Wal-Mart: $98.87 Toshiba HD DVD player + National TV ad

From Engadget on November 1, 2007:

"Still waiting to jump into the high def disc game? Or just wanted another weaker, cheaper player for the last-gen TV you phased out to your rumpus room? Well, whatever your reasons, some (not all!) Wal-Mart locations will be selling Toshiba HD-A2s for $100 -- down from $200 -- this Friday (November 2). Ridiculous, we know. Blu-ray gonna fight back? We hope so, we'd really like to get our hands on one for under $300, and not just by using our hookup that sells gear out of his trunk, you know?"

In additions, Wal-Mart is running a national TV advert and an online promotion for the Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player. Scroll down to see the TV and web promotions (click on the images to go to Wal-Mart's promotional site.)

[ITR]

Looks like Toshiba got another friend.
$98 bucks...I'm sorry I'm sold.
Maybe my friend will let me use his 10% off Wally World discount...hmmm

Good news is the 5 HD DVD deal is still going on.
It still works for the A2 as well!

Wally World is also selling:
BDPS300 with Gridiron Gang and Open Season $488
HD A3 with 300 and Bourne Identity $298

[shmee]

that tOSHIBA hD DVD has all its features cut and plays movies at 1080i only

no one is SOLD on HD DVD that has no movies except some fanboys and XBOTS

BTW it is just a 1 day deal

[bluebrad1974]

Why would anyone with a 1080i/720p HDTV pay an extra $250 for a HD player that's only added function is 1080p? It's not like $3000 1080p tv's are flying off the shelves.

[BloodySinner]

I hope you all realize that shmee is really nasim. :-/

[Snukadaman]

your suppose too get 2 free at checkout...wow this is s good deal if it rings true...unless this one has the 2 free movies allready in the box...but the movies are like 300 and one other....check it out..and fight for them 2 extra hd-dvds...they all count towards sales...

[b777conehead]

the reason i want one that plays 1080p is when i upgrade my tv .to 1080p ill have my 1080p bluray player allready

[coolmatrix]

In yet another desperate attempt by the HD DVD camp to try to HOOK customers with less than what they pay for.

Sony PS3 is rolling out the $399.99 box on November 2, 2007.
http://blog.us.playstation....

If you want HD with Microsoft, you need to buy a two (2) DVD players: Xbox 360 and HD A2. What a joke! A SUCKER IS BORN EVERY SECOND.

With Sony, you buy ONE (1) HD player called PLAYSTATION 3 with the highest video (1080p)and sound output (7:1).

Toshiba HD (YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR) Hey XBOX owners, You love upscaling. SUCKERS.

Toshiba HD-A2
http://reviews.cnet.com/vid...

The good: Relatively inexpensive; excellent image quality on HD DVD; solid upscaling performance on DVDs; Ethernet jack for firmware upgrades; onboard Dolby TrueHD decoding; much faster load times than its predecessor.

The bad: No 1080p output; HD DVD could lose the format war; no multichannel analog outputs.

The bottom line: Offering most of the performance of more expensive players, the HD-A2 is an excellent value for budget-minded buyers looking to jump into HD DVD.
Specs: Sound output mode: Stereo;

PLAYSTATION 3. TRUE HD 1080p output. ENOUGH SAID!!!

[KingJames1906]

Plus 14.99 for HD-DVD Movies.

I'm IN!

[Ju]

Great deal! I could add HD-DVD to my PS3 and can play both worlds. Perfect. I'll see if I can get one.

[cuco33]

This came as a huge surprise to me! I least expected this. I already own an HD-A2 (great player) and will be shopping for movies that are $15 that goes with this sale. Might be tempted to grab a second player too ;)

And for those who preach 1080p, if you have a good 1080p tv it will deinterlace a 1080i image to 1080p. Want all the bells and whistles? Pay more for them. There are 1080p players. Most have an HDTV that does 720p/1080i. HD programming is of 720p/1080i. There is absolutely NO reason why you would skip out on or bash this deal unless only and ONLY if you are a trolling fanboy of a format. You fail if you can not see this as HD DVD forum making moves and trying to clear out inventory for the new gen3 models. You know how STUPID most of you sound preaching specs you know nothing about aside from what you read online on blu/ps3's websites?

