ZOTAC introduced the new ZBOX DVD series mini-PCs which combine Next-Generation NVIDIA ION graphics with a dual-core Intel Atom D525 processor. The new ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series is available in two models: the ID31 and ID31 Plus. The ZOTAC ZBOX DVD ID31 is a customizable mini-PC that lets you select and install the memory and hard drive while the ZBOX DVD ID31 Plus comes with a 250GB hard drive and 1GB of DDR2 memory. Both systems feature an integrated DVD drive, NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology, HDMI and DVI outputs, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and USB 3.0 connectivity.

A power-packed combination of Next-Generation NVIDIA ION graphics processor and dual-core Intel Atom D525 processor power the ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series for superior graphics performance, system responsiveness and energy-efficiency. The Next-Generation NVIDIA ION graphics processor is the heart of the ZBOX DVD series and delivers hardware decode acceleration and Adobe Flash acceleration for smooth playback of online and offline high-definition media.

An integrated DVD drive provides the ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series with DVD read and write capabilities at speeds up to 8x with DVD, DVD±R and DVD±RW media. Standard CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW media are read and written to at speeds up to 24x with the ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series.

“Our ZOTAC DVD series are the perfect mini-PCs for users that demand the best performance and energy-efficiency from a home theater PC for streaming high-definition Internet media while maintaining compatibility with their existing DVD collection,” said Carsten Berger, marketing director, ZOTAC International.

NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology with advanced video processing algorithms enables the ZOTAC DVD series to render existing DVD movies like never before with stunning details and vibrant colors for near-high-definition visuals. HDMI and DVI outputs ensure the ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series support the latest Full HD high-definition television sets. Users with only VGA ports can use an included DVI-to-VGA adapter to connect the ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series to existing displays analog displays.

USB 3.0 technology equips the ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series with SuperSpeed expansion capabilities for compatibility with external accessories that rival performance of internal devices. An internal mini-PCI Express slot is available for superior expansion capabilities with the ZOTAC DVD series.

Integrated 802.11n WiFi with dual-stream technology enables the ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series to connect to wireless networks at speeds up to 300 Mb/s for a high-speed network free of wires. Onboard Gigabit Ethernet delivers speeds up 1000 Mb/s for lightning-fast network performance for those that prefer to connect the ZOTAC DVD series to a wired network.

The Toshiba HD-A1 and XA1 players are the first in a new wave of next-generation DVD machines capable of reproducing high-definition signals of 1080×1920 scan lines. That´s quite a step up from the 480 lines produced from standard-definition DVDs, and it means a whole lot more pixels reaching your screen, up to six times as many overall. Which means a far better, more detailed picture, no matter what size screen you´re watching.

Most of the reported 10,000-15,000 HD DVD players shipped to dealers apparently went to Best Buy, and if that retailer is representative, only 2-3 players were allotted to each store, along with a handful discs. The players were gone within a day—some dealers had put them up for sale on the 17th.

In a piece of questionable if not misleading promotion, Toshiba prominently displayed King Kong in its print and online ads for the HD DVD format. While everyone expects to see that Universal film on HD DVD eventually, a high-definition release of that DVD has not, to the best of my knowledge, been formally announced.

Setup is simple enough. The HD-A1 supports HDMI and Component output for HD signals, and can also output 480p over S-Video and composite. Audio output options include coaxial and optical digital, as well as stereo RCA and 5.1 analog. An Ethernet port allows for future firmware updates and access to interactive web content. Once wired up, the HD-A1′s on-screen menu system allows for resolution, output format, and sound format selections. It’s worth noting that if you start the unit for the first time via an HDMI connection you must command the unit to activate HDMI with the remote before you’ll see anything on screen. Strangely, if an HD-A1 connected via HDMI remains powered on while you switch between video sources on your TV or receiver, “HDMI ERROR” begins flashing on the HD-A1′s display, which is disconcerting.

The errors often occurred when we switched between inputs on an A/V receiver–imagine pausing a movie and switching over to ESPN to check the score of a game, for example–but on at least one occasion, our movie just stopped playing. The HDMI problems occurred when the HD-A1 was connected to a variety of receivers, HDTVs, and cables we had on hand, so we asked for a second opinion. The result: the Toshiba HD-A1′s HDMI implementation wasn’t up to industry standards with its early firmware and remains somewhat dodgy, even after the latest firmware upgrade. For many users, this may pass unnoticed, but depending upon which TVs and receivers you connect to it, the HD-A1 could perform erratically, as it did for us.