Toshiba HD-A3 with 12 free movies available at Wal-Mart "secret" sale

There's certainly been no shortage of HD-DVD deals lately (or Blu-ray ones, for that matter), but it seem like those looking to get the biggest movie collection right out of the gate won't be able to do much better than Wal-Mart's upcoming "secret" sale, which includes a Toshiba HD-A3 player with twelve free HD-DVDs for $298. That, of course, includes the usual two movies in the box and five more by mail, plus an additional five that you'll get "instantly" when you buy the player (no word on what you'll have to choose from). You'll have to get up early if you want to walk away with that stash, however, as the sale gets underway tomorrow at 8 am sharp, when you'll also be able to snag a 50-inch Vizio plasma TV for $998 or a 40GB PS3 with a free $50 gift card for $399, among other slightly less notable deals.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Iphtashu Fitz @ Dec 6th 2007 4:43PM]

That's almost enough to get me to actually go to a Wal-Mart. Almost, but not enough.

[Sean C. @ Dec 6th 2007 5:36PM]

FYI, the 5 movies that you get instantly are any movies that are

[Sean C. @ Dec 6th 2007 5:37PM]

Son of a nutcracker! It cut off my comment.

It's for movies that are under 30 bucks.

[Andrew @ Dec 6th 2007 7:14PM]

That "son of a nutcracker" had me rolling. Thanks!

[E71 @ Dec 6th 2007 7:40PM]

Ah, the smell of HD-DVD camp's desperation in the air.

[zargon @ Dec 6th 2007 9:52PM]

"Ah, the smell of HD-DVD camp's desperation in the air."

Ah, the stench of the Blu-ray trolls in the air.

[Nogami @ Dec 7th 2007 3:54AM]

When I checked a local store for their selection of HD DVD media which was available under one of the many similar "buy the player, get movies for free", the movies were almost all crap. There was 1 or 2 good movies, and the rest were "filler material".

So ya, on paper, 12 free movies sounds good - just realize that what you'll be getting, are largely "stock that wouldn't sell otherwise".

[Alex Padilla @ Dec 6th 2007 4:44PM]

dammit, if I wasn't a poor college bastard, I'd be all over this deal. 12 movies, no matter WHAT they are is still a great way to start off one's HD-DVD collection.

too bad I'm missing out. focking college-induced poverty, keeping me "last gen"

[rv @ Dec 6th 2007 8:33PM]

You and me both bro. Im stuck with a 12 inch crt tv :(

[Peppie @ Dec 6th 2007 4:46PM]

This is why I support HD-DVD. Look at these deals. I know Blu-Ray is "technologically superior" but HD is available now and works with almost everything.

[Kurt @ Dec 6th 2007 4:57PM]

it's not technologically superior...the disk has more capacity but that doesn't make it superior

[Shmoe @ Dec 6th 2007 5:17PM]

And HD DVD will have higher capacity of 51 gigs once they go 3 layers that will probably be backward compatible with existing HD DVD players. HD DVD was smart to require all players have and ethernet connection for downloads.

[andy @ Dec 6th 2007 5:46PM]

If every HDDVD player cannot read the disc, then the disc is not an HDDVD disc according to the official HDDVD specification.

[Trent @ Dec 7th 2007 2:07PM]

Blu-ray is only "technologically superior" in that it includes an additional layer of DRM and watermarks, is a little bit bigger, and is an unfinished standard. Why on earth would you want blu-ray when they keep updating "profiles" and the existing movies and players don't support those "profiles" or features. Not only that, but anyone that rally's against DRM and supports blu-ray is a hypocrite.

Take PIP, so now profile 1.1 is out and you can buy a player with profile 1.1, none of the existing movies save the one announced today support that profile and can do PIP. So if you must have PIP and you have already purchased movies then you will need to repurchase them once the profile 1.1 of the film comes out. I imagine this adding of profiles will continue for years (if blu-ray is around that long). And each profile invalidates the hardware and discs produced before the profile was finalized.

[Jeebus @ Dec 7th 2007 4:48PM]

"it's not technologically superior...the disk has more capacity but that doesn't make it superior"

So HD-DVD is not superior to regular DVD?

