Amazon: $80 Xbox 360 HD DVD player with 6 free HD DVDs and shipping

And here you thought $199 $179 $129 was a good deal for Microsoft's Xbox 360 HD DVD drive. Amazon is now selling it for $79.99 with free shipping and 6 free HD DVDs. Now that's what we call Wow Microsoft.

Update: Nice, you broke Amazon -- they're sold out.

[Thanks, Fantastic1_]

[DrXym @ Feb 6th 2008 4:41AM]

The firesale continues. Doesn't the AACS crack require one of these players? I can see them being popular with people who want to rip HD DVD movies. I guess with the format doing so badly there would be a legitimate reason to want to do that as well.

[E71 @ Feb 6th 2008 5:34AM]

It just wouldn't be an HD-DVD drive without the desperate 1000 free movies. Weee!

[DrXym @ Feb 6th 2008 6:47AM]

1000 movies? HD DVD is unlikely to ever have more than 500 movies the way its going.

[rcappo @ Feb 6th 2008 7:58AM]

There is something to be said for having more marketshare. Or are the blu-ray guys worried they spent 4-5 times this price on something with marginal improvement in quality. We will see what the average consumer will be looking for in the next few months. Is it the promise of some movies from Warner, Fox, Sony & Disney, or is it price and Universal and Paramount.

[Flashpoint @ Feb 6th 2008 7:59AM]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

HD-DVD, you will pay the price for Microsoft's lack of vision. If only you had come as a standard drive in the 360 - you surely would not be doomed now. I wouldn't buy you if you were $20 because your library pales in comparison to Blu Ray's and your theoretical capacity is pathetic.

FAIL !

[Andrew @ Feb 6th 2008 10:46AM]

Flashpoint, you still haven't been claimed by Darwin?

Every time you get a hard on for tehBLURAYZ, I have to remind you, this isn't a loss for Microsoft. They aren't investing in any "next generation" optical drive because they're fully behind digital downloads.

If they felt like tehBLUERAYZ was a great investment, I'm pretty sure they'd make an add-on player for the 'box.

[teej @ Feb 6th 2008 11:10AM]

@andrew,
hd-dvd/blu-ray combo player add-on for 360 out later this year.

[SteveMB @ Feb 6th 2008 12:54PM]

FlashPoint, I think DVD's selection kicks Blu-Ray's ass. Big time.

[Prokanda @ Feb 6th 2008 1:21PM]

@E71:

yeah.. because my PS3 didn't come with a 5 free movie offer... and the 360 HD-DVD drive didn't come with a 5 free movie offer to start... right?

jackass.

[EatingPie @ Feb 6th 2008 3:26PM]

@Andrew: "Every time you get a hard on for tehBLURAYZ, I have to remind you, this isn't a loss for Microsoft."

Actually, it is. HD-DVD uses Microsoft's HDi exclusively, and primarily encoded with Microsoft's VC-1. HD-DVD's failure means Microsoft loses licensing revenue from these two technologies. (I realize VC-1 is also on Blu-Ray, but BD producers have tended toward AVC rather than VC-1, and Warner may join that trend as well once they reach exclusive.)

So yes, it IS Microsoft's loss. The licensing is the real money, not these add-on drives.

-Pie

[cromas @ Feb 6th 2008 4:48AM]

I want to believe in you, HD-DVD. I really, really do. I always have. But it's clear by your price-slashing and your sales numbers that, unfortunately, the evil empire that is Sony is going to win this time.

Why, then, must you tempt me to buy you so vehemently? $79 and six free movies? If it weren't for your inevitable obsolescence...

I hate you, Sony. I hate you so, so much.

[CB17 @ Feb 6th 2008 6:44AM]

I second, nay, third your entire comment.

[David Clark @ Feb 6th 2008 7:24AM]

If HD DVD had sponsored some price cuts similar to this in the first place, perhaps the evil empire wouldn't be winning right now.

Isn't that the new business model? Take a loss on hardware by pricing it too low so you can make up for it later after you've established your presence in the market? It worked for XBox (finally)

[Student Driver @ Feb 6th 2008 9:28AM]

T3h ditto-ness...