Be a movie fanboy not a format fanboy. Not every film is out on BD exclusive studios. If you don't enter HD DVD, you still will be missing out on Transformers, Bourne series, etc...

EDIT: to athlon, that is the typical fanboy comment. Look at the studios both sides have. Just like you mentioned those exclusive to BD, look at HD DVD's. I'm sure there are no films from Paramount, Universal, Dreamworks, etc that you don't care for :rollseyes: and I'm sure you like receiving Warner titles that are delayed almost a year (i.e. Batman Begins) for no apparent reason... be a movie fanboy, not a format fanboy.

[athlon770]

For a last ditch effort for a format which is about to loose another backer, I think I will stay with my PS3 and look forward for these movies to drop like a hammer...

"Walt Disney Home Entertainment has Ratatouille, Cars, Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End shipping this year. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has all four Die Hard films, Mr. And Mrs. Smith, Independence Day and The Simpsons Movie heading to BR-D this year and Master & Commander and Sunshine, and I, Robot slated for 2008. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, which also supports HD-DVD, has The Matrix Trilogy, all five Harry Potter films and the Ocean’s 11 Trilogy releasing on BR-D. Lionsgate Home Entertainment will bring War and 3:10 to Yuma to BR-D on January 8 and Good Luck Chuck and Saw IV later in the year. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment just released the Spider-Man Trilogy, the Hostel films and has Close Encounters of the Third Kind heading to BR-D this year."

So, what does HD-DVD have coming out? The Matrix Trilogy, all five Harry Potter films and the Ocean’s 11 Trilogy...wow, what a line up. :/ Oh, and what ever that other studio may have cooked up.

No, I think I will be quite happy with my PS3 purchase thank you very much.

EDIT:

Cuco, thanks for proving my point with your rebuttle, and if you remember in one of our earlier discussions, I stated my entire family is boycotting Paramount for taking a bribe to go exclusive HD-DVD. However, once they go back to neutral, yes, I will be picking up Transformers on Blue.

Lawman, this Friday the 2nd, starts at 8:00am and goes till they are gone, however, not all Walmarts are doing this! I posted a link later down the listing...

[Baron79]

If you have a good t.v. it should upscale the 1080i to 1080p , so why don't you do research insted of posting stupid comments to make yourself feel better about not having a HD-DVD player. No Movies , WTF are you talking about!? XBots? More stupid comments.Grow up!!

[lawman1108]

Every person who shops at Walmart is going to buy this thing because everybody wants HD but DOES NOT what to pay $400 bucks for it (or $500 in the PS3's case) This will change the sales number in a way you only dream it could for the PS3. I have 60gb ps3 for BR but I am buying this, so I will have each player no matter who wins. And as I have stated before I will not buy HD dvds until the price is $20 bucks or less.

[lawman1108]

Or next week?

[LOL PS3 IS JUNK LOL]

Blay-Ray slowly spreads its @ss checks and takes it from HD-DVD. I thought HD-DVD was dead????? Nope.....just getting warmed up. You guys are in for a hurtin' this holiday

8=========D~~~ (_*_) <--- (BD's @ss)

[IdontTakeSides]

WOW Toshiba getting extremely desperate I see..$100..damn thats cheaper than the PS2..which includes First gen DVD drives...and when sales don't pick up..what are we gonna see a $50 price tag...be CAUTIOUS ppl cheap hardware is never good..just ask the RROD COMMUNITY..!!!

BTW dude above dude Open Season is horrible is that the best HD-DVD can offer for family viewing..??..lmao..
HMM pity you won't experience the great Pixar and Disney films...No Simpsons....No Spiderman....SuperBad....POTC Trilogy....to name a few...

