Netflix HD DVD 's

[arty100]

Anyone running into BAD DISCS from Netflix?

I have had several HD- DVD's not track all the way through.

Most problems seem at the end of the title.

I guess that is where the disc speed has slowed down.

I just had "AEON FLUX" LOCKUP 15 minutes from the end.

Discs that I have bought from Amazon track OK.

 

[Ilya]

Unfortunately, I had three cases like that recently: two in the past week.
There seems to be some correlation with firmware version.
Back on the original version (1.1 I believe) I had problems like that on every second-third disc. At that time I blamed that on bad discs, NetFlix packaging, etc. But then the first firmware update came out and it completely eliminated the problem (for me, anyway). I didn't have a single case of lockup or stutter with versions 1.2 and 1.3. However, with version 1.4 I had this happen three times. In one case it locked up the player, in two other cases this looked like a short hesitation, followed by getting audio and video out of synch (which I corrected with a pause button). This happens not as often as before (in version 1.1), but still rather frustrating.
I can't say for sure if that's a software problem, or a disc defect, but since Toshiba seemed to be able to fix a similar problem in the past, I suspect it is a software problem, and hope it will be corrected again.

 

[arty100]

It is my impression that the HD-DVD"s are more sensitive to physical defects than SD discs...

That is a NETFLIX problem for now.

They are re-sending me un-playable discs for now..

 

[Ilya]

It is my impression that the HD-DVD"s are more sensitive to physical defects than SD discs...

That is a NETFLIX problem for now.

They are re-sending me un-playable discs for now..

That's what I thought (and did) before, until a firmware update came out and fixed the problem: I watched a couple of dozens of HD DVDs from NetFlix with firmware 1.2 and 1.3 without a single problem.
So, that's why this time around I think it's a software bug again. In version 1.4.

 

[CochiseGuy]

It is my impression that the HD-DVD"s are more sensitive to physical defects than SD discs...

That is a NETFLIX problem for now.

They are re-sending me un-playable discs for now..

First of all, I have an XA1, February 2006 build. I never had any player problems - except physical disc problems - with the original 1.1 firmware, andd have not noticed any difference with the 1.2 and 1.4 firmware updates.

Yes, my impression is also that HD DVD is much more sensitive to any disc defects - dirt, scratches, etc. I've rented overt a dozen HD DVD's from Netflix and had problems with only a few. One disc looked pristine & shipped on the release day, so I was sure I was the first renter. This disc stuttered half way through. I ejected the disc and, on closer inspection, had a tiny fleck of paper from the sleeve. I cleaned the disc & it played perfectly. The only Netflix disc that cleaning did not cure any problems was Jarhead. It absloutely would not play one chapter. There was quite a discussion on AVSforum about a flaw on that disc. I didn't like the movie anyway, so just skipped the chapter.

With purchased HD DVD's, I've only had a problem with Constantine - it keep skipping around chapter 3. As it was a new purchase I hadn't inspected the disc - there was (what I hoped) was some adhesive gunk residue on the disc. (Either that, or sabotage in the disc production line from a Blur-ay fan boy!) It took too cleanings in the discwasher to get it all off, and then it played perfectly. Now I check my new purchase discs, too.

 

[Jamey K]

Anyone running into BAD DISCS from Netflix?

I got 16 Blocks this weekend and never could get the disk to lock up. After 8 attempts over 2 days, I'm sending it back.

To be fair, the disk looked like it had seen some wear. I was hoping HD users would go easier on the disks.

I've had a couple lock up but again, looking at the disk itself, it's not wonder. My Tosh seems to be very sensitive.