[deadpool @ Feb 6th 2008 10:15AM]

why is sony an evil empire and microsoft isnt?

[teej @ Feb 6th 2008 11:13AM]

@deadpool,
MS doesn't seem to come off so arrogantly as Sony when releasing their formats/products.

[rawd @ Feb 6th 2008 11:16AM]

You can't be arrogant when you are completely stealing other companies ideas.

[gadgetdevil @ Feb 6th 2008 11:20AM]

@ teej

And is Microsoft not the one who forces Vista down everybody's throats?

[m @ Feb 6th 2008 12:40PM]

apple is making the same mistake sony did, as we speak. getting into bed with the entertainment industry leads inevitably to pain for the consumer. don't flame me: it's true. 2 examples: the ipod should be much more open, and apple tv should have a blu-ray drive, but neither is likely to happen. sony used to make kick-ass recorders, and now puts DRM even into their voice recorders. why would i want DRM on my own voice memos? it's like a crazy disease.

[4honor @ Feb 6th 2008 1:00PM]

$79 player with 6 free movies? If they have done that since the beginning, blu-ray might have been long gone...

[Stefan @ Feb 6th 2008 4:50AM]

I think you should really take that (spam) ref part out of the amazon read link. The following works just fine:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000JHO4L0

[Ben @ Feb 6th 2008 4:47PM]

Why, you don't want to support engadget?

It doesn't hurt you...

[Johan Glamér @ Feb 6th 2008 4:53AM]

First time microsoft doing somthing good :) and i believe you, wow microsoft.

[pquistgard @ Feb 6th 2008 6:07AM]

LOL!

[Matthew @ Feb 6th 2008 4:54AM]

I don't care if people think that Blu-ray is going to win the format battle, this is too good of an offer to pass up. I just ordered mine, although I did have my doubts when it was still priced at $120. Maybe this offer could bring in some some serious buyers, making HD-DVD's market share ever so slightly bigger.

[Luigi193 @ Feb 6th 2008 7:21AM]

Or not

[BlissX @ Feb 6th 2008 4:57AM]

I don't know, it is part of Amazon's Deal of the Day program. They select one gaming related a day and sell it for a low price.

Fire sale? I honestly don't think so.

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=677189

[Flashpoint @ Feb 6th 2008 8:17AM]

LOL - you want to believe in HDDVD so bad...

Let me help you out...

ITS A FIRE SALE.

They are selling it at dirt low prices and giving you FREE SHIPPING !!! + 6 movies? Come on man... Amazon knows they aren't selling them shitz.

[Blake H @ Feb 6th 2008 8:41AM]

BlissX is right. It was an Amazon Goldbox Deal, similar to what Woot! does. As much as some of you want it to be a "fire sale," it's not. Plain and simple. If HD DVD were in as bad of shape as you are claiming, no one in their right mind would have purchased that unit. Lo and behold, though, the player sold out in no time.

Why not just let people enjoy the fact that they just got a great player for only 80 bucks. That's insane! (I had to pay freakin' $170 for mine one month ago (same day Warner went Blu).) It in absolutely no way affects you, so just shut up about it.

It's elitist, simple minded people who can't let others enjoy things that they don't personally enjoy.

[Evan @ Feb 6th 2008 11:35AM]

We won't know for sure if it's a Fire Sale disguised as a Goldbox deal, or just a regular Goldbox deal, until we see how Amazon re-stocks the drive.

[Travis @ Feb 20th 2008 10:12AM]

yeah, pretty sure this was a fire sale. Im sure youve all seen Toshiba's announcement by now...way to go morons who thought this was just a "good deal"...amazon knew. They knew.

[Theboss @ Feb 6th 2008 4:59AM]

Forget fire sales, we need more movie releases on both sides. Movies are going to win this battle. Give us some classics on Blu Ray. By the way I sold one of these things anyways and went blu so I just want all the movies released no one format.