[Jeebus @ Dec 7th 2007 4:50PM]

FUD FUD FUD

[Denver_80203 @ Dec 6th 2007 4:47PM]

Unfortunately all 12 movies must be Chuck and Larry

[Rob @ Dec 6th 2007 5:18PM]

Great catch. I didn't notice the two pictures of the Chuck and Larry movie box. However, this is not the greatest deal around. It was nice when people got this player for $99 around Black Friday. The factor that would make it a sweet deal or not is in the choice of movies offered. However, Wal-Mart had a secret PS3 sale with 10 free Blu-Rays on the spot, and from what I read people made out like bandits picking up new releases like Ratatouille and the likes. So you never know. It might be worth venturing in and finding out.

However, I don't think people should be paying more than $150 for this player. Make it $175 and all those flics, I'll jump right on it.

[Marc Federico @ Dec 6th 2007 5:26PM]

lol ebay influx. nah but this is a really nice deal, probably the only better one is the $129.99 hd dvd drive for 360. 5 free movies + king kong + remote + it works on any pc without drivers. i kinda wanna get my parents one for xmas. go away already bluray.

[MD @ Dec 6th 2007 6:22PM]

@Rob

Umm they are paying about 150 for it not including the 5 free mail in rebate discs. 2 are with the box and 5 from their selection. At 19.99 each, I'm being generous too, that's 140. The player will pay for itself.

It's a great investment. I'll probably take advantage of this tomorrow.

[decypher44 @ Dec 6th 2007 6:23PM]

Rob, the player for $99 was the A2. This is for the A3.

[ScOObyDoo @ Dec 6th 2007 4:55PM]

The whole "5 by mail" is a damn scam. I'm waiting on 10 "free" discs from players I got back in July. All I've seen so far are 2 postcards telling me it'll take a "little longer". This whole free disc promo has to be one of the worst executed I've ever seen. There is no way to check the status online, and the folks on the phone don't care.

[XSSIVE @ Dec 6th 2007 4:58PM]

no it's not a scam, i got my 5 with no problem.

[Mr. B @ Dec 6th 2007 5:57PM]

I got my five... but it took three months.

[Lobsang @ Dec 6th 2007 6:08PM]

i sent in my 5 hd movies form on 11/2/07, little over a month, nothing? hopefully i'll come before x-mas

[Big Sam @ Dec 6th 2007 8:27PM]

I got my free movies from both the HD-DVD addon and the PS3 deals. Both took less than 2 months and I got all the movies I requested. My brother didn't fare so well, some of his (from the PS3 deal) were switched out for other movies.

[david @ Dec 6th 2007 4:58PM]

Unfortunately, this deal wasn't as good as Best Buy's deal before Black Friday that offered the A3 for $199 and 10 movies (300/Bourne in the box, 3 of your choice from Best Buy, and 5 mail-in movies).

All told, that was a better deal - the extra $100 spent now compared to 2 extra movies doens't quite add up. Still, not to niggle about deals, this is one enticing package.

Go HD-DVD!

[MikeD @ Dec 6th 2007 5:05PM]

You can get the same player at Best Buy anytime but with two less disks for $50 cheaper.

[Ian @ Dec 6th 2007 5:07PM]

The A3 is currently available from Amazon for $224.98 (with the usual 5 free movies). http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-A3-720p-1080i-Player/dp/B000U62N1S/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1196978667&sr=8-1

[Raj @ Dec 7th 2007 4:00AM]

Actually Amazon's current A3 deal for $225 includes 12 free movies, and has free shipping.

[Gooch @ Dec 6th 2007 5:14PM]

i got my a3 for 80 bucks with 10 movies=2 in box 3 instant and 5 mail in. thank the lord for price matching at circuit city and 10% of the difference

[PatrickIs2Smart @ Dec 6th 2007 5:14PM]

1080p for the same price...
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8494499&st=8494499&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1186003898849

[PatrickIs2Smart @ Dec 6th 2007 5:18PM]

Even better! Amazon saves you an additional $20 and free shipping.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000U6AHYS

[Che @ Dec 6th 2007 9:37PM]

Of course, if you have a 1080p panel, the only difference between a player that outputs at 1080p and one that outputs at 1080i is where the last (trivial) step in the conversion from 1080p at 24 frames per minute to 1080p at 60 frames per minute takes place. Don't be confused by Blu-Ray's hype or buy the more expensive A30 because you think the picture will be different. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray disks are recorded at 1080p/24 and if you use a 1080p/60 panel the conversion process is 1080p/24->1080i/60->1080p/60. If your player has 1080i output, the last step is done by your TV, but it's a trivial step that's hard for your TV to get wrong. If you have an analog 1080p CRT, this actually makes a difference. Otherwise, none.

