Toshiba SLASHES HD DVD player prices

[JU1CYFRU1T]

In responce to Warner's "abandon ship" move... Toshiba has responded by slashing player prices.

Source:
Providing our best peek yet at HD DVD's post-Warner strategy, Toshiba today announced lower prices for its third-generation HD DVD players and plans for a shift in marketing focus for the format.

Calling price "the most critical determinant" in reaching mainstream consumers, Toshiba announced an immediate drop in the MSRP for its complete line of third-gen HD DVD players, pricing its 1080i entry-model HD-A3 player at $149.99, the HD-A30 at $199.99, and the high-end HD-A35 at $299.99.

LINK (http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Toshiba/Toshiba_Slashes_HD_DVD_Player_Prices_Shifts_Marketing_Focus/1366)

This makes the Universal players WAY over priced again. For $686, you can get two FANTASTIC players (the A35 and the BD30) with 10 free discs (5 BD and 5 HD). That's $100 less than the UP5000... and you don't get any discs with that player (~$200... at $20 per title average). So adding it all up... to get the same materials... the UP5000 is going to cost you ~$1000 vs $686... a difference of $314.

Now... to explain to the wife why I need a new HD DVD player (A1 is still running strong)... I wonder if an :illoveu: will work?...

[gparris]

I got a HD-A3 for $199.99 for Christmas less the gift card and now BB refunded the $50 difference (30 day protection) plus tax today.
Subtract the free HD DVDs that will (eventually) come in the mail and it's like...free.
I too, have a HD-A1, but if it ever goes bad, I have a backup, now.

JU1CYFRU1T: Tell your wife that with the five free HD DVDs, its like FREE.
BTW, the HD-A3 weighs about 7 pounds, fits better in the HT rack, looks better and loads much faster! :D

[Just Ask]

From reading the Toshiba Press Release, it looks like they are marketing the HD-A3 as an an HDMI upconverting player that happens to play HD DVDs. An intersting move. One that may work. We will have to check back in at the end of the QTR to see their results........

There is also a lot of buzz on the web about the 1080p players as well. Some "fence sitters" seem to be buying, even after the WB announcement. Interesting......

[mjones73]

It does work as a nice up converter. I glad I got mine on sale, I would have been pissed if I paid $300 for it 2 months ago instead of $200.

[abeas]

I would have been pissed if I paid $300 for it 2 months ago instead of $200.

I remember paying $499 for my A2 November of 2006. What a nice decrease in price until now. I couldn't wait though. Damn it.

[mjones73]

Ouch, my co-worker was lucky enough to nab one of those for $99 at Walmart.

[Just Ask]

Me too! So far, I have invested a whopping $98.97 in HD DVD players. I got a FREE HD-XA1 at work and bought the HD-A2 at Wal*mart on that famous Friday.

I snapped up a Sony BDP-S300 for $199.00 after rebate from Sony.

[mjones73]

Off topic for the thread but $200 would probably be my breaking point for a Blu-Ray player also. With all this profile update talk coming I'm in no rush to buy either way.

[abeas]

I'm in no rush to buy either way.

There's always the PS3. I have seen my go from 1.0 to 1.1 with legacy upconversion, and soon to be 2.0.

[Ratman]

If Sony put as much effort into a standalone BRD player as they did a gaming system and lowered prices accordingly, this "war" could have been over before it started.

[projectpete19]

I just saw the HD-A3 at BB today for $150 regular price with 5 free HD-DVD's

I was tempted

[kevinw]

I snapped up a Sony BDP-S300 for $199.00 after rebate from Sony.
How? From SonyStyle

[Just Ask]

How? From SonyStyle

Yes, had to apply for Sony VISA and purchase directly from SonyStyle for $299. $100 credit is applied in 8 to 12 weeks. Also got no payments for 12 months...

[kevinw]

I was considering the same plan.. How do you like the snow? :wave:

[Just Ask]

Will have to look outside again. It was not snowing 30 min ago. But it is now. Very Nice :wow:

[mjones73]

There's always the PS3. I have seen my go from 1.0 to 1.1 with legacy upconversion, and soon to be 2.0.

Yeah but I don't play games much. Kinda sad that only the game console is upgradeable. :)

[abeas]

Yeah but I don't play games much.

Nor do I, in fact, I don't own any games for my PS3. Downloaded a few free demos, but that's it. It seems you don't want to go the PS3 route, which is totally cool and your decision, but if you are looking to get a BR player soon, I couldn't recommend one better than the PS3. Price is decent, loading times are amazing, upconversion is above average, connect to a PC or Mac using DLNA and stream video, audio, pictures straight to your PS3 and big screen, web browsing, wireless and wired ethernet for upgrades.....but this is stuff you probably already know. Best bang for the buck right now in terms of BR. Only thing in my opinion that is missing is 5.1 analog outputs, since a lot of us do not own HDMI receivers.

[brector]

I got a PS3 on Monday for BluRay. I got the Lego Star Wars for it, but haven't played it too much. Now I am future proof - lol!

[Just Ask]

It was not having the analog 5.1 audio out that was a major part of my decision to pass on the PS3.

[mjones73]

I'm not ruling out a PS3 totally, it's just still above my break point. :)

[InTheBox]

Thanks to this thread ill would lost 100 bucks. Bought my A30 approx a month ago and best buy gave me the diffence. Now lets hope warners and other studios take notice how many people have HD DVD players.