Woot has the Venturer Electronics HD-DVD Player with 2 random HD-DVD movies for $50 + $5 S/H = $55. Thanks Selma.
Random movies will be chosen from the following list:

• 300
• Bourne Identity
• Firewall
• Perfect Storm
• Rumor Has It

$55 shipped, but you don't get to pick your movies -- you'll get a random deuce of 300, Bourne Identity, Firewall, The Perfect Storm, and Rumor Has It.

Happy HD-ing!

http://sellout.woot.com/Default.a...56f51d949f

How is this a thumbs down???

This is a rediculously good deal. If the deal was called "Toshiba (really good upconverting) DVD player with 2 free DVDs" for $50 it would be all thumbs up. I guess some people have nothing better to do than lurk for the letters HD-DVD to add their thumbs down.

Here's the old thread from not long ago if anyone is interested in reading people's discussion on the past deal when this player was $60.

http://forums.slickdeals.net/show...t=venturer


Edit:

Product Manual.pdf:
http://www.1800customersupport.co...nturer.pdf

Specs:
HD Output: 720p & 1080i
SD Upconversion Output: 480p, 720p & 1080i
Audio Output: DD, DD+, DD TrueHD, DTS, DTS HD(Core)
Video Jacks: Composite, Component
Audio Jacks: Analog 2ch, Digital Optical
Other: HDMI, Ethernet 10/100 (RJ45), USB (Expansion)
Dimensions (WDL): 16.9" x 2.4" x 13.0"
Wt: 7.3 lbs

Disc Formats:
HD DVD
DVD Video
DVD-RW
DVD-R
Audio CDs
CD-R
CD-RW

sellout.woot.com [woot.com] has the Venturer HD-DVD player with two random HD-DVDs for $50+$5 shipping. It is not a refurb.

Enjoy!!

Quote from sellout.woot : * HD-DVD player that can play HD-DVD movies at 1080i resolution * Also plays DVD video, and video CDs * Dolby Digital Embedded and Dolby TrueHD Compatible sound system with an optical audio connection * HDMI, component video and composite analog video output * HDMI and Component can display at 1080i or 720p high definition, composite displays at 480i standard definition. HDMI connection is recommended * Ethernet LAN connection, used to update the player’s firmware and allows access to special HD DVD content through the internet * Dimensions: 16.9×13.0×2.4 inches * Weight: 7.1 lb Selection of Random Movies: * 300 * Bourne Identity * Rumor Has It * Perfect Storm * Firewall In the box: * Venturer SHD7000 1080i HD-DVD Player * Remote Control * Power Cable * 2 random HD-DVD moveis

I enjoy watching SD movies played on my Toshiba HD-A30, which upconverts the movies to 1080p.

AFAIK this player is more akin to an A3 than to an A30. Means you must rely on the scaler in your DISPLAY if you want to reach full HD with this player. And of course this assumes you have a 1080p display to begin with.

I do have a 1080p display but the scaler in it just plain sucks. So I rely on the output of my HD-A30 set to output 1080p and with my display set at 1:1 pixel mapping. I don't use my display's scaler at all.

This is a really good deal for an HD player. Just be sure you know the capabilities of your display first, if you are trying to upconvert SD movies all the way up to 1080p. Because this player will not by itself take you all the way up. And if you don't own a 1080p display, ignore this post.

Quote from phillyirish : How is this a thumbs down??? This is a rediculously good deal. If the deal was called "Toshiba (really good upconverting) DVD player with 2 free DVDs" for $50 it would be all thumbs up. I guess some people have nothing better to do than lurk for the letters HD-DVD to add their thumbs down.

Every HD-DVD I have posted has started with a thumbs down, but eventually intelligent people weigh in and the thumbs go up. Unfortunately, I have all the HD-DVDs in this selection except Perfect Storm. Oh well, in for one anyway.

My mom needs a new DVD player, and I might just get her this, despite the fact that the best input her TV has is composite. The price is just about right.

Quote from guardian44 : IAFAIK this player is more akin to an A3 than to an A30. Means you must rely on the scaler in your DISPLAY if you want to reach full HD with this player. And of course this assumes you have a 1080p display to begin with.

This isn't true. At 1080i the A3/Venturer is at the same resolution as your 1080p television so no scaling is necessary. The only difference is in the number of frames displayed per second, which can leave action shots looking a little jerky on a 1080i device.

in for one. had the 360 add on and my dog ate the power cord. will be cool to have along with the blu-ray player from radioshack (if it ships). Planet Earth FTW!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the industry standard is Blue Ray? If so, this is an obsolete technology.

As for 1080p upconversion. Isn't the Philips 5990 a better DVD upconverter player? It reads everything including avi, and mpeg. Plus it has a USB port for playing files from an external hard drive.

I don't mean to thread-crap, but spending money on an obsolete technology is unwise. Again, I could be wrong. Btw, I own a Philips 5960. I believe it's the first generation of the Philips upconverting player. It's a beast. I just wish it does 1080i along with 1080p because my LCD can do a better job deinterlacing 1080i signal.

Quote from rixsaw : Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the industry standard is Blue Ray? If so, this is an obsolete technology. As for 1080P upconversion. Isn't the Philips 5990 a better DVD upconverter player? It reads everything including avi, and mpeg. Plus it has a USB port for playing files from an external hard drive. I don't mean to thread-crap, but spending money on an obsolete technology is unwise. Again, I could be wrong.

It's no more obsolete than upconverting DVD players that people seem to be snapping up.

I'm in for one!