[rcappo @ Feb 6th 2008 7:58AM]

All the movies I wanted are already on HD-DVD (Matrix, Planet Earth, Bourne trilogy, Battlestar Glactica). That is why I went with them. Plus the price was much better.

[paulwlee @ Feb 6th 2008 5:02AM]

I don't think HD-DVD will survive, but even so, this is an excellent buy if you have an Xbox 360. Blu Ray players still have a lot to fall in price especially now that they've jacked the prices back up. I'll bet that prices will come down more than $89 within the next six months, and more mature players come out with newer profiles.
So you win by enjoying HD movies with this add-on while waiting for a good affordable Blu Ray player comes out.

Now if you bought one like me just 6 weeks ago at $179 (after that $129 deal ended), well, that's life.. :-(

[Lars Haeh @ Feb 6th 2008 5:06AM]

So, I can build a blue laser pointer for cheap now? All it should need is a axiz module and a power supply.

[Neil @ Feb 6th 2008 5:06AM]

I have to admit I'm quite tempted to take advantage of this deal, even though I fully believe HD-DVD's days are numbered.

[Matt @ Feb 6th 2008 5:16AM]

Its still £100 ($200) over here in the UK with only 5 free HD DVDs.

Even if you're a Blu-Ray guy or gal, its about $150 worth of High Def movies, with a player all for $80? You'd be mad to pass it up!

Shame I'm 1) in the UK, 2) bought mine 4 weeks ago.

Coincidentaly got my 5 free HD DVDs yesterday morning through the post =].

[andrew @ Feb 6th 2008 10:54AM]

I ordered a Toshiba HD-A3 from Amazon on Dec 29 - they had a deal where you could get 3 HD dvds for free (plus 2 in the box, plus 5 from Toshiba).

I installed it into my A/V cabinet and set up and watched 1 movie on it. The next day, Warner came out with their exclusivity announcement. And then two weeks later Toshiba dropped the price of the HD-A3 by $50, and Amazon dropped their price accordingly.

I sent Amazon customer service a note asking for a refund of the difference between what I paid and the current price. They refunded me the difference. I doubt they'll cover six weeks under their price protection, but I'd strongly suggest anyone who bought one of these a few weeks ago call and ask to see if Amazon will price-protect you. It never hurts to ask.

[Francisco Montano @ Feb 6th 2008 5:38AM]

this is so tempting, but i think i am going to hold out and just get a blu-ray player later for my HD cravings. DVD is still ok for me. most of the time i just watch them on my Mac.

[Kao @ Feb 6th 2008 5:46AM]

right when i clicked the refresh button to order the damn thing the priced jumped to 179! too late i guess.

[DarkLightConnection @ Feb 6th 2008 6:12AM]

No it's still $79, but now it says "only one in stock, hurry up" (so I think they only have about 15 more :-P)

[John @ Feb 6th 2008 6:08AM]

I'd bet I can get a Beta player real cheap too.

[jay @ Feb 6th 2008 6:08AM]

too late is right :(

[DarkLightConnection @ Feb 6th 2008 6:14AM]

WTF? I just checked again and it's still $80 with only one in stock

And yes I clicked the refresh button, not the forward button

[Tom Oliveri @ Feb 6th 2008 6:08AM]

by my count.. with deals like that there's no way hd-dvd CANT be still in the game

[Truthjerk @ Feb 6th 2008 6:42AM]

Bring out your dead... bring out your dead

[Taylor @ Feb 6th 2008 6:43AM]

I'm a Mac user, and that really does WOW me.

$80 gets you 6 movies AND a HD-DVD player (provided you have a 360).

But, are the 6 movies from a restricted list, or just ANY?

[luengas @ Feb 6th 2008 6:56AM]

You left out the one, in one seventy nine ($179)

[Ryan J. @ Feb 6th 2008 6:45AM]

Too little, too late. This may have made a difference 6-12 months ago; at this point, it's Microsoft clearing out stock. I've owned an Xbox 360 HD DVD drive since day one. It's great, but Blu-ray has this one in the bag.

[slug @ Feb 6th 2008 6:45AM]

sold out already! How come the same deal isnt on the .co.uk site?