Xbox 360 HD DVD player now officially $129.99

It's already taken the plunge at a number of retailers, but Microsoft has just now gotten official with the new $129.99 price point for the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on (which still includes a copy of King Kong and the offer for five free HD DVDs by mail). Of course, that price is the MSRP, which means we could very well be seeing even bigger discounts on the drive at retailers, even if they aren't all as steep as Amazon's all too brief $80 bonanza.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Miguel @ Feb 6th 2008 3:53PM]

When they pay me $129.95 to own one maybe I'll think about it.

[Cahlito @ Feb 6th 2008 4:05PM]

I would've gotten the $80 special but alas I was too late. This isn't worth $130..

[KC @ Feb 7th 2008 4:14AM]

Why would anyone get this when you can get a decent standalone HD-DVD player for $20 more?

[MC @ Feb 7th 2008 4:22AM]

How many times is one allowed to use the phrase, "The final nail in the coffin."

[Brian @ Feb 6th 2008 3:56PM]

Why do they persist with the HD-DVD drives? I don't see why anyone would want to make such a foolish investment after bluray got all the studios...

[fischju @ Feb 6th 2008 4:07PM]

How else are you going to watch Heroes in HD?

[Carbonize @ Feb 6th 2008 4:37PM]

"How else are you going to watch Heroes in HD?"

Download it. Worked for me!

[ErikLindemann @ Feb 6th 2008 4:38PM]

Except for the fact that Blu-ray has NOT taken all the studios.
http://www.news.com/FAQ-Whats-next-in-HD-video-fracas/2100-1041_3-6229262.html

[Bryan @ Feb 6th 2008 4:55PM]

I still love the fact that there are people that state that HD-DVD is such a bad investment.

When I bought my HD-DVD player, it was a calculated risk. I picked the better of the two FOR ME, and if/when HD-DVD dies, I will still be happy. For, long after the war is over, I will still be able to switch my TV to HDMI1, turn on my HD-DVD player, and all my HD-DVD's will STILL play.

Plus, right now is the time to do some looking. I've purchased four HD-DVD's in the past week, each for less than $10.

[WhoMe @ Feb 6th 2008 5:27PM]

It's called a clearance sale.

[PS3 user @ Feb 6th 2008 5:44PM]

Honestly, I would totally run out and get it for $80 if they threw in Heroes Season 1...

[Greg @ Feb 6th 2008 3:57PM]

You can still get the $80 deal on Amazon. It is currently out of stock, but you can order it at that price to ship Feb 14.

[ChrisBlaze @ Feb 6th 2008 4:00PM]

When I clicked on the link, it doesnt show the $80 price :(

[Greg @ Feb 6th 2008 4:19PM]

Back in Stock on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000JHO4L0/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

[CharlieX @ Feb 6th 2008 4:01PM]

Great, next to my power brick I can have this monstrosity dangling from my 360 too! sheesh.

[Carbonize @ Feb 6th 2008 4:04PM]

Still it's not as ugly as the PS3.

[Zeus.:God @ Feb 6th 2008 4:11PM]

You guys act like its some huge, disgusting, ugly monster that will eat your entertainment system... It's not! It's just a small white disc drive that looks just fine when paired with your 360.

[izzy @ Feb 6th 2008 4:11PM]

im sticking to my betamax thank you very much

[michas_pi @ Feb 6th 2008 6:00PM]

And I'll be sticking to my Laserdisc.

/goes to watch Top Gun via giant plastic party platter

[wrabbit @ Feb 6th 2008 4:16PM]

Even if bluray ends up winning the war, for those with xbox and a hankering for some HD content now and not in a year or so when bluray players might finally get to reasonable prices, this is heck of a deal (even at $130). I mean heck, even if you end up replacing the player with a proper bluray one a year later, it's only $130 bucks and you just spent a year enjoying HD content.

[mike @ Feb 6th 2008 5:40PM]

Yes not a bad deal if u are an xbox 360 owner and have a 130 dollars that u wanna get rid of.

[12VoltMan @ Feb 6th 2008 4:20PM]

Does anyone know if it plays normal DVDs? Be nice to ease the burden of the on board drive.

[Zingerhill @ Feb 6th 2008 4:28PM]

It works exactly the same as the regular 360 drive for DVDs. I like it because I can keep kids DVDs in the add-on without having to take out (and potentially scratch) my games.

