The first commercial next-generation DVD player, Toshiba's HDA1 HD-DVD machine, can already be pre-ordered for as little as $450. US online retailer Crutchfield.com is already selling the newly announced Toshiba HD-DVD player) on pre-order status for $499.99, minus a $50 off coupon, bringing the cost down to $449.99 with free shipping included.

Crutchfield.com warns purchasers that "this next-gen player will probably not ship until March at the earliest, though it could be much later." Also a note brings to the attention of customers that the 720p/1080i high-definition output is provided only through a HDMI connection.

Amazon/com and others sell the player as well at the recommended price of $499.99

Full technical data

– Disc playback: HD-DVD, DVD, DVD-R/-RW/-RAM, CD, CD-R/-RW
– HD output: Yes, using HDMI at disc native resolution
– Video DAC: 11-bit/216-MHz
– Video up-conversion for DVD: 720p/0180i
– Enhanced black level: 0IRE/7.5IRE selection
– Letterbox and pan-and-scan support: Yes
– Built-in audio decoders: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, and DTS-HD
– Dolby TrueHD compatible: Yes (2 channel)
– Signal processors: Four 32-bit floating-point
– Audio DACs: Multichannel 24-bit/192-kHz
– HDMI audio support: Yes, up to 5.1 L-PCM
– 5.1 channel bass management: Speaker size, speaker distance, user-selectable crossover (80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz), channel level adjustment
– Dynamic range control: Yes
– MP3 and WMA playback: Yes
– Remote control: Yes, motion-activated, backlit
– On-screen display: Yes, trilingual: English, French, Japanese
– Bit-rate display: Yes
– FL dimmer: Yes
– Fast forward: Yes
– Fast reverse: Yes
– Slow play: Yes
– Step play: Yes
– Time search: Yes
– A-B repeat: Yes
– Screen saver: Yes
– Parental lock: Yes
– USB: 2
– HDMI (ver. 1.1): 1
– ColorStream Pro component video: 1
– S-Video: 1
– Composite video: 1
– Stereo analog audio: 1
– Analog audio: 5.1 multichannel
– Coaxial digital output: 1
– TosLink optical digital output: 1
– Ethernet 10/100 port: 1
– Width: 17"
– Height: 4"
– Depth: 14"

Story filed 29.01.06