[ITR]

Actually this is what is needed to win over the masses.
For most folks anything over $200 bucks is a think about it purchase.
At $98 bucks..no one cares...plus you get 5 free movies via the rebate.
Perfect player for the Vizio and Olevia people.

[shmee]

u have to have good titles to win masses which is impossible for Toshiba.

wait for the initial reports on Spiderman 3 sales and dont commit suicide after seeing the results

[Snukadaman]

Im sure disney will support hd-dvd...cheap players...man i bet you ps3 owners are scared you wont be playing ps3 games no more...roflmao..dont worry kids...ps3 aint going no where...only blu-ray as a movie format will.

[cuco33]

to make room for new gen3 models. This is also HD DVD forum making moves. They know to win Warner Bros over they must get more players (and an increase in disk sales) for this holiday season. This is how they start. This is also Walmart's 'secret sales' they usually do before Black Friday.

To add, shmee, or should I say nasim... You mentioned Spidey 3 right? Check it out...
Spidey BD box set being outsold by a comedians SD DVD
http://photos-226.ll.facebo...

Spidey 3 BD being outsold by a workout video
http://photos-226.ll.facebo...

You were saying?

Be a movie fanboy, not a format fanboy. Not all movies are from BD exclusive studios.

[jiggyjay]

LOL@Smee.. I smell a desperate fanboy who seeing the death of blu ray! No good titles on HD DVD. Hmm let see...

Are you able to watch the Matrix trilogy on Blu?
Are you able to watch the Bourne trilogy on Blu?
Are you able to watch the Transformers on Blu?
Are you able to watch the Shrek 3 on Blu?

I know Blu does have some good titles but don't tell me that HD DVD has no good titles at all! And believe me HD DVD has enough backers to win the war. It all comes down to price and guess who's winning that battle?

[Omegasyde]

I love Blu-ray and am a avid supporter but seriously this is very tempting. 99 bucks now wow. I have a feeling Toshiba is loosing a chunk of change however for each player sold. There is no way the player should be this cheap even coming from brand quality like Toshiba's(good :).

THe blu-ray camp better do something besides promoting Spider man 3 and Pirates of the Caribean real soon.

Either that or their arrogance is going to cost them substantially.

[IdontTakeSides]

as we all know Sony is never a company to announce things ahead of time..im sure they can more than afford to drop the price when the most important shopping season arrives ...with all the major Blu-Ray backers.losing a sum of cash will eventually paying off in software sales.....we will see a price drop..not to mention some sweet movie bundles...

[Omegasyde]

I am sure you are right since what is the point of having a blu-ray player cost more than a ps3? Sure it could come with more HDMI ports, but sooner or later blu-ray player manufacturers have to play the price game with the new 400 dollar ps3.

[Snukadaman]

both formats lose money trying too get those players in peoples homes....problem with blu ray is it will be awhile until we see 200 dollar blu-ray players....or the ps3 drops too 300 dollars....either way one side will be winning this format war soon i think...200 dollar players now 100 dollars ones....but honestly i think that 98 dollar player is some sort of promotional thing....if they sell it for 98 bucks everyone else has too price match....dam am I glad I Jumped in with that hd-dvd add on deal and best buy.

[Omegasyde]

Will this price change 75% of Hollywood's point of view however?

[bluebrad1974]

Well a one day sale isn't going to do anything but momentarily spike sales. It seems more like a move to simply stay competitive with blu-ray. However if this price was permanent, pack your bags boys, wars over.

[TriggerHappy]

I will bet $200 that this is TRP's post...

btw, good news for HD DVD

[jiggyjay]

I'm going to try and pick up one of these! But no I need money for COD4 and Mass Effect!

[Lightning Mr Bubbles]

They still want to make money right?

[OmegaKulu]

well, its a 1 day special... and I'm pretty sure the quantity is limited. Unless they are that out of their mind.

[friendly user]

THIS SALE ONLY LASTS A FEW HOURS.

