HD-DVD on XPS/Inspiron laptops - when?

I've decided to sell my HP dv6000z for a rediculously low price and get an Inspiron 9400. Problem is, I really don't see the point in have UXGA unless I get HD-DVD support. Does anyone know when such an option would be available for the Inspiron/XPS line (might get an XPS if it comes out on that first)? Think I remember someone mentioning something about it here a week or so ago but can't find the thread.

 

Likely not for a while if at all seeing as the format war is still on, sort of, well, neither Blu-Ray nor HD-DVD have been decided gone yet so the format isn't decided and thus, most likely Sony will keep BluRay to itself as Toshiba will keep HD-DVD to itself, besides for the X-Box 360 because Bill Gates can pay a lot.

 

But Acer already has a HD-DVD version of the 5672WLMi. Why not Dell?

 

because acer does not = dell does not = sony does not = toshiba... and i couldn't figure out how to do the = with the line through it so i just wrote does not in front of =...

 

Just an FYI

These notebooks as it stands now will not be able to ever play HD content on either HD-DVD or BluRay DVD, that is copywritten. The digital displays these laptops use do not have the required HDCP decoder and therefore any copywritten HD content will not display on these lcd monitors. That being said, you do have the ability to connect them to an ANALOGUE monitor to play HD content (if you have the proper drive) until approx 2010, which is when the production companies are expected to force HDCP compliancy.

There is also a SMALL chance that HDCP requirements may end up getting tossed out because of the lack of hardware support right now. Also many companies have been touting HDCP support for years (ATI and Nvidia), yet their hardware really never supported it.

I guess there is also a small chance someone may develope a software "workaround" to play these without HDCP hardware, but I wouldnt cross my fingers.

So I guess if your looking to play HD content on your lappy, look at the toshiba Qosmio's or the Acer mentioned as they are built for it already.

 

Do I need an HDTV to display HD content? Or does the Qosmio/Acer have a HDCP decoder built-in? If so, then what's preventing Dell from integrating such device into their laptops? Sorry, just a little confused here.

 

I think probably 1st quarter next year

 

Sorry that i confused you, but is a confusing situation in itself. Basically I will break it down as simple as I can.

To play any copywritten HD content (HD-DVD or BluRay) such as a movie, your hardware needs to have HDCP support built in.

For instance for a computer to play an HD movie, your video card would require an HDCP decoder, an approved HD-DVD or BluRay drive, and a Digital HDCP compliant monitor. As it stands now, there is very little hardware out there with the required HDCP decoders. But there is some.

There is one work around for those who do not have a video card or display with HDCP but do have the drive. You can output to a NON-DIGITAL (Analogue) source. But again this is a temporary solution production companies are allowing, as only a VERY small percentage of computer users have HDCP compliant hardware at this time.

The main issue with using these dell laptops with a bluray or HD-DVD drives is that non of the hardware is HDCP complaint. If the monitor that the laptops used were not digital this would not be an issue, however they are so these laptops will only play hd content out to a non digital source.

So I guess to answer your question, you do need an "HDTV" to display hd content because of the resolutions required, but it does not need to be HDCP compliant, as long as it has an analogue input.

Hope this clears things up, i know its quite confusing.

 

Sorry to confuse things more, but I may be incorrect. After reading something on nvidia's website what I have told you may not be accurate for laptop computers. They claim that:

"Laptops do not require HDCP circuitry to play high definition movies on the laptop screen."

I would not count on this too much though because I'm not sure how its possible for the player to make this descrimination. That being said I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I would love for this to be true.... but again it seems like the industry isn't even sure yet how this all works so I think its best to wait and see.

 

In reading this thread, i have to disagree with some of whats said
HDCP compliance isnt mandated till 2010.
you can play a HD/Blueray movie on your laptop as long as you have the drive

once the disks have HDCP protection, they will still play on non HDCP displays but at a degraded quality

my personal plan is to just get one of the external Firewire/usb2.0 HD-DVD drives and connect it upto my laptop to watch movies (yes they do exist but are in the $1000 range)

http://tv.about.com/od/hdtv/a/hdmidvihdcp_2.htm

 

I know my posts were kind of confusing but if you look again, this is exactly what I said. HD content is able to be played on non HDCP compliant hardware as long as its is not through a digital connection (DVI/HDMI). That being said you can use an analogue source such as VGA to output the HD signal, and like your post says it will be at a downgraded quality, which would be the same as watching regular dvd. The main issue here is that the displays on the e1705/9400 Dell laptops is a digital connection. Therefore I would assume it would not allow HDCP encoded signals to play. I may be incorrect as nvidia states otherwise, but I'm assuming its because they are assuming most laptop displays are using an analogue signal.

Either way, if it even does play on these displays who cares if its at the same quality as regular dvd... seems like a pretty good way to waste $1000. Save your money and get the proper hardware to take full advantage of HD content.

If anyone wants to confirm this go to cyberlink's website and they have a tool you can download to test the HD compliancy of your system. You will see the display on these laptops is not HDCP compliant...