Toshiba launches three XDE upscaling DVRs

Toshiba's going to have to eventually wake up and realize that consumers want to watch actual HD content on their HD displays instead of just upscaled SD, but until that happens we'd better get used to seeing a lot more devices featuring the company's Super Resolution Technology / XDE upscaling tech -- we've already got REGZA HDTVs and the XD-E500 DVD player, and now it's three new Vardia DVRs. The ¥140,000 ($1,339) RD-X8 (pictured) is the top of the line unit with Deep Color HDMI output, a 1TB drive, dual-layer burner, and MPEG-4 / H.264 support, while the ¥100,000 ($956) RD-S503 and ¥80,000 ($765) RD-S303 are 500GB / 320GB models that drop the Deep Color outputs. No word on whether these will make the jump to the States, but without CableCARD slots we doubt they'll be in huge demand.

[Via Electronista]

[Shinigami @ Sep 18th 2008 6:52PM]

If they were sold for $100-200 I would consider a buy. But now you can get a Blu-Ray player for less....

[keithgregoire @ Sep 18th 2008 7:29PM]

Since the latest figures show that upscaling DVD players are outselling Blu-Ray players by at least three to one, I'd say Toshiba has the better strategy.

Since these are DVRs and not just DVD players, they cannot be compared directly to Blu-Ray players. These do seem to be a bit pricey even for DVRs, however.

[Valicore @ Sep 18th 2008 7:34PM]

The only reason they're outselling Blu-Ray three to one is the fact that every DVD player is supposedly upscaling now, including the one for $29.99 at Walgreens :P

[Jay @ Sep 18th 2008 6:57PM]

It's dusty

[Frankenstein Black @ Sep 18th 2008 7:10PM]

Yea, it's called foreshadowing...

[Lloyd @ Sep 18th 2008 7:00PM]

I agree with the above. I prefered HD-DVD to Blu-Ray but when the 'war' was lost, but I got over it immediately.
Toshiba really need to do the same and stop pumping R&D cash into $1000+ fancy DVD players. It's their own money they're wasting

[Ignatius @ Sep 18th 2008 7:11PM]

$1000 for a DVR? I'll just rent one for $18 a month from my cable company...

[tanooki2003 @ Sep 19th 2008 8:47AM]

Screw that I'll build my own from a mini-ITX project PC

[SimbaDogg @ Sep 18th 2008 7:18PM]

toshiba = a jackass. low rank me if you want. but you didn't see polaroid or fuji/kodak film refusing to adapt to the market when their products came to an end. crap, sony didn't even try to shove more beta/minidisc players down our throats, and everyone knows how infamous sony is w/ dying formats.

[Ed @ Sep 18th 2008 7:36PM]

Do you not know what a DVR is?

[nohone @ Sep 18th 2008 7:38PM]

Yes, Sony knows when to get off a dying format. That is why they stopped making Beta players in 2002 - 27 years after their introduction. VHS controlled 70% of the market in 1980, so they clung onto an format for 22 years after its official death. They still make new models of MiniDisc, 16 years after their introduction. The MiniDisc never stood a chance against the CD, but yet they still keep making them.

So 27 years or producing a dead format vs. not even one for Toshiba. And yet, Toshiba is a "jackass".

[SimbaDogg @ Sep 18th 2008 7:49PM]

Umm...yes i know what a dvr is, and i'm not even sure about your beta facts, i'm not going pretend that i know, or even bother to fact check it. the one thing i do know is that minidv tapes are are closely based on the old beta spec. But anyways, i think you're missing my point. After beta took a nose dive..when was the last time u went into a best buy, sears, circuit city, best, montgomery ward and actually had to make a choice between picking out that swag JVC vcr, and the lower priced sony beta? When was the last time that you went into a blockbuster or your mom and pop vhs tape rental store and had to sift through tapes to make sure you were getting a VHS and not a beta. Thats my point.

CE is a tough biz, there's no denying that. But just because you lost one of the most divisive and highest priced format slugfests doesn't mean that you can't thumb ur nose at the compeitition by saying "hey dont waste ur money on that, our new tech will make all your dvds look like they were mastered in 1080p" 1) that simply aint true 2) i feel bad for the people that are dishing out 150 now who actually believe that crap when (from the reviews i've seen) just about any other decent upscaling blu ray player will give you the same result, and THEN be able to truly play 1080p w/ the much improved audio as well. Points 1 and 2 are my beef.

[nohone @ Sep 18th 2008 8:09PM]

" feel bad for the people that are dishing out..."

What difference does it make to you what people buy? Maybe somebody wants a DVR with DVD upscaling, and use a different machine for Blu-ray playback. Or, maybe, Sony is not providing people with the devices they want. Searching Sony's web site, other than the one for the PS3 (which is available only in Europe, and from what I understand is not a true DVR) they do not make a DVR other than a Windows Media Center computer - for $3000. Granted, this Toshiba is not cheap either, but there are plenty of cheap DVR/upconverting DVD combos available. Why should people give up buying something they want, and Toshiba blasted for giving people what they want, just because there is something else completely different and does not fill that want.

