http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/ Engadget HD Comments for http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 1:38AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 1:49AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 1:43AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 5:36AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
I imagine this will lead to a $199 A3 permanently.

Still not buying EITHER, though.]]>Dec 17th 2007 1:49AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/This is just a way to clear obsolete stock, and get ready for 1.1 profile, and then sony will return to their greed obsessed, anti consumer ways.]]>Dec 17th 2007 2:04AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 2:12AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEAL smart.

If you want to go Blu, then spend the extra $100 on the PS3.]]>Dec 17th 2007 2:19AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 8:41AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 1:34PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
Still, Sony can't match the HD-A30 in price, $233 @ Amazon.com is a steal for 1080p action.]]>Dec 17th 2007 2:24AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
@music pirate -- i guess its still widely thought that firmware updates are magic fixes. If hardware can't physically do something, no firmware can make it. In this case, updating firmware won't make a second audio and video decoder appear on the circuitboard, nor an ethernet port appear on the back.

As long as future 1.1 profile movies run on this, then great! can't beat 5.1 analog outs so you don't have to upgrade to a 1.3 hdmi receiver if you don't have one (thats another few hundred), and PS3 requires an HDMI receiver for high-res sound.]]>Dec 17th 2007 2:46AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
Not likely as it requires picture in picture and at least 25k memory which likely include hardware changes. PS3 gets away with it because it has massive processing and graphics capacity due to the games thing, not to mention oodles of memory. But the processor (if any)in a standalone is wimpy, and no one puts "spare" memory into a dedicated product.]]>Dec 17th 2007 3:02AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 3:10AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
And it is a sell-off. WHat should be interesting is 1) what price the new BD 1.1 players settle at; and 2) whether there are more BD-only players or more dual-mode. By this time next year, we may have Sony and Toshiba selling single-mode systems cheap and everyone else selling duals for more.

One thing is clear though -- as long as there are two formats active, the prices will continue to crater. If either side winds outright, expect prices to at least stop falling.]]>Dec 17th 2007 3:08AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 3:11AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
The fact is that Sony is looking past 1.0 players and will stop selling them as soon as they have 1.1. Which should be, roughly, January 8. So they're selling these things off while it will do them some good. If that's being a "fanboy", which to me means mindless rah-rah and senseless put-downs, what info did you bring to the party?]]>Dec 17th 2007 4:44AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
Or will the next turning point be next year's standalone players, which should be mostly dual format. Assuming they sell for less than buying two separate players, and they support all the features of each format, how does a consumer choose which type format of movie to buy when said movie is on both formats? What will it take for internet HD-DVD supporters to finally give up and accept that Bluray has come out on top? Surely it won't be Toshiba finally admitting defeat itself and pulling HD-DVD from shelves... that could take forever. :(]]>Dec 17th 2007 3:28AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
They aren't getting close in price...this is a clearance. When Toshiba cleared the A2.. it was for $99. Plus the A2 can do everything the A3 can. The A3 loads a little faster but not a new format. These profile 1.0 players cannot do what a 1.1 player can..and sometime in 2008 the profile 2.0 players come out and the 1.0 and 1.1 will be out of date.]]>Dec 17th 2007 6:04AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 8:53AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 4:52AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/wooooooo, settle dude, like you said, this is a blog, no need to have a heart attack!]]>Dec 17th 2007 6:26AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 11:24PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 7:10AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
Profile 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 will not become out of date. Ppl who want pip and ethernet jack will buy 1.0 or 2.0.

They will still sell 1.0 players for those who don't want the other profile players.

Since blu-ray has a standard now what is your selling points??????

HD-DVD is dead why can't you see that??????

All profile 1.1 players are firmware upgradable to 2.0 since they include the ethernet jack.


NOW WHAT?????
]]>Dec 17th 2007 7:17AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/"Why do HD-DVD fanboys always use the profile out of date CRAP!!"....

Ummmmm, because it is.]]>Dec 17th 2007 7:48AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/This is just a clearance sale before the new discs arrive.

Isn't that gonna be a pisser when Joe Schmo buys his profile 1 player and a profile 1.1 disc and takes it home to show off to the family..."Dad you tool, this F'N disc wont play", hahahahahaha.]]>Dec 17th 2007 8:00AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
Cause it's not..see how Transformwer out sold Pirates? As will Bourne.

And the same could be said about ps3 being dead getting creamed by xbox 360 and wii sales...both hardware and software.

RIP ps3]]>Dec 17th 2007 8:18AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 7:22AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
*Yawn*

Wake me up when profile 1.1 players and when a company actually is smart enough to include a ethernet port (BDA is really dumb, ethernet port is THE BEST way to update the firmware) in a Blu-ray player under $300, then it will actually be something to to talk about and I will be more than happy to buy one.

