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DVD Upconvert: New Oppo Model Announced & Beware the Sharks
By willbry | March 22, 2008
DVD Upconvert: New Oppo Model Announced & Beware the Sharks
Earlier this week, Oppo announced a new DVD Upconvert player: the DV-983H.
Here are some of the features of the new Oppo DV-983H:
- Anchor Bay VRS (Video Reference Series) video processing
- 7.1-channel audio
- 1080p HDMI upconversion (”a pixel-perfect match for 1080p TVs”)
- aspect ratio conversion
- multi-level zooming
- USB 2.0 interface
- Kodak Picture CD
- Windows Media Audio
- Numerous other music/video/picture CD formats
For a complete list, visit this link.
While this newest generation of Oppo DVD Upconvert player is sure to make an awesome product even better, many people are taken back by the retail price: $400. For that cost, you could pick a Blu-Ray player, if you so desired, or even an HD-DVD player for DVD Upconversion (and have plenty left over to increase your DVD collection).
Beware The Sharks
In the mean time, Best Buy is giving out $50 gift cards to anyone that purchased an HD DVD player from them prior to 02/23/08. Best Buy will give away up to $10 million towards this effort. Best Buy also plans to offer trade-ins for players and HD DVD movies, regardless of where they were purchased through its online trade center.
I’d stay away from this, unless you simply don’t want your HD-DVD player anymore. Sure, it looks like Best Buy is being pro-consumer, but I question their motives. No corporation is going to spend $10 million on a project without expecting a return on that investment. If you have an HD-DVD player, and you’re happy with it, keep it.
Of course, if you’ve avoided this whole Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD mess, this isn’t an issue; enjoy your DVD upconverting player.
The only Blu-Ray player on the market right worth considering is the one inside the Sony Playstation 3. So, if you need an excuse to use your income tax refund on a PS3, there it is. Seriously.
Links:
DV-983H (link goes to Oppo’s website)
Until next time. . .
Topics: dvd upconvert |
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