The only reason that I gave it 4 instead of 5 starts is that it will have issues with skipping or freezing up in the middle of a movie, though only on regular DVD's and it takes forever for the initial start-up programming to run. If you have a disk in there when you turn it on, you cannot just open the drawer and change disks...you have to wait for the software to run first and the machine to boot up. Then it will start playing the disk in it...which you have to hit stop, wait for it to stop, hit open, wait for it to open, change disks...all of which can take up to 3 minutes or more.

Don't look to Amazon to help you resolve the problem, you will have to go directly to your credit card company and have them force a return/refund of the product. Believe me, $240 for a unreliable HD player (only plays 3 out of every 4 discs on a good day) and no free discs is not a very good deal. Shop elsewhere and ignore the free disc bait.

However, playback for regular DVD's is spotty. Half if the time you need to turn off the deck and restart it, just so the signal is sent to DVI. Most of the time, the deck also gives a message something like this disk is not authorized for 1080 output, reverting to 480.

When more HD-DVD's come out with downloadable web content you will not have space to download it. I have Transformers and cannot download all of the stuff to my player and you have to delete it before trying to get something for another DVD. It seems that they should have added the ability to plug in an external drive so that you can download and watch all content for the discs you own instead of having to download and then delete after watching.

With my regular player, when I hit "open" the drawer would come out in a matter of seconds. Also, I have noticed the player getting stuck in the "loading" mode a couple times, even when there was not disk in there. I had to hold the power button down for 30 seconds to get it to reset.

- Display of regular DVDs in an odd letterbox mode. Hard to describe, imagine a letterbox image that does not fill the screen either top to bottom or side to side at the same time. Does not happen for all DVDs.

- Most annoying is the lack of "memory" if you remove a disk without finishing it (or turning the machine off). What happens is that rather than starting where you left off, you have to chapter search. Really a pain.

After you wait the 8-10 weeks and call for info about your discs, you will receive the same answer over and over again - "Your DVD's are ready and will ship very soon". I have been waiting for nearly 4 months and have heard that reply each time I have called.

On the box stated it had disks inside. So what was I suppose to say. I went over the description and I didn't see were it said it would be comming with out disk.

Unfortunately, it takes about a full minute (or longer) for the HDVD to turn on and open. You have to download the updates via ethernet or onto a DVD, or else you'll have problems (mine was with the sound.) I've had my player for about 2 weeks and it already needs an update. If you don't have internet access or a DVD burner, you can call support and have them mail the updates.

Disney, Buena Vista, Sony, Warner Brothers, New Line, MGM, and Lionsgate all release movies exclusively on Blu-ray. Do yourself a favor and avoid HD DVD players. The reason the prices are so cheap is that Toshiba knows it is dead and is probably clearing out remaining inventory.

In the upcoming year you may find fewer new HD-DVD titles available. I would wait and see you how the format war plays out. Sadly, I dont believe Hd-DVD is going to have much support from the movie studios which means the end is near for this format.

I could not be more pleased with the performance of the player. But, there is always a but. My product came with out the promotional disk.

This new model seems even better than the last one and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for simplicity in set-up and a quality product. I am not one who uses many of the features available on the DVD remote controller; however, this one is pretty much the same format as the previous and easy to use.

- Display of regular dvds in an odd letterbox mode. Hard to describe, imagine a letterbox image that does not fill the screen either top to bottom or side to side at the same time. Does not happen for all dvds.

In the upcoming year you may find fewer new HD-DVD titles available. I would wait and see you how the format war plays out. Sadly, I dont believe Hd-DVD is going to have much support from the movie studios which means the end is near for this format.

This new model seems even better than the last one and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for simplicity in set-up and a quality product. I am not one who uses many of the features available on the DVD remote controller; however, this one is pretty much the same format as the previous and easy to use.

Don't look to Amazon to help you resolve the problem, you will have to go directly to your credit card company and have them force a return/refund of the product. Believe me, $240 for a unreliable HD player (only plays 3 out of every 4 discs on a good day) and no free discs is not a very good deal. Shop elsewhere and ignore the free disc bait.

Disney, Buena Vista, Sony, Warner Brothers, New Line, MGM, and Lionsgate all release movies exclusively on Blu-ray. Do yourself a favor and avoid HD DVD players. The reason the prices are so cheap is that Toshiba knows it is dead and is probably clearing out remaining inventory.

Unfortunately, it takes about a full minute (or longer) for the HDVD to turn on and open. You have to download the updates via ethernet or onto a DVD, or else you'll have problems (mine was with the sound.) I've had my player for about 2 weeks and it already needs an update. If you don't have internet access or a DVD burner, you can call support and have them mail the updates.

In the upcoming year you may find fewer new HD-DVD titles available. I would wait and see you how the format war plays out. Sadly, I dont believe Hd-DVD is going to have much support from the movie studios which means the end is near for this format.