Alright, I heard a rumor that there is one, really weird, LCD panel out there that can actually display a 1080i input as 1080i without converting it to 1080p. I'm not sure if that's true or possible, but if so, there may be one more tiny group of people that actually has to care whether their player outputs at 1080i or 1080p, but for 99.99 percent of people with TVs that can display 1080p, there is no difference. Don't get an A30 for that reason.

[customjmn @ Dec 6th 2007 5:15PM]

As far as movie selection goes; read the fine print - "Valid on HD titles under $30." There are actually some pretty decent movies for that price too (first two Bourne movies, Goodfellas, Caddy Shack, Batman Begins, 300, etc.).

[Jason @ Dec 6th 2007 5:19PM]

Not a deal... I got the A3 on black friday for 100, with 7 movies...now THAT was a deal.

[andy @ Dec 6th 2007 5:27PM]

The better deal is listed in the fine print:

HD-A2 for 198 including 5 mail-in movies and any 5 movies in store that are under 30 bucks each.

I got the 100 dollar A2. This is that plus 5 movies for 20 bucks each, which isn't bad at all these days.

[Ryan Pierce @ Dec 6th 2007 5:30PM]

*coughcoughblu-raycoughcough*

[Jon Doe @ Dec 6th 2007 7:58PM]

Dude it appears that you have shit stuck in your throat.

[peestandingup @ Dec 6th 2007 10:42PM]

"Dude it appears that you have shit stuck in your throat."

Or Sony's cock.

[kjb434 @ Dec 6th 2007 5:33PM]

Either way, I will never buy any HD disc player until a format wins or a duel format players for $200 become the norm.

Regular DVD's look pretty damn good on a progressive scan DVD player with Samsung 50" DLP TV

[zargon @ Dec 6th 2007 5:50PM]

If you think DVDs look good now on your HDTV, just wait until you see HD-DVD on it.

[Ig @ Dec 6th 2007 5:33PM]

Quick, somebody notify Michael Bay!

[Jon Doe @ Dec 6th 2007 5:42PM]

Maybe he and Ballmer can throw a chair together for peace?

[Jon Doe @ Dec 6th 2007 5:41PM]

Meh. I got the A3 off of Amazon for $170 with 10 free. Nothing overly impressive here. Especially since its coming from Wally World. The day I step into Wally World is the day I'm starving to death and every other store is closed. Even then I'd have to think about it a second.

[Mad Mike @ Dec 6th 2007 7:06PM]

I just got the HD-A30 1080p for $7 cheaper, shipped with 7 free HD-DVD's. I called every Wal-Mart within driving distance of my house and none had the HD-A3 in stock. I looked online and found the HD-A3 for MUCH cheaper at Amazon. Then I saw the HD-A30 for about $60 more. Even though the reviews say that the 1080p/60 is "lackluster" on the HD-A30, the 1080p/24 works great. I have a 1080i projector anyway. But the real seller over the A3 was the Ethernet port. If I can get access to it to update the firmware via the Ethernet port, I can hack into it. :-)

[andy @ Dec 6th 2007 7:17PM]

dude, this is the main selling point of all HDDVD players; a completed specification.

ALL hddvd players are REQUIRED to have ethernet, a specific amount of persistent storage, and dual HD stream decoders (for PIP extras).

[andy @ Dec 6th 2007 7:19PM]

ps, your projector is 720p. The only interlaced projectors were some of the old 3 gun CRT's.

[harosa @ Dec 6th 2007 7:25PM]

Navstar, ive been on the fence about the 360 add on, how is it noisewise when watching a movie, this is the one drawback for me thats making me want to get a dedicated player instead of having to turn on my 360. Is the PS3 any better?

[rasher @ Dec 6th 2007 7:29PM]

Bwah hahahaha! I got my HD-A3 two weeks ago from Amazon, with 7 free movies for $117.89 delivered. Go to hell, Wal~mart!