These prices aren't officially dropped or anything like that. Great deal if you're looking for a cheapo 720p/1080i non TrueHD player.

[chrno]

very misleading title then.

[shelbygt33]

I work in the marketing field, and let me say you are a perfect example of why marketing works.

1080i gets deinterlaced by 1080p sets and the image won't be affected. 1080i is hd. 720p is HD. It is users like you who trust the Best Buy salesman.

[lawman1108]

If I sat you down and put a gun to your head and showed you 2 tv's one was a 45in Sharp 1080i and the other the same tv but 1080p and told you to show me which was which you would be a dead man.

[Prismo_Fillusion]

The problem isn't the players...it's that the HD tv sets cost way too much! (I know this is HD DVD vs BluRay unrelated)

Edit: Why would someone disagree with my fanancial disability of not being able to afford an HD television set? Laaaaaame!

@below: $800 is a lot of money my friend. Also, if I were to buy an HD set it wouldnt be 'i'.

[BLaZiN PRopHeT]

you cant get a 42in 1080i TV for 800

800 isnt bad to me for the size of the tv. and you cant tell the difference between i and p unless its over 50in. but whatever just trying to help

[FirstknighT]

This is the HD-A2 model. In other words it's the older model. They're probably trying to get rid of them to make room for the newer A3. But a hi defination player for under $100 and in the mother of all stores??? Looks like the hi def war is starting to favor the hd dvd side.

[Baron79]

I agree. How could anyone thinking of of getting into HDM not jump on this? It is such a good deal I want to buy a second HD-DVD Player.

[season007]

or maybe i am wrong

[the worst]

50pc they got or some kinda of catch
but if theres no catch 2 it
its a damm good deal

[ktchong]

I still think the one with the 7 free HD DVDs is a better deal. o_O

[TruthbeTold]

...if these cheap prices are the result of the dumping of discontinued or soon to be discontinued models? Of course that hasn't been announced, but these players are priced at what seems like liquidation prices. Add to that that the sale is for only one day, and it's curiously/suspiciously occurring before Thanksgiving, and really, I can't help but wonder. Even so, most of the people who buy at this price probably can't afford the more expensive players anyway, who don't see 1080p as realistic for them so this is a good way to get them onboard, and buying HD-DVD's for Christmas. This is alot of speculation on my part of course, but it makes sense I think.

[OmegaKulu]

but you also need to take in the consideration that for those people who can't afford a more expansive player, can they afford the extra cost on disc? I mean... when you at that low of budget, wouldn't DVD's pricing be more appealing via up scale rather than buying the more expansive HD discs?

[TruthbeTold]

Good point that the people who buy these most likely will not be buying as many DVD's as the people who buy the more expensive products. However, I suspect that most people who buy these cheap ones have been wanting to buy HD for a while, but have been mulling over whether to spend beyond their means. Now they don't have to, and can get the player, a few free DVD's to get them started, and a few more at Christmas for less than half the price they would have had they splurged or gone into debt. I think that they will buy a fair amount, and over the long term will be less active buyers, but still active. In order to get the player into more homes, Toshiba appears to be pulling their own style of PS3 move here, but with a "Wii" twist.

[OmegaKulu]

Good points, but then theres the studios, where 2 exclusive and 1 neutral right now, by the time those people are looking for HD discs and find the title they want sit on the other side... I wonder what they will think.

[TruthbeTold]

Should this kind of tactic put alot more of these players into people's living rooms, deals of exclusivity will undoubtedly be revisited once again. In fact, it may end exclusivity in that there will be Blu Ray for the Rich, upper Middle Class, and those living beyond their means; and HD-DVD, primarily in 1080i for the average Joe who actually cares about HD, but can't afford extravagance. Long term, I think the Average Joe would win out, since there are many more of them comparatively.

[Snukadaman]

But can someone correct me if im wrong but whatever new hd-dvd players receive in updates...these older models will also receive since they have too be connected too the internet right...so it dont matter if its older models or what..they all get upgraded too the same versions right?