Until then, these crippled beta machines are over priced, outdated junk.

I also find it funny that the Blu-ray zealots are all over this right away, saying that it is a good move, not a firesale and all that other bullshit. Can we say double standard? HD-DVD does the exact same thing, lowering prices on old models (never mind the fact that while being old, the HD-DVD players are not outdated like the Blu-ray players) and it is a move of desperation, a firesale and all that other bullshit. Would you Blu-ray sheeps please make up your mind, if it is a good thing for one, it is a good thing for another. Same goes with the additional features that HD-DVD has had from day one, that you sheep are calling pointless and no doubt will be hailing as the next best thing since sliced bread when you guys finally get it in your profile 1.1 and 2.0 players.]]>Dec 17th 2007 7:34AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 8:57AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
Or, you could actually already understand that sentence and just be a troll. Which makes me sad for you.]]>Dec 18th 2007 4:15AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
As for the battle btwn blu-ray and HD, neither products is going anywhere anytime soon... So you guys better get your lounge chairs and watch the two assholes go at it...]]>Dec 17th 2007 8:52AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
Also, while Sony is the big face and appears to be a major driving force behind Blu-ray, they are not the only company behind it. Blu-ray is partly Sony tech, but no solely. Also, the BDA was formed, since the DVD Forum had picked HD-DVD as their successor to DVD, to have a group of companies govern the format so one company doesn't have full control. It is the same for HD-DVD, Toshiba may look like the main driving force behind the format, but they do not have full control, the DVD Forum does.]]>Dec 17th 2007 9:32AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
That "while" isn't over. The fact that blu-ray has exactly two devices currently capable of doing what was initially envisioned (PS3 and Panasonic's new player) demonstrates that the technology is not yet mature.

HD DVD is mature, because it was designed to be mature. Lower capabilities, of course. Toshiba dumped A2 at $99 - $199. Sony is dumping S300 at $299. That difference is probably real and reflects the different costs of production.

These things aren't "the same" yet. Take at least another year.

But, given the fact that with minor exceptions (e.g. ethernet) and modifications, the blu-ray hardware is sufficient to also play HD DVD, the cost of a dual-format player is not that much more than the cost of a blu-ray player. And far more interesting to the consumer. ]]>Dec 17th 2007 11:26AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 9:14AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/I know you may think I am just being biased but these are just observations form a 12 year vet of the av business, and by the way almost no one knows or cares about profile 1.1, 2.0 , besides the discs are backwards compatible anyways if you dont care about PIP commentary(most people dont use commentary now.)
]]>Dec 17th 2007 10:39AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Wow what a shitty post that just was! Considering that roughly only 200,000 blu-ray standalone players have sold since inception, I HIGHLY doubt that you are selling hundreds of these things so just stop lying.. 2nd, dont say shit that isn't true.. of course every single Toshiba can download the new firmware updates through the ethernet port.. For you to say they dont is just idiotic! Third, that $500 built tough sony you are bragging about is the biggest piece of shit blu-ray player out there! I bought it at costco many months ago and returned it just days later as the stupid thing was the slowest loading blu-ray player out there for any java disc, took between 2-5 minutes to load Crank and a Pirates disc, and not to mention that it drops frames during the movie, I'd have the screen go black for a second with the sound still playing and confirmed on avs forums from many others that I was not the only one, this was just one piece of shit player.. I have not had any of my Toshiba's do such a thing which you claim were built cheap at $99 value.. So take your 16 years of veteran lying bullshit somewhere else dumbass!]]>Dec 17th 2007 11:19AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
WRONG. Easy as falling off a log. Menu-driven and painless. This is the information you give to your customers?

Do I think you're biased? Not the word that came to mind.]]>Dec 17th 2007 11:30AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 11:40PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/HDA35-3
I may have been mistaken about the firmware upgrade but dont call people liars it just makes you look like an asshole if you don't know what you are talking about, and I was referring to build quality between the two machines which is relatively subjective. And by the way we have moved over 600 since july of just the bds300(FL stores only, 25 stores) and we are relatively smaller retailer with just 100 stores nationwide, continue to be a fan boy if you want and keep ignoring hard data.]]>Dec 17th 2007 12:11PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
To me that is one huge mistake in HD-DVD players. Almost no one uses wired ethernet anymore in thier homes. Certainly almost no average person. If Toshiba wanted internet connectivity they should have used a wireless network connection.

Its like the phone line that needs to be connected to a Direct TV box. Let the installer plug it in and then disconnect it.]]>Dec 17th 2007 11:42AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
That's 49 weeks in a row ... and last week Blu-ray outsold HD DVD 3:1.

