Re: New list price on Toshiba HD DVD players?

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Blurry whoever ran Toshiba's advertising for the last year should have been fired. Where was all this information they are just now posting when people were choosing sides over the past year?? I think it's great that Toshiba is finally pushing the product, but it might be too little too late....I hope not.

No, I do not at all believe it is too little too late. Once the negative buzz from last week settles into the past, I think people may be surprised what some positive buzz can do to turn around perceptions. It is clear that even the BDA did nott thing that the defection of Warner was enough, or they wouldn't have launched the blitzkrieg on the internet and press releases that I am sure many of you have seen last week. They were trying to go for a knock-out blow, but IMO have not succeeded. News is transient and people will see new positive developments as they come about.

I think this stage in Toshiba's campaign was likely meant for later, but clearly recent developments have forced them to accelerate their hand. It is obvious now that Toshiba is determined to target the mainstream consumer, and with the backing of Universal, Dreamworks and Paramount, this is likely an obtainable goal. While it is not likely that they can "dethrone" Blu-ray for quite some time, but by going after the HD customer rather than specifically the HDM customer, they stand to gain some momentum in regaining market share, or at the very least keep them relevant while the HDM market continues to develop.

And keep in mind this is just one facet of things taking effect going forward. Dual format players are now clearly a reality and I suspect that they too will be becoming more and more competitive with stand-alone Blu-ray players. If dual format players become effectively cost competitive with stand-alone Blu-ray players and at the same time HD DVD is penetrating the entry level HD upconversion market - and the exclusive HD DVD studios continue to release compelling content, then it is a no brainer where things will lead. Yeah, the PS3 will unfortunately continue its Trojan horse effect, but these strategies by Toshiba can still ensure that HD DVD penetrates enough of the market that it cannot be discounted.

@mak247 while it is true that tigerdirect offers the player for $130, it doesn't include the free shipping like the amazon deal does. Furthermore they don't do in-house price-matching. Amazon does. This means if they drop the price on the player (very likely given the current trends) within 30 days of your purchase, all you need to do is e-mail or call amazon about it and they will refund you the difference. Did this once back in December and knocked over $20 off the total purchase of my A3 when prices dropped after my purchase.

@carlos10 while HD-DVD's fortunes aren't the greatest right now, the fact of the matter is that the players are fast approaching a price-tag which appeals to the masses. If these things drop down below $100 in the next month or two you could definitely still see Blu-Ray given a run for it's money. At that price and with two major studios still backing HD-DVD exclusively, people will quickly overcome their scruples and invest in the player. Keep in mind that the A3s are also great up-conversion DVD players, so even if HD-DVD tanks they still have a valuable function (as it is pretty clear that neither Blu-Ray or HD-DVD) will overtake DVD any time in the near future. Blu-Ray on the other hand doesn't have any players cheaper than $300 at this point and even the cheapest ones are only V1.0 spec which means that they won't support any of the new special features/interactive features that the newer titles will offer starting in the next couple of months. As mentioned above the only thing really capable of being updated is the PS3, which runs you $400 for the cheapest model. Furthermore we don't know how the V1.1 and ultimately V2.0 Blu-Ray discs are going to deal with the older version players. People claim that only the special features won't work on the older spec players but I would not be at all surprised to see some general playback issues on at least some players or titles. I'm not saying that HD-DVD is going to beat out Blu-Ray, I'm just saying that they shouldn't be counted out until all of the movie studios abandon support for it and even then if you purchase an A3 you are still talking about a pretty cost-effective up-conversion DVD player that does a great job.

LOL FIRE SALE!!! I guess they need to sale all that hd-dvd left overs blu won and now the unknowing public will pay.

Just like the 'unknowing' public continuing to buy over-priced, obsolete blu-ray players........

Toshiba is getting rid of their surplus. You guys are insane to go out and buy these things with only two studios backing them, no matter what the cost might be, HD DVD is dead. I think people are totally fabricating buying another product knowing full well what Toshiba is doing. Two studios cannot keep a format alive, especially when both have been rather quite on their long term goals. I wonder if some of you guys still think that floppy disks won over CDs.

There is a big difference. a 3:2 lead isn't a knockout, and WB still sells HD DVD for the time being. If HD DVD is able to increase their sales to a lead in the next few months they will be in good shape when WB is set to leave. They already violated one contract by leaving HD DVD, they can do it again by canceling their exclusive agreement.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also find it interesting to note that Warner Bros. still produces titles on HD-DVD until May. That doesn't just mean clearing out old stock. It means that brand new titles are going to be released in both formats until then. It also means that as mentioned above that Warner Bros. has time to change their mind. They have made it pretty clear that is easily possible since they announced back in December that they were committed to both formats and had no plans of dropping either, then a few weeks later they announce that they are going Blu-Ray exclusive. It's not over until the remaining movie studios officially announce that they are going Blu-Ray exclusive. As for the fire sale comments, that would be true if this were initiated by the retailers but the fact that it is initiated by Toshiba, states that the company IS NOT just getting rid of their inventory. Furthermore Blu-Ray still has some major growing pains this year with the adoption of V1.1 and V2.0 specs. Most claim that this will only affect special features but I would be VERY surprised if there weren't some general playback issues as well. I really feel sorry for those who purchased the standalone units.

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[Post edited by Jesterrace on Jan 14, 2008]

that is not how it works. Most media is printed well before release dates. Most of the stuff that WB is releasing is material already printed, another problem with the argument is that WB just announced that all HD DVD titles will come out two to three weeks later than DVD and Blu Ray releases. Keep the blind misinformed, thats about how sad this whole format war is becoming. If you guys actually work in the biz, you might see things differently.

dguisinger said -

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"They [WB] already violated one contract by leaving HD DVD, they can do it again by canceling their exclusive agreement."

How do you know this - confirmation?

Have you seen the contract that you claim WB has now violated?

What you are doing (unless an insider privy to real knowledge) is providing a FUD opinion. As a non-insider, all I know about Warner is that by the end of May 2008, they will have supported the HD-DVD disc format with content for exactly 2 years - which perhaps is all that WB ever agreed to (just a guess). So, if -you- have definite knowledge of a WB contract "violation", I for one would be interested in seeing your evidence.

-Love Hendrix! (The Loverboy)
~ DVD/HD-DVD/Blu-ray/KURO Plasma owner ~

lol