I really had no idea of any kind of extension like this untill my friend bought one for his 360. It's just an external CD drive that plugs in via USB. It's a HD-DVD drive. He told me it cost $200 and he got the DVD remote for free. Are they going to make any 360 games that are HD-DVD? And the 360 doesn't have HDMI output correct? Almost pointless

The last I heard there were no intentions of using the HD-DVD Media for the 360 games.

And no, the 360 does not have HDMI Output. I don't entirely agree with it being pointless, for the simple fact that the 360 is capable of displaying HD Resolutions via the component and VGA Connections (up to 1080p now, thanks to a somewhat recent update to the 360). It may not be the best solution, but it is better than nothing for those who have a 360 and dont want to purchase a stand-alone set-top-box HD-DVD Player that costs a bit more (based off of what I've seen in passing anyway, I haven't researched the players that much)

There is no reason for X360 games to use HD-DVDs for games. Current games aren't able to use up the entire 9GB of a dual-layer DVD right now anyway.

Yeah, the only reason people really push HDMI as "the best form of a HD cable" is because of all the nifty copyright things that go with it. Component is just as capable of displaying HD resolutions.

[QUOTE=Darth J]Yeah, the only reason people really push HDMI as "the best form of a HD cable" is because of all the nifty copyright things that go with it. Component is just as capable of displaying HD resolutions.[/QUOTE]

http://www.hdmi.org/consumer/faq.asp#q1_3

I wouldn't call it pointless. If you already have a 360 and want to play HD content, that's probably the cheapest way (far cheaper than buying a standalone HD-DVD or Bluray player). Also, it works with the PC.

Component
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7128495&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat71900050025&id=1109938022647

HDMI
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7129029&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat69400050020&id=1109938024225

Tell me the price difference is worth the slight increase in picture quality. I chose monster cables because - if you care about your picture enough to go with a top of the line cable, you'll buy the best you can get.

Or you'll just get cables that cost half as much, are as good, and aren't "name brand". Monster cables are a pathetic ripoff. Yeah they're good, but you're paying for the name more than anything.

Currently, this difference in picture quality between HDMI and Component isn't significant. Sure, HDMI has a lot of potential for the future, but to base your purchase of the HD-DVD add-on for the 360 on whether or not it utilizes HDMI is pointless. You're getting a beautiful 1080p picture for $200, as opposed to $400 for a standalone player, and $1000 for a blu-ray player.

[QUOTE=Darth J]Tell me the price difference is worth the slight increase in picture quality. I chose monster cables because - if you care about your picture enough to go with a top of the line cable, you'll buy the best you can get.[/QUOTE]
Hahah...you're a fool if you think HDMI cables need to be $150. HDMI carries a digital signal. A few pieces of coat hanger would work just as well as Monster. But seriously, this cable is over twice as long and less than 12% as expensive.

Also, if you're going to be suckered into pseudo-scientific marketing claims about cable quality, you might as well go with some crap like MIT cables and pay $12,000 for your HDMI cable.

But you are right in that the difference between component/VGA and HDMI/DVI isn't all that significant. People have been using VGA for resolutions twice as high as 1080p for years on very expensive, very big CRTs for professional graphics work.

I would never pay more than $30 for an HDMI cable, and certainly would never pay $80 for a set of component cables. The only reason I chose the monster brand, as I mentioned in my post, was because if someone was going to shell out for an HDMI cable to experience the minor increase in visual quality, they would probably be foolish enough to be talked into spending the money on the MOST expensive brand.

EDIT: Upon re-reading what I said, I wasn't exactly clear. I was trying to comment on how stupid it is to spend so much extra money on something that really isn't worth it, using the Monster cables as an example.

Why go HDMI if you can experience the same picture quality at half the price? The only reason I even have an HDMI cable in my home is to upscale my standard DVD's to near HD (which is a ploy anyway).

Well I mean his TV is a 50" DLP that is running 720p or 1080i (we mostly run 720p).. It would just be cooler to go all out.. Also running an DVI->HDMI to the TV, thats pretty fun to play counter strike on.

[QUOTE=Darth J]Why go HDMI if you can experience the same picture quality at half the price?[/QUOTE]
$12.99 cable vs $17.99 cable? Half the price? :downs:

You need to go back to math class, babybuns. That ain't half.

USB? I think I see a potential cheap HD-DVD player for my PC.

not potential...it actually works, don't even need drivers, XP recognizes it when you plug it in.

Nice!

[QUOTE=Darth J]Component
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7128495&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat71900050025&id=1109938022647

HDMI
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7129029&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat69400050020&id=1109938024225

Tell me the price difference is worth the slight increase in picture quality. I chose monster cables because - if you care about your picture enough to go with a top of the line cable, you'll buy the best you can get.[/QUOTE]

The price difference IS worth it IMO.... except when your making these two mistakes:

1. Buying from Best Buy
2. Buying from Monster Cable

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812105828

Sorry to troll, but I hate consumer electronics stores, and Monster Cable products are somewhere around 80-90% profit to the company. Furthermore in digital data transfer there won't be a noticable difference in Monster Cable vs Generic cable.

's not trolling if it's the truth.

Actually it's closer to 65% (I used to work there) but the fact still stands :downs: