piece of kit, & a bloody bargain.


Be nice if it & the 360 were quieter though, lol.



I want to watch something later in the week which I also have on DVD, so I can get a better idea of the difference in PQ. Batman Begins, I think.

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

If you've bought an American version, Do you need to buy American regioned HD DVDS?

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

What screen have you got? Did it have the 'wow' factor?

Re: XBox360 HD-DVD drive
 

I was under the impression there isnt a region code on HD dvd?