[c.brunet @ Feb 6th 2008 4:25PM]

yes it does

[BrettB @ Feb 6th 2008 4:27PM]

What I'd like to see is MS offer a Blu-Ray drive as well. They could let you choose, or even go for both, at a reasonable price. I know this is just pipe dreaming, but still, it could be pretty cool. Maybe they were fools for not backing Blu-Ray from the start, but at least by not making HDDVD part of the actual system, they didn't completely screw themselves over now that it looks like Blu-Ray will eventually win. They will always have the option of adding a Blu-Ray drive to the lineup, or just sticking with HD downloads.
At $80 bucks with the free movies, this really is a steal, any way you look at it.

[Carbonize @ Feb 6th 2008 4:40PM]

Actually be even better if they released a dual player with support for the latest features of both formats, upgradable of course.

[Richard Lai @ Feb 6th 2008 4:40PM]

Toshiba owes Microsoft a great deal here!

Unless it is Microsoft and Amazon who want to clear the apparently dying format? Personally I want the format war to last.

Online HD streaming FTW!

[Brent @ Feb 6th 2008 4:40PM]

I'll get one in a couple years from a garage sale for 50 cents.

[karl @ Feb 6th 2008 4:57PM]

hm
i only wish there was another gaming system that had an HD video drive built in!...OHH...wait....

[cdman98 @ Feb 6th 2008 5:08PM]

I look at my purchase of this drive a four fold. 1) it plays movies quieter than the internal drive. 2) it does not wear out the primary drive on the xbox. 3)You get the 360 remote 4) I got mine with 9 free movies .

So wile being of little use after HD-DVD dies it does have its benefits and could pay it self off in some cases.

[Matt @ Feb 6th 2008 5:50PM]

What planet does Brian live on?

haha, anywho, its not a bad buy, works out at $21.67 per HD movie (cheaper than most Blu-Ray discs).

Shame I already got mine 4 weeks back, hah.

[pop @ Feb 6th 2008 5:51PM]

I'd care... but I'm still waiting for the box in which to ship back my Red Ring 'o Death Xbox, not to mention the 3 weeks to eternity for a repaired unit to come back. Soon as it's back though... I'm selling it and getting a PS3

[Nexus1 @ Feb 6th 2008 6:03PM]

Bryan said 'I still love the fact that there are people that state that HD-DVD is such a bad investment'
Speaking of war,you probably STILL think going to Iraq without a plan was a great idea too! $300 billion dollars later it's still a good investment...for Bush maybe, because he's in denial, just like you are.
I have purchased lemons before as well - remember Atari Jaguar? I admitted to myself that $250 that I spent was a waste of money, cut my losses and sold it for $150 to some guy in Washigton, DC :)
Then Sony PS1 came out and I was glad I still had $150 to put towards something decent AND that I didn't keep buying horrible games for a crappy platform.
fischju: are you serious? here's how:
off-air HD tuner. (free)
my DirecTV HD Tivo. lifetime sub.
BitTorrent - lowD, HD, free,etc.
AppleTV ?
NETFLIX - the best option. How many times are you going to watch the same episode over and over?
If you are such a die-hard fan, get 1 TeraByte hard drive for $300 and store all your episodes on it.
Instant access, no disc loading! You can stream it across Verizon Fios to your office PC, laptop, etc.

[wickedpheonix @ Feb 6th 2008 6:14PM]

Seriously, between King Kong, the 5 free movies, V for Vendetta, the Matrix series, the Bourne series, and Heroes, for $130 it's a pretty good deal if you ask me. External drive means it will work with my PC and it's a cinch to lend it to a friend - if you have the money go for it. I got it at $180 and I do think it's well worth it.

[david @ Feb 6th 2008 6:31PM]

Well, since no is mentioning it, it is 120 dollars at best buy - saw it in the store.
Just checked online and it is the same price.

I bought a while ago and it goes perfectly with a PC and netflix.

[John @ Feb 6th 2008 8:42PM]

Dammit! I paid 179 a few months ago and by the time I got my free DVD's it had already dropped in price. Now I've got to buy a blu-ray.

[olsenba @ Feb 6th 2008 9:04PM]

An ugly addon for a format that has one foot in the grave. $130. An e-paper display with a display that's actually paper. Priceless.

[cp @ Feb 6th 2008 11:11PM]

at least it's not as ugly as the ps3.

[Andy @ Feb 6th 2008 11:49PM]

For home storage I save to HDD and back-up on USB HDD. For portability...USB: Faster, smaller, safer, and viable for forseeable future.
Spinning disks? Ha! Steam powered data storage anyone?

[David @ Feb 7th 2008 12:55AM]

It's too bad my Xbox is RRoD.

[Seoul Brother @ Feb 7th 2008 5:36AM]

Dysentery is free, but that doesn't mean that I'm gonna go out of my way to spend money at even fire sale prices to get it.