Blu-ray is currently outselling HD DVD in Harry Potter sales.

A lower priced Blu-ray player is just going to increase the Blu-ray advantage, so I'm glad to see it happening.

HD DVD is an inferior format, and the sales are proving the general public prefers Blu-ray.

Pirates outsold Transformers, 300 on Blu-ray was HD movie of the year (sorry HD DVD you got the smackdown).

HD DVD is really a laughing stock in the CE world ... since Blu-ray has outsold HD DVD so consistently and by such wide margins, companies like Warner Bros. will be going Blu-ray exclusive early next year.

The future is Blu :)]]>Dec 17th 2007 11:46AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
xbox 360 has out sold the ps3 for those same 49 weeks. and last MONTH the 360 sold 1.57 million call of duty 4 vs 444,000 on ps3...BTW last week was another buy 1 get 1 free wee for blu..take the sales away and the lead is much closer.

I have seen no sales figures released yet.

A much lower HD DVD comared to blue ray helps it sell more standalone players.

Even engadgethd ran the story on how new HDTV buyer and prospective buyer prefer HD DVD to blue ray.

Transformers outsold Pirates 190k to 160k...Transformers won best audio on an HD movie. and I believe 300 on HD DVD won an award too..

PS3 is the laughing stock of the gaming world and sony has had to beg companies to keep writing games for it.

Warner has issued a press release saying they are not changing anytime soon. Just as they said they will not be influenced by game system support. Unlike Disney who has not responded to going neutral soon.




]]>Dec 17th 2007 7:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
FWIW, PIP and other tricks are meaningless. Good picture quality and sound are it. And even then they don't make BR or HD DVD attractive. I've seen over 6000 movies...I couldn't care less if the movie were on video or DVD.]]>Dec 17th 2007 11:46AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
But let's debunk the misinformation flying here.

1) IT has not been put out as a Clearance (countrary to the A2 situation). For Both Sony's and Samsung's prices, it is as far as we know the new price of the unit. And it goes accordingly to the Sony rep's declaratins of a few months aggo : "There will be sub-$300 BR players by the end of the year".

2) The 1.1 pofile only brings PiP functionality via a second stream decoder. Period. Having a 1.0 player will still let you play the 1.1 enabled discs in the future (even the 2.0 ones), you will just miss out on -GASP- PiP. OMFg I can't live without that!

3) If you want PiP, you already have the choice of the Panasonic BD30K (also a Samsung model I belive, probably the dual format).

4) The PS3 is having a 1.1 update this week (confirmed), making the most advanced HD player on the market, with its Wi Fi connectitivy included (and 2.0 ready as well btw).

Oh and yes, reports we are getting from several stores (Best Buy in particular) is that the BR players at $299 are selling like crazy (don't see why not, very good quality and Full HD 1080p, both models updatable via firmware / burned CD ROM).]]>Dec 17th 2007 11:54AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 12:22PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
Somebody mentioned the excruciatingly slow load times on java enabled discs, I timed it, from power on to seeing the studios logo thing takes 3 minutes 30 seconds. You can shed about 5 seconds off if it's set to 720p.
If I want to change a setting in the menu it takes about 10 seconds for the menu to come up, if I want to skip ahead, well I don't ever try that anymore it locks up almost every time.

Yeah Ben Alexander that's a high quality built player, compared to the A3 we started selling a week ago which has given me none of these problems.

BTW, our A3 fully boots and loads in about 1 minute 30 seconds which is about the time it takes a java-less Blu-Ray disc to load in this player.]]>Dec 17th 2007 12:45PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/Dec 17th 2007 1:38PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/17/sonys-bdp-s300-now-sitting-at-299/
I will never have anything to do with that DRM infested unfinished format. Having a collection of over 300+ DVD's myself, I won't have anything to do with Blu-Ray. I'll stick with DVD's and watch Down loadable or In demand HD content if need be. Blu-Ray was rushed out into the marketplace way to soon.

I rarely will buy anything from so called Best Buy anyway. They really need to change their name to the "Full Retail Price" store. They are the Worst Buy. You think if you were going to call yourselves BEST BUY, that you would actually be the BEST BUY, but no, they sell everything at FULL RETAIL PRICE unless they do a sale on something. At least they could sell things a bit under full retail price, but they don't even do that. You have to be a sucker to buy anything there, you could go to just about any other store and buy it cheaper! I'll go once in a while to check something out personally, then get it Online for far cheaper.
Though I could go to Circuit City for example and get the same thing cheaper.
]]>Dec 18th 2007 12:01AM