HD DVD fires back, slashes hardware & software prices
By Richard Lawler 
posted January 14th 2008 4:11AM
posted January 14th 2008 4:11AM
HD DVD's response to being unceremoniously jilted by Warner going into CES was ... nothing. A canceled press conference, downtrodden Toshiba press conference and rumors of further losses left great doubt that red had anything left in 2008, but now HD DVD is firing back. Leveraging its "approximately 50% market share in 2007" -- we're not sure where that number comes from either, we've contacted Toshiba for clarification -- indisputable lead in the notebook market and 100% compatibility with internet-enabled HDi features, Toshiba has announced it is not laying down yet. Effective yesterday, the HD-A3 MSRP has dropped to $149.99, the 1080p-capable HD-A30 to $199.99, and the top of the line HD-A35 to $299.99. Combined with an extended "perfect offer" of 5 free HD DVDs with every purchase, Toshiba's HD DVD Concierge service, and a sudden 50% off sale on Amazon, it seems this format will not go quietly into the dark. Fire sale to clear suddenly obsolete inventory or real chance to hang onto its remaining supporters? This could be the best -- or worst -- time to pick a side in the HD war.Update: Amazon is also having a 50% off Blu-ray sale, so whatever your format of choice, pick up some discs and let the movie studios know who you rep.
Read - 50% off sale on Amazon (Thanks Jeremy)
Read - Toshiba press release
I think 'Truth Teller' ought to get himself a real job, if that is at possible, instead of spending half of his life posting on EngadgetHD. Then, maybe, in 6-7 years, he could afford to buy a heavily discounted close-out blu-ray player when 4K emerges as the next HD standard.
I further marked all the open box HD-DVD players today to half of the new retail prices.
This is AWESOME! I need another great upscaling DVD player in my bedroom...
However, win the HDM war, this sale will not. It's sooo over, and those unsuspecting folks who buy these fire-sale players will be getting a great upscaling DVD player, an HD-DVD player with a much more limited catalog, and nothing more.
It's over. With those $10 movie rebates that is being offered on some titles if you own the DVD version, they are now marketing to those folks who are ready to make the jump to HDM's. It's a start to aggresively competing against DVD.
Maybe toshiba should just give them away? With the report about sony giving Fox $120mm and WB $500mm out now, it would seem that giving away 4 Million HD-DVD players would cost them $600mm,less then the $620mm Sony spent on bribes and would help them offset the PS3 BD base.
For the Blu-bois still denying the 120mm and 500mm numbers. 1. This is from a legitiamte newspaper. 2. WB and FOx have not actually denied that they recieved the money.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08012/848675-96.stm
another unverified wannabe news piece. Try again with some other paper other than the Pittsburg Post Gazette or whathaveyou. Your link refers to a "reported" payment, meaning that A. This is not the original source B. Piece doesn't even state where it was "reported" and C. You fail. Thanks for playing.
If they got paid, then good for WB, and the BD guys are taking a HUGE bet that they will make some profits down the road. If they don't, I couldn't care less. You folks act like BD tooks steroids and therefore cheated in the format war... ITS BIG BUSINESS!! They play to win profits... to the victor go the spoils.
I never said it wasnt fair. Just that toshi could maybe keep their format alive by giving away the equal $ amount of hardware. Why do you blu-bois always get so worked up?
I wouldn't mind buying a sub $20 HD-DVD player, but I still can't get past how freak'n ugly and cheap those Toshiba HD-DVD players look. These Toshiba players would make your Home Theater furnishing look like a Walmart display.
Nah, they don't look that bad. I own the HD-A3 and it looks quite alright. If you're getting it strictly for upscaling, don't bother... the load times are ridiculous (as they are with BD standalones... need to state this before I get the blowtorch from the HD-DVD'ers)
Actually, Market penetration of HDTVs is at 28%. And 1080p just started being produced at the end of 2006 and is definitely not anywhere near the majority. Why would consumers pay that premium for something that they can't see the benefit from(99% of people cannot tell the difference from 1080i to 1080p, and no, don't give me some BS that everyone is buying screens 50'+ big enough to see the difference). Now people who are very into HDTVs may care a whole lot about that, but I hate to break it to you, we are not the people that these CE companies are catering to. We represent a niche. CE companies are after the main stream. And Sam Winter is a Blu fanboy who is obviously blinded by his blind loyalty to Sony and BD. I am full of it? please, you my friend are the one who is full of it.
"Multiple consoles can and have existed since the beginning due to different gaming generes, differing target markets, ability to get most of the same games on any console, etc. This has been a normal industry situation for >25 years.
Video distribution however, has never functioned this way. Consumers are used to buying one format, and being able to get all their movies on the one device. This will never change. Also, studios will not spend all the extra capitol on supporting more than one format. The only reason they even help support this war at all is because money is changing hands." And the same can be said about the record industry. Now that there are newer forms of technology, they have to let go of the old way of doing things and adapt. Mp3s and the internet came along and changed the whole industry. It is proof that multiple format delivery works and this is including video games! Yea, the target market for Xbox 360 and PS3 is different? Are you shitting me? It is the same demographic and target market! It maybe different for NDS to PS3, but not with Xbox 360 and PS3. Also, publishers were not always publishing the same games for multiple systems as the are doing now. There were games here and there, that were published on multiple formats, but nowadays you would be hard pressed to find a publisher that doesn't push the same games on all formats.
And no, I don't have HD DVD or PS3, or Xbox 360, so I am not a fan boy like you.I am just someone who thinks that we can decide for ourselves what we want.
Why are people so dumb? Blu-ray stand alones have 50% of the market, add in the PS3 and its probably about 90%, and before you scream "Oh not all PS3 owners watch movies", take into consideration you get 5 free BD movies with the PS3, or atleast while that sale was going on you did, ever single person I know has atleast 1BD movie that has a PS3 my brother has a 30+ collection. So chances are the vast majority of PS3 owners watch BD Movies.
Blu-ray continuely outsells HD DVD, so just quit trying to keep the war going, Blu-ray is the consumer and studios choice, so if you have a HD DVD player or movies, sell them now and cut your losses.
Blu-ray now has every advantage aside from price, and guess what, obviously consumers arent worried about that, so quit whining saying HD DVD still has a future, it doesnt. Why buy a $150 for upconverting when a upconverting DVD player is 70 some dollars.
ITS OVER PEOPLE IF YOU WERE DUMB ENOUGH TO SUPPORT A FORMAT WITHOUT A CONSOLE BEHIND IT JUST BE QUIET AND STOP CAUSING PROBLEMS.