The review by Hawkins85 doesn't reflect this player at all. It appears he doesn't realise he bought a dud! These things happen and there are ALWAYS people who knock the product as a whole brand and not just the one they have. He mentions a slow boot up time. This is standard as it has to boot and run software like a computer. It even says in the manual that the boot time will be much longer than a standard DVD player. If you wan't a machine that takes ages to boot, slow to user commands and frequent crashes then buy a Sony BD player.
I've had my HD DVD player for months now and have yet to find a problem with it. It performs flawlessly with any disc, standard or HD and is very easy to upgrage software via ethernet connection, not like the Sony models who don't even come close in features and stability. I'm actually surprise that Blu ray won the war because it didn't win because of its user friendliness or its features. It won because its much more expensive so in the long run,… more »

The review by Hawkins85 doesn't reflect this player at all. It appears he doesn't realise he bought a dud! These things happen and there are ALWAYS people who knock the product as a whole brand and not just the one they have. He mentions a slow boot up time. This is standard as it has to boot and run software like a computer. It even says in the manual that the boot time will be much longer than a standard DVD player. If you wan't a machine that takes ages to boot, slow to user commands and frequent crashes then buy a Sony BD player.
I've had my HD DVD player for months now and have yet to find a problem with it. It performs flawlessly with any disc, standard or HD and is very easy to upgrage software via ethernet connection, not like the Sony models who don't even come close in features and stability. I'm actually surprise that Blu ray won the war because it didn't win because of its user friendliness or its features. It won because its much more expensive so in the long run, Sony & the movie companies will have you pay more because of the pirates. I believe this was a collaboration between Sony and the said movie companies to pull together to make sure Blu ray won. In other words, all you who bought a Blu ray were forced.
The HD-EP30 is an excellent performer in every way over the Sony Blu ray players and have better HDCP compatability as well. Toshiba have informed me that producton of HD DVD movies will continue even though the players are no longer produced. NOW is the time to grab a bargain FULL HD player and get some less expensive movies than Blu ray and start your HD collection. Either that or you can get robbed buying a Blu ray inferior product which was FORCED on you by Sony and the movie companies. Bad luck to Toshiba who actually invented HD and lost out to the bigger companies who banded together and stole their glory. I'm going to stock up on HD movies and will never buy a Blu ray item for the sole reason it was forced on us and didn't win by the consumers popularity choice. You have to ask the question, Why did the less expensive but highly superior brand lose out? Was it because we are stupid people and like to throw our money away? Think about it. Sony have you in their pockets.