[ITR]

^^^ Yes, they can be upgraded.
Via LAN update, DL ISO to CD-RW or call Tosh for an update disc.

Firmware 2.5

http://www.tacp.com/tacpass...

"This firmware update adds support for 1080p/24Hz output to the HD-A20 and HD-XA2 players. For the HD-A2, HD-A2W, HD-D2, HD-A20 and HD-XA2 players, it adds more on-screen language display options. In addition, this firmware update improves network connectivity for supporting the download of web- enabled network content associated with certain HD DVD discs, and also addresses certain disc playback and HDMI/DVI related issues identified by Toshiba."

[JokesOnYou]

I know one thing for sure this definitely can't hurt HD DVD's current position and it at least has the potential to be a major boost for HD DVD, and for sonykids trying to hate by calling it a cheap player in terms of quality, well it just sounds like fear because despite what you think Toshiba is recognized as a quality brand by many people, just like most Japanese electronics brands, so stop the hating sonykids you're not fooling anybody=

I guess its time I snatch one of these things up, hell its less than the price of 2 games and I buy plenty of games

JOY

[TheMART]

If this continues, BluRay is in for a surprise. THe mass of people wants their devices just the cheapest PLUS most people own a 720p/1080i HDTV not the expensive 1080p ones!

[bluebrad1974]

If this price sticks on HD-DVD then blu-ray is finished. $100 is a mainstream price and will move ALOT of HD players.

[wageslave]

This is a one day sale, but what does it tell us? If the new model is going to be $198 @ Circuit City, Wal Mart and other locations (remember the K-Mart move from yesterday), then we can expect to see players being sold for *LESS* than $198 through the holidays.

Sales, and price-competition is going to get that regular price down another $30 by January 2008.

The format war is over. These drives are going to be sold out everywhere... Toshiba, NEC and Sharp are *really* putting it to the BR people.

If I owned a PS3, I'd be thinking BR is going to be *another* failed Sony format... the PS3 has its own UMD now.

[BloodySinner]

Aggressive move by Toshiba, that's for sure.

[athlon770]

I am about as anti-HDDVD as you can get, and this is a very agressive pricing for the unit, even if it is for a couple of hours or a day. $100.00 is cheap. And if the posting by ITR (14.6) is correct, with a firmware update this unit will be able to output 1080p...well there will be a lot of people swung over by this. Even if Wally World only has 10 or 20 of these units per store to sell at this price, that is a lot of units going out the front door.

Blue will have to do something big to keep all the studios from swinging from Blue to Red that is for sure. This is def very agressive pricing and even though Red only has a couple of studios backing it, Blue will have a hard time keeping all the ones they have from going neutral or swithing over completly...Studios will go where the money is!

[anh_duong]

blody hell that is cheap. i might buy two.

[wageslave]

Im thinking the same thing! Ive already got the Xbox 360 HD-DVD add on (because it works with my PC, so I can use it with Windows Media Center and the future HD-DVD data discs...)

But man, that is a great deal. Im thinking for the price, I might pick them up as Xmass gifts for my family (but, they *also* have Xbox 360s, so I recommended they get the add-on (for the same reasons I did)).

This is an incredible deal.

[power of Green]

You can talk all the sh*t you wan't but you got to know the deals springing up all over the place will cause mass adoption forcing the Studio's to cater to a money making base.

[friendly user]

Good luck finding one. It's a half a day sale and as soon as they're gone it's over.

[JokesOnYou]

you're right its just one day sale, dammit I was thinking this was going to be the new low price at Wal-mart for this model, thats too bad cause this thing will be sold out quick while I'm working, dammmit.

JOY

[athlon770]

If you look at the flyer, http://holiday.ri-walmart.c... the sale starts at 8:00am and goes untill they are gone, also there is a limited supply at the stores, and not every store is doing this.

