The Look And Sound Of Perfect Delayed

One of the problems behind switching media is rebuilding your library. I have several hundred DVDs, which means thinking about switching to a high definition format is a bit daunting. One of the things the companies behind HD DVD are doing to try and convince you to pick HD over Blu-ray is give you a quick library. Pick up a Toshiba HD DVD player and you’re eligible to get five free movies on HD, just sending in the proof of purchase, your receipt, and the form to select your five specific titles from the ones offered.

The movies that are being offered aren’t too bad either, with a variety of films that ensures just about anyone can find something to be interested in. I remember when DVD ran a similar promotion and the films included stuff like The Stepmother. At least in this case for every Laura Croft: Tomb Raider there’s a Casablanca involved.

I picked up my HD DVD player about two months ago, which means my HD DVD library should be arriving about any time now. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. I received a card in the mail indicating that my titles selection had been received, but that there was a delay in processing the order due to a lack of product. Lack of product? I can walk into the local Best Buy or Target and pick out just about any of the movies I selected to get free. Instead I’ll be waiting approximately another month before my new movies show up.

Now, I wouldn’t use the delay of freebies as an excuse to not get an HD DVD player. The quality is worthy of being “the look and sound of perfect” and the few actual HD DVD movies I’ve gotten to play have been phenomenal. But come on Toshiba; make this an instant promotion and let us get our movies with the player rather than making us wait an announced two months (and then one month more, at least) to make use of the HD DVD player. It’s not like you’re getting extra money out of me because I haven’t gotten my movies. Instead the player is sitting there largely unused. Getting to make more frequent use of the player just might inspire me to spend more money feeding it films though.