Toshiba's HD-A2 HD DVD player going for a mere $199
[Thanks, Andrew]
UPDATE: Too bad -- looks like Crutchfield was forced to jack the price up by a Benjamin or face an order backlog beyond belief.
[Thanks, Andrew]
UPDATE: Too bad -- looks like Crutchfield was forced to jack the price up by a Benjamin or face an order backlog beyond belief.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ian @ Jun 11th 2007 10:14AM
If you're in the market for an HDTV, this week at Circuit City you can get the HD-A2 for $99 or the HD-A20 for $199 when purchased with any Toshiba HDTV. :)
Remember, the 5 Free HD DVDs you get with the purchase of any Toshiba HD DVD player, too!
castlegrey @ Jun 11th 2007 10:18AM
Might as well. As in, I have a HDTV and Blockbuster Online, and if the price gets low enough, I might as well buy one.
Jesse @ Jun 11th 2007 10:22AM
It says isntant rebate in the article but mail in rebate on the site. I would hope for the instant, but I doubt that's the case.
TJ @ Jun 11th 2007 10:28AM
I think these price drops are one last drop of desperation for Toshiba. They have to be loss-leading these players, and Microsoft is probably heavily subsidizing them. Part of the reason the manufacturers and studios wanted a high def format was to make back some margin on hardware and software(there's almost none in standard DVD anymore). This is why no one but Toshiba is putting out stand-alone HD DVD players right now. Why would they go with HD DVD when they have to compete with Toshiba selling players at a loss? There's a little bit more margin in Blu-ray at least (for now). And why would studios go to HD DVD when the BD discs still outsell HD 2:1? Granted, if the install base gets big enough that could encourage a studio or two to switch side, but I don't see Disney or Fox wavering at this point. And I think we all know that Sony would be the last studio to publish in HD DVD (if ever). I see Universal publishing on Blu-ray before I ever see any of those studios on HD DVD.
I can't see even spending $100 on an HD DVD player unless you a) Don't have an upconvert player already or b) more studios start switching over to the HD side. I think when Sony's Blu-ray Player hits $299 this Christmas, you'll really see the end of HD DVD. Yes, it's more expensive than Toshiba's Player, but I'd rather spend a little extra for 1080p and a larger catalog (and potential catalog) of titles.
One benefit of this high def war: It's driving the hardware prices of both formats down ridiculously fast. For everyone but early adopters, this is only a good thing for consumers, once there's one true high def format crowned.
Jacco @ Jun 11th 2007 10:56AM
You're forgetting that replication costs for HD DVD are much lower. HD DVD doesn't require AACS protection with BD it's mandatory. HD DVD is region free (which is nice for the customer, buy one in Japan, play one in Scotland). HDi is much simpeler then BD-J and less time expensive.
Blu-ray has also many advantages over HD DVD like more disc space and exclusive support from several large movie studios.
Personally I like both formats since they basically do the same thing and quallity is almost the same. Just hope more and cheaper players come out soon.
Andy Sullivan @ Jun 11th 2007 12:01PM
Great price, unless you want to buy tomorrows release of "Ghost Rider".
Alex @ Jun 11th 2007 11:56AM
this is a great time to jump in if you are waiting for HD movies. Both formats are in for the long haul, and if HD DVD craps out you have a damn fine upscaler. BUy this now and wait for the PS3 price drop in Decemeber and you got yourself future-proofed.
GioHD @ Jun 11th 2007 2:47PM
Whats up with the cheesy LED Analog readouts on the right? Reminds me of the first VCR. Toshiba is so bad when it comes to product design.
Killer @ Jun 11th 2007 2:51PM
@TJ
I don't see Universal ever making movies on Blu-ray. 2 more major studios then HD DVD isn't going to kill HD DVD.
With:
Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Music Group, New Line Cinema, HBO, Studio Canal, and Image Entertainment (including the Discovery Channel), Magnolia Pictures, Brentwood Home Video, Ryko, Koch/Goldhil Entertainment.
All going both ways, you won't see any end to this war. I buy more movies from 5 of the major studios on that list then I do with Columbia/Sony, Fox, Disney and Universal combined. There will be no end to this war. BTW, Microsoft isn't helping paying the cost. It's called the difference of HD DVD and Blu-ray, It's Cheaper to produce a HD DVD player and Disc then A Blu-ray player and disc. HD DVD is pretty close to the DVD in the way it is made. It doesn't take as much to switch out DVD producing plants to HD DVD. Blu-ray well that's a different story. They have to switch out pretty much everything.
Jeff N. @ Jun 11th 2007 4:55PM
The Fromat War will wage on for years. I see Sony's $499 Blu-ray player is listed In Stock on Sony's website. Yeah, the High Def Players prices are plunging.
Dominic @ Jun 11th 2007 6:02PM
it reminds me of DVD+/- format war... ended up accepting both, and 3rd party manif like Samsung/LG/Phillips will probably just make players that do both... I know they do that now (LG's), but with a better price bracket.
will @ Jun 11th 2007 10:33PM
thats what i keep tryin to tell people that both formats are going to end up sharing the market and if hd dvd sales continue to climb by the holiday season it will have support from more studios. u cant tell me the studios that are supporting blu ray are not lookin at the sales of hd dvd.see this reminds me of the nba eastern confrence finals when everybody thought detroit was going to beat the cavs and guess what the cavs won.just like this so called war to me i dont think its no war its the media thats calling this a war i dont care who wins the fantasy war.because at the end of each quarter stats dont lie
danny @ Jun 11th 2007 10:54PM
Toshiba can win this war if they can find a way to put an hd-dvd on the wii.
Matt @ Jun 12th 2007 10:11AM
This player doesn't appear to be going for $199 anymore...
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-MqSBzBT1CiE/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?g=279850
Otis Wildflower @ Jun 12th 2007 1:41PM
Yeah, Warner has HDDVDs (Goodfellas is the one I have, Blade Runner is the one I want), and Universal is not just the exclusives like _The Big Lebowski_ and _Dune_, but all the NBC and related cable properties' shows like _Heroes_ and _Battlestar Galactica_..