ZION
10-31-2007, 11:11 PM
Toshiba is set to release HD-DVD player for less then $200.00. Here's the article for the peep's who haven't made the jump yet...
HD-DVD Players Drop Below $200
Format scores some exclusive retailers.
by Gerry Block
October 31, 2007 - The upcoming holiday season is expected to be a make-it or break-it period for both of the battling HD-formats. While the year thus far has seen some excellent movie releases in HD, like Planet Earth, the Matrix Trilogy, Casino Royale, 300, and Transformers, and increasingly high quality hardware hitting the street, consumer adoption has remained relatively slow, especially compared to the massive market for standard DVDs. While Blu-ray and HD-DVD continue to battle, each scoring diverse wins in studio support and retail exposure, their time may be running short.
Rumblings in the industry suggest the movie studios are becoming annoyed by the slow penetration of the HD formats due to the added costs of mastering, creating extra special features, and distributing HD-format releases that are, at the moment, destined to sell next to nothing compared to the standard DVDs. The prevailing assumption is that the ongoing battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD is scaring off the buying populace. As such, unless a degree of resolution can be found in the format war this holiday season, the movie studios may begin working hard to bring about their own final solution.
The HD-DVD camp, however, is on the precipice of a major milestone many analysts have identified as a potential key to breaking into mainstream adoption, namely, getting dedicated hardware on shelves at the magic $200 price point. A good deal earlier than expected, this week the HD-DVD camp launched a retail blitz, dropping prices and securing exclusive mass-market retailers.
The big news is the fact that the first HD-DVD player to fall below $200 is not a no-name brand, but rather Toshiba's own HD-A2 player. $197 will be the going rate for the player in major retailers like Circuit City, Amazon.com, Sears, Wal-Mart, and Kmart. Each retailer will also be offering at least 5 and as many as 7 free HD-DVDs with a hardware purchase, and although the titles must be chosen from among a limited collection, their added value in a $200 package is significant.
The HD-DVD camp is also crowing over the fact that Kmart has confirmed it will become an HD-DVD exclusive retailer. The move is apparently not merely an end-cap purchase, ala Target, but a corporate decision to back the format due to its lower hardware pricing than Blu-ray.
HD-DVD reps have informed us that they expect Toshiba's third generation HD-DVD player, the HD-A3, will arrive at retail priced similarly to the HD-A2. They also note that Sears will be offering a Black Friday deal on the HD-A3 that will price the player at $169 with 7 free HD-DVDs.
Dropping below the $200 mark well before Blu-ray has long been HD-DVD's ace in the hole. Now that the move has been made it will be extremely interesting to see how the holiday season plays out for the warring formats.
HD-DVD Players Drop Below $200
Format scores some exclusive retailers.
by Gerry Block
October 31, 2007 - The upcoming holiday season is expected to be a make-it or break-it period for both of the battling HD-formats. While the year thus far has seen some excellent movie releases in HD, like Planet Earth, the Matrix Trilogy, Casino Royale, 300, and Transformers, and increasingly high quality hardware hitting the street, consumer adoption has remained relatively slow, especially compared to the massive market for standard DVDs. While Blu-ray and HD-DVD continue to battle, each scoring diverse wins in studio support and retail exposure, their time may be running short.
Rumblings in the industry suggest the movie studios are becoming annoyed by the slow penetration of the HD formats due to the added costs of mastering, creating extra special features, and distributing HD-format releases that are, at the moment, destined to sell next to nothing compared to the standard DVDs. The prevailing assumption is that the ongoing battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD is scaring off the buying populace. As such, unless a degree of resolution can be found in the format war this holiday season, the movie studios may begin working hard to bring about their own final solution.
The HD-DVD camp, however, is on the precipice of a major milestone many analysts have identified as a potential key to breaking into mainstream adoption, namely, getting dedicated hardware on shelves at the magic $200 price point. A good deal earlier than expected, this week the HD-DVD camp launched a retail blitz, dropping prices and securing exclusive mass-market retailers.
The big news is the fact that the first HD-DVD player to fall below $200 is not a no-name brand, but rather Toshiba's own HD-A2 player. $197 will be the going rate for the player in major retailers like Circuit City, Amazon.com, Sears, Wal-Mart, and Kmart. Each retailer will also be offering at least 5 and as many as 7 free HD-DVDs with a hardware purchase, and although the titles must be chosen from among a limited collection, their added value in a $200 package is significant.
The HD-DVD camp is also crowing over the fact that Kmart has confirmed it will become an HD-DVD exclusive retailer. The move is apparently not merely an end-cap purchase, ala Target, but a corporate decision to back the format due to its lower hardware pricing than Blu-ray.
HD-DVD reps have informed us that they expect Toshiba's third generation HD-DVD player, the HD-A3, will arrive at retail priced similarly to the HD-A2. They also note that Sears will be offering a Black Friday deal on the HD-A3 that will price the player at $169 with 7 free HD-DVDs.
Dropping below the $200 mark well before Blu-ray has long been HD-DVD's ace in the hole. Now that the move has been made it will be extremely interesting to see how the holiday season plays out for the warring formats.