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Home Theater
 
In the Spotlight | More Topics | Top Picks | Featured Product | Common Heartburn Triggers
  from Robert Silva
Welcome to my weekly home theater newsletter! This week I address two issues that I get asked about quite often. In addition, a report on the upcoming Holiday flat panel price wars. All this, plus this week's product picks, Term of the week, and FAQ of the week.
 
 In the Spotlight
Why Analog TV Signals Don't Look As Good On An HDTV
HDTV is a great advance in home entertainment, however, during the transition period from analog to digital, there are still many consumers that are watching mostly analog television programs on their new HDTVs. This has generated a lot of complaints about the apparent degraded picture quality of analog television signals when viewed on an HDTV. For more on this, check out my Quick Tip: Why Analog TV Signals Don't Look As Good On An HDTV.

 
          More Topics
The Difference Between Commercial DVDs and DVDs You Record
DVD Recording formats are similar to but, not the same as, the commercial DVD format you buy in store, which is referred to as DVD-Video. The main difference lies in the way the DVDs are made. For additional details, read my Quick Tip: The Difference Between Commercial DVDs and DVDs You Make With a DVD Recorder .

 
Get Ready for the Holiday Flat Panel Price Wars
If you have been putting off the purchase of an LCD or Plasma Flat Panel Television so far, the upcoming Holiday Shopping Season may just be the perfect time, especially the day after Thanksgiving. Why? It is expected that you may have an opportunity to grab a 42-inch Plasma EDTV for as low as $999 or a 32-inch LCD HDTV for as low as $799. For additional details, check out the report from TV Predictions.

 
 
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 Top Picks - Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD Players  from your Home Theater Guide
Although DVD as we know it today will be around for some time to come, the advent of high definition playback for consumers is now available in the U.S., with recording capability also becoming available. Check out the latest offerings from these two high definition formats: Blu-ray and HD-DVD.

NOTE: As new Blu-ray and HD-DVD players (or recorders) enter the market, they will be considered for addition to this list.

1) Toshiba HD-XA1 Flagship HD-DVD Player
The Toshiba HD-XA1 provides consumers with access to HD video content on a DVD-type disc. HD-DVDs and DVDs (which are upscaled) look excellent via the XA-1's HDMI connection. However, despite the excellent improvement in video quality, it takes about a minute to boot up and load a disc. Also, the resolution and video output settings cannot be changed while a disc in play. The HD-XA1 is well-constructed and offers great video and audio quality, if you don't mind some of its operational quirks.

2) Samsung BD-P1000 Blu Ray Disc Player with Digital Camera Card Reader
The BD-P1000 is the first Blu-ray player from Samsung, and the first Blu-ray player to reach the U.S. market. Utilizing the Blu-ray format allows for true high-definition (720p, 1080i. 1080p) playback of new Blu-ray discs. In addition, the Samsung BD-P1000 can play back standard DVDs in an upscaled setting. The BD-P1000 also has a digital camera card reader for the viewing of digital photos on an HDTV. One drawback, it's $1,000 price tag. To find out more, check out my Product Preview.

3) Toshiba HD-A1 Entry-Level HD-DVD Player
The HD-A1 is the entry-level HD-DVD player from Toshiba. In addition, the HD-A1 is backwards compatible with standard DVDs, as well as most recordable DVD formats, and most audio CD formats, including CD-R/-RWs, MP3, and WMA encoded CDs. The HD-A1 is also the first component to incorporate three new digital audio formats; Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, and DTS-HD, which can greatly expand the audio performance of the home theater experience. Overall a good unit, but with a $499 price tag.

 
 Featured Offer
 
 Product of the Week
Pansasonic DMR-EH75VS DVD/VCR/Hard Drive Recorder Combo
Video recording fans can have it all as Panasonic announces their new 3-in-1 DVD/VHS/HDD video recorder. The DMR-EH75VS features a DVD-R-RW/DVD+R/+RW/RAM DVD recorder, VHS HiFi VCR, and a Hard Disk...read more
 
 Common Heartburn Triggers
Common Heartburn Triggers
If you have heartburn or acid reflux issues, you know there are certain foods you just can't eat. Don't let heartburn sneak up on you. Check out this list of top heartburn-inducing foods.

 
 
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