[xm15e2s]

This is an awesome price for an awesome HD DVD player!
People who are suggesting that this is "cheap hardware" need to research more and post less.

Blu-ray = Betamax.
Believe it.

[friendly user]

It's lacking 1080/24p, TrueHD.

I consider that a "cheap model"

I don't see why everyone is saying it's good news, it's a black friday sale. It's not an official price drop.

[Snukadaman]

You do some research you find some of the craziest things.....enjoy your campaign too try and talk people down from buying those cheap players..it wont work.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2...

[rbanke]

you have to ask yourself, Are people who are looking for the lowest price going to be shelling out the extra cash for hd movies? I think the ones who would go for this are the same type that really could care less about the difference between hd and sd.

[TheMART]

Yes they will. Why?

Because they buy a movie one at a time, and the amount spent at that time isn't high also. But spending it at once they don't spend a high amount. But does one care if they buy a movie every 4 weeks throughout the year or 10 movies at once?

[power of Green]

Crazzy sh*t a very bold, risky, desperate and smart move, a move that will monopolize the industry by default effectively canceling out any of the competitions past victories.

To say these type of deals are not lethal to Toshiba's competition is foolish and we might as well be writing off the nay-sayers and dissagree-ers as Chimps.

[FirstknighT]

I personally don't mind how much these players cost. It's the actual movies that are to expensive. Blu ray and hd dvd discs cost around $25 each. I like to walk into Best Buy once a week and buy 2 or 3 movies. Total cost would be around $45. With the hi def discs...total cost would be near $100. That's to much for me.

I own a Samsung Blu Ray player but I purchased it for the HQV processing which upconverts standard dvds to near hd quality. But I'll wait on the hi def discs once they come down to a normal price.

[chrno]

POW, learn to read - 1 day sale. I know that u hate blu-ray because it is assoicated with the ps3, but how would a 1 day sale at 99 dollars monopolize the industry? Sigh..

[Boldy]

You do know that after that 1 day sale, they will still be $200 while the cheapest blu ray player will be the 40 GB PS3 at $400.

[TruthbeTold]

At something like 4500 stores, with what I'll guess on average is probably about two pallets of these players per store, which would be (guessing again) about 120 players per store, means that they'll probably sell about a half million of these things during that half day world wide. That is impressive, and will help HD-DVD, but since this is a one time deal, it shouldn't be a devestating blow to Blu Ray.

However, if this is just a testing of the waters by Toshiba, and they plan to do this several more times during the Holidays, then I imagine that the game is on. Big time. There will be alot of people who miss out on this, including some "Undecided's". All of them will be waiting for a next time, should there be one, or two, etc.

[friendly user]

I'm gettin' disagrees, how cute. ;)

Title should be updated though, it's only a half a day sale. People are being mislead.

[chrno]

There are already several fanboys dancing around and proclaiming that the format war is over LOL..who's going to tell them the truth?

[Sodium]

Yeah, for $99, I think I am going to replace my old DVD. Can't lose more than $99, right?

[xm15e2s]

Gotta love the people who "don't see why everyone is saying it's good news". Please, save it for the stage. If Blu-ray players were being offered for $98 for even a split second, you people would be mass-ejaculating on your copies of Pirates of the Caribbean . LOL

[friendly user]

I agree that it's good news but it's not as if it dropped officially to $98 for good.

People are talking like it's new price is actually $98, in which case the BDA would have their backs against the wall.

It's a fire sale basically.

[Cherchez La Ghost]

Why do people keep saying the same thing about 1080p and the PS3?!! I have alot of family and friends that have only 480p/720p/1080i HDTV's. They have no plans to upgrade their TV's to 1080p no time soon. They're happy to see HBO, Showtime, The Movie Channel and other HD channels that produce a good picture at 1080i. And another thing, do you guys think that the whole world plays video games?! So why in God's name someone is going to buy a PS3?!! Are you serious?!!! Like I said before, a DVD player will always surpass a video game console. Not