Yes it is not high definition but HD-DVD doesn't exist. D-VHS movies are rare. I want to choose what movies I watch and currently SD-DVD is the best way to buy most movies. Plus HD replacements probably won't be out for most movies for a while after HD-DVD is released. Not to mention HD-DVD is 3 years away.

Um, Jimmy, I think that John's point is that the upgrades are worth it only if you can afford buying an entire system that has components that take advantage of each other's features. Did you know that HDTV itself has not been finalized? No one can decide if 780 or 1080 is enough. What's the point of progressive scan? Yes, video lines are doubled, but progressive scan isn't true HD ANYWAY, so progressive scan would look best with a non-HD TV set--meaning, something that has about the 500 lines of resolution that current DVD has.

I don't have a lot of money. I am an upper middle class. I don't own an HDTV but I want one. It will be affordable soon though. I own a progressive scan DVD player because I know someday I will own an HDTV. I just preparing myself for the future.

Fujitsu all the way if you have the kind of money that Jimmy has, John. :D

Ah, but that's the problem--HD-DVD isn't finalized, but HDTV broadcasts exist. HDTV broadcasts look better than 500-lines DVD, and no amount of line-doubling via progressive scanning will yield as good of a picture as native HD (either 780 or 1080, take your pick). If you really wanted the best picture, you can buy a D-VHS machine and tape HD broadcasts off the air--yes, believe it or not, tape recorded programs can actually look better than DVD visuals!

There 480-lines TV sets that have built-in line-doubling, and there are HDTVs that have line-doubling, too. The real problem is that no one has agreed on any standards for future development. The fact of the matter is that not even DVD is actually a "digital" format (all those wires that we try to hide are all analog conversions of bitstreams--even Dolby Digital and DTS sound mixes are analog reproductions when played via current home theatre technologies).

I know what you meant by "if we all waited, then no one would buy anything", but home theatre isn't home computing. Wintel machines will have specs dictated by Microsoft and Intel anyway, period. On the other hand, we have to wait for at least twenty major electronics manufacturers to sort out their differences to make heads or tails of HD, HDTV, DTV, HD-DVD, SACD, etc.

I understand that DVDs maximum resolution of 720 x 480 is still low in comparison to High Definition. DVDs will look better on HDTVs even without a progressive scan. Still even a full progressive scan DVD picture is not high definition. 720p broadcasts are 2.7x better 1080i broadcasts are 3x better and 1080p broadcasts are 6x better. Still you can't buy disc movies in that resolution. I want to choose which movies I watch and for that ability I can settle for lower resolution for the time being.

Also about D-VHS true it is superior to DVD picture wise. It has up to 6x the encoded resolution of DVD. Still D-VHS titles are rare, players are expensive, and tapes have some disadvantages. Rewinding, no menus, degration, no extras, and large clucky size. With all that it hard to say whether that hugly better picture is worth it. Im sticking with SD-DVD until HD-DVD comes out. I am not switching back to tape even if it had 12x the resolution.

Hey, KP, allow me to offer my two cents...

It's probably not worth buying a replacement DVD player if the one/ones that you have is/are working fine. Have a little patience and let the media companies duke it out in terms of DVD-A or SACD, DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD+R/DVD+RW, which next generation home video format (HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, HD-DVD-9, etc.), etc. The dust should be clearing within a year or so...

Hey John, I know I'm a little bit late to the conversation, but I was wondering if you've ever compared your Sony 7700 to a Progressive Scan player? I've read before that even without progressive scan, the 7700 is still a little better than many ENTRY-LEVEL progressive players. Of course, I don't know if that's true, and I doubt it even compares with a high end (or maybe even mid-range) progressive player.

But even though the 7700 has been such a great and high quality player for me over the years, I've often wondered if it would really be worth upgrading to a progressive scan player.

KP

Thanks for the tip, Eddie. I agree with you.

Although I'm happy with my audio setup, I'm still up in the air about everything video. I need a new TV much more than I need a p-scan DVD player.

KP