BTW: While searching for a Sony DVR, I found that they still make and sell VCR/DVD combos. But Sony tosses out older tech for the newer, right?

[NoAndThen @ Sep 18th 2008 8:14PM]

@ nohone: why all the hating on minidisc? It's a pretty good format and definitely has a target market for those who are not professional geeks.

There are most certainly better sounding, more storage efficient solutions for audio playback, but how many actually have that, good line-in recording capabilities AND Toslink?

[nohone @ Sep 18th 2008 8:18PM]

@NoAndThen:

I am not hating on it, in fact I have mine sitting in front of me now - an MZ-R700. It does not get much use, but I connect my Sony ECM-717 mic to it when I go to concerts to record. It is a great device for that, except for the time when I accidentially hit the eject button and lost half a concert because the disk did not finalize.

The point that I was making is the opposite of hating on it. Just because there is something new or better does not mean that you have to throw out the old.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 18th 2008 8:20PM]

Sony started making S-VHS decks in 1994. They did keep making Beta decks and tapes, but really only to support those who already had them.

Minidisc did well in Europe and Japan, it was the dominant digital recording format until the iPod came along.

[SimbaDogg @ Sep 18th 2008 8:24PM]

@nohone

i think you're missing the boat. no one has at any point or another said or implied that because there is new tech you have to throw out the old. i think you pulled out your mat, and "jumped to conclusions" when no one actually said that. i mean jesus christ, i think everyone out there knows that people still buy VHS players (not combos, just players), record players, 3.5" diskettes and drives, and even cheal 35 mm cameras. its not because they're crazy, its because they're inexpensive, and still have a huge market. no one will ever take that away

[jedimike @ Sep 18th 2008 8:29PM]

I just bought a brand new 52" Samsung and I picked up an HD-DVD A30 dirt cheap... honestly, upscaled DVD's look so good that I have ZERO desire to go to Blu-Ray. The HD-DVD's do look better, but if I were to rate the difference in quality, on a scale of 10, between upscaled DVD's and true high def DVD's, I would give it a 2. The difference between VHS and DVD would be a 10. ...meaning I expect consumers to continue to buy DVD's for a long time. There's simply not enough value yet in Blu-Ray. When my upscale DVD player breaks and I can get Blu-Ray for around $99, then I'll jump in. Until then, I'll keep buying upscale DVD players.

[Bradford @ Sep 18th 2008 9:01PM]

It looks like the 80s!

[tanooki2003 @ Sep 19th 2008 8:46AM]

It could be just me but at first glance it looks like either an old clock radio that you would find in one of the bins of abandoned junk at Goodwill or an old 90's tuner from a complete rack stereo system.

[mcm @ Sep 19th 2008 9:45AM]

Has Sony bought Engadget? I've never seen such moronic reporting from viral mouthpieces of Sony as I have from Endgadget. How much are they paying you to spew this garbage!

You do know that these are HD Download players, do you not?

And speak for yourself!
Just because Sony told you to tell us that upscaling SD sucks does not make it true. I've got hundreds of DVDs that will benefit!

[MasterMike @ Sep 19th 2008 10:34AM]

"nohone @ Sep 18th 2008 7:38PM
Yes, Sony knows when to get off a dying format. That is why they stopped making Beta players in 2002 - 27 years after their introduction. VHS controlled 70% of the market in 1980, so they clung onto an format for 22 years after its official death. They still make new models of MiniDisc, 16 years after their introduction. The MiniDisc never stood a chance against the CD, but yet they still keep making them.

So 27 years or producing a dead format vs. not even one for Toshiba. And yet, Toshiba is a "jackass"."

Well truth be told they were still in production because Beta was the choice of media for major media outlets for storage....trust me I know.

@MCM - Why so angry? Are people not allowed to post their thoughts? It's not like they are attacking you. I have both an upscalling DVD player and a PS3 for Blu-Ray and a 1080P plasma. Sony didn't tell me there is a difference in picture from a true 1080P HD source as opposed to something getting the resolution pumped up to 1080P......my eyes did!

My suggestion everyone chill out.....it's your own money spend it the way you want!

If you want to waste it on hookers and blow.....more power to you!!!

[CapZap @ Sep 19th 2008 12:27PM]

Nilay, I would enjoy more true HD content, but not at current prices. I was a relatively early adopter of 1080p and I find I'm quite happy with upscaled DVD content. DVD was markedly better than VHS -- no question there was added entertainment value. Upscaled DVD is cheap and adds a marginal bit of entertainment value. Full HD is great but not worth the extra cost.

I have an HD DVD box, bought four movies when I got it and never got another HD movie -- even well before the death of HD DVD. It's just that actual HD is no more entertaining or engaging that the upscaled DVD. And it's not my set -- I have a 52" Sharp that has an incredible display.

Strange that everytime I see a mention of Oppo, the comments are positive but when Toshiba does a new upscaling player, the comments are negative. Seems like online journalists have a problem with Toshiba. By and large, Toshiba makes quality products.