Thanks crossg, look like these HD players (A3, A30, A35 including may be D3) are only read video or MPEG CD-R not audio ones. So I take it that we can't play any MP3/WMP CD-R or CD-RW with these players. This is only my take.

Anyone try an original music CD?

I don't think you can play audio/music CD with this baby.

The Toshiba players all play audio CD's very nicely. Even give you a pretty wavy-blue screen and output PCM over HDMI.

They do not support MP3 or other file formats.

According to the information on hand about the structural design of HD DVD, despite DVD player which they are plain player with optical or laser sensor to read and write, the HD DVD are designed more like computer with DVD Drive, RAM memory , Operating System and finally with Processor.
Having said that why the manufacture are not providing USB port instead of regular RGB port for wireless connection to interest rather that connecting with coax cable? May be there are some HD players that they USB port. At least I am not aware of that, do you?

I didn't have any problem with either of the A3s in regards to the formats listed above (barring CD-RW since I never use them). I have tried several different types of music and DVD recordables (including DL DVD+R) and they all work fine. Also TCAS your A3 DOES HAVE a USB port. Look right below the on/off button on the front of your player and you will see a little tab, pop it open and you will see the USB port. Toshiba added this for the convenience of future upgrades on all of their standalone models. Nice of them, wasn't it.

You are right esterrace and thank you for that , amazing there is no place in Toshiba "A3" manual referencing to this USB port being available unless I have not notice it yet. The questionis, is this USB port active to be use as connection for USB adapter for internet wireless connection or as the case of Samsung Plasma TV 5054 is just for the service purposes.?

Honestly, I have no idea as I have not tried to use it for anything yet. It is mentioned in the Toshiba A3 manual as being there for future updates. That is all it says. I am wondering though if you couldn't get it to be detected by your computer using the same UDF V2.5 that is used for the 360 HD-DVD add-on as the 360 HD-DVD is all Toshiba as well. *EDIT* there is a little blurb about it on page 28 of the manual.

Yes, on page 28 also under Notes: item number (4) says:

"If you with to use a wireless network to connect to the player, you will need to use a wireless LAN ethernet adapter to connect to the player to the network"

So the only way we could connect the so called wireless adapter to the player is via "USB Port" therefore question is what the port will be is the one in front of the player which is the only USB port?.

The worse news for some of us HD players owner was announced by "NETFLIX" that they are no longer carry and sell Toshiba HD players and will switched completely to BR. So that leaves the destiny of HD players in doubt and limbo.

It better be a HUGE MESSAGE to Paramount and Universal IMO. I'm already not buying any of their HD DVD's, but, now I won't even be able to rent them. If they want my business, they're going to need to throw their stuff on Blu-ray. Support HD DVD if they must but Blu has clearly won this war. We're just delaying the inevitible and prolonging a fruitless "war" at this point. It's ridiculous.

TCAS, netflix doesn't sell Toshiba HD players.
Plus the bestbuy recommendation news, I think the race will be over soon. With two major retailers and online rentals chosen a format, I don't see where Universal and Paramount can channel their movies anymore.

Where did you read this? I don't buy it. It's propaganda just like at war times. Republican vs. Democrat etc.

People suing Sammy for pumping out expensive crappy Blu-ray players now........

People read what they want to hear......

Play your DVD's on a Blu-ray player and see how they look. Why anyone would buy a player that cannot play/upconvert the regular DVD discs they already have is beyond me.

I'm not going to re-buy all the movies i have already bought that senseless.

Yup, furthermore even if HD-DVD tanks we are going to be able to get a bunch of high-def titles for dirt cheap that won't be on Blu-Ray for a while and certainly not as cheap. HD-DVD already has some great deals running at amazon.com and barnes and noble with many titles ranging from $10-$15 a piece. Here is the breakdown of my collection thus far:

2001: A Space Odyssey-Got it for free with my player
The Battle Of The Bulge-Traded in a handful of old DVDs that I didn't want anymore and added $7 of my own money to finish off the costs.
The Bourne Identity-Got it for free with my player
The Italian Job-Got it for free with my player
The Mummy-Got it with Van Helsing as part of a Bogo deal from Amazon for $23 shipped.
The Mummy Returns-Got it for free with my current player
Transformers-My most expensive HD-DVD purchase to date. $21 shipped last year from Deep Discount DVD.
Van Helsing-Got it for free as part of the aforementioned BOGO deal.


I have also added the following which will be here within the next week:

The Fast And The Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious and Tokyo Drift-All for $15 each from the Amazon and Barnes and Noble sales.

I also had "300" which came with the player but I really didn't want the movie so I sold it on ebay for about $12. Bringing my total investment into my A3 player itself down to a whopping $124. I also have some more movies coming for free in the mail. Hard to go wrong with that. Couldn't even buy a decent Blu-Ray player new from a trusted e-tailer or retailer for the amount that I have spent thus far.

Eh? You're saying that Blu-ray player can't upconvert regular DVD? That's not true... My PS3 upscale very well and I've watch friend's Sony blu-ray player at their home did a good job on their 52" LCD.

Eh? Who mentioned dual format players?

I didn't. A blu-ray player can also play DVD (and upconvert it).

zevia if it plays both formats then yes it's a dual/multi format player

Ok hehe, make that triple formats since it can play CD . So does that mean HD DVD player is also triple formats?

Well actually i guess my HD-A3 is a dual format player. I never tried to play a CD-R with it though. I have a CD-R player for CD-R's.

CDan say's so..........so yeah i guess it is triple format player.