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Editors' note: Toshiba officially announced it will stop producing HD DVD products, bringing an end to the format war. For that reason, CNET recommends that people avoid buying this player for high-definition movie playback.
One of the big selling points of the Sony PlayStation 3 is its integrated Blu-ray player. Microsoft, by contrast, opts to omit an HD disc player from its console, guaranteeing a lower sticker price. But the company does offer an HD disc solution in the form of the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player, a $200 external optical drive that adds HD DVD compatibility to the gaming multimedia rig. It connects to any of the Xbox 360 models via the included USB cable and, like the 360 itself, you can either stand the drive upright or lay it down horizontally. Whichever way you go, the whole outboard concept is a little kludgey compared with the nicely integrated PS3. Moreover, while the affordable $200 price tag may be hard to resist for those who already have a 360, the plummeting price of standalone HD DVD players makes the 360 add-on less of a compelling deal than when it first appeared. Still, Microsoft sweetens the deal by including an Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote and (for the time being) Peter Jackson's King Kong--an HD DVD exclusive title that demonstrates just how great movies can look in high-definition. The value of the HD DVD add-on drive is largely dependent on whether or not you have an Xbox 360 already. If you already have one and don't mind missing out on high-resolution audio, it's a relatively cheap way to get into the format and offers excellent video quality. But if you have to buy both the 360 and the HD DVD add-on drive--or you're an audiophile looking for the best possible sound--you're probably better off with a relatively cheap standalone player instead.
Design
Like most other Xbox 360 accessories, the setup phase of the HD DVD Player is a breeze. Before connecting the HD DVD player to your Xbox 360, you have to insert the included software disc into your Xbox 360. You should also make sure that you've updated your Xbox 360 with the latest system software, which is available for download via Xbox Live. Once you've loaded the HD DVD drivers, you're ready to plug in. Of course, to get the true video quality benefits of HD DVD, you'll need an HDTV with your Xbox 360 connected to it via component video, the optional VGA adapter, or--for newer Xbox 360 Premiums and the Xbox 360 Elite--HDMI. If you're not going to make a high-def connection to your TV, there's really no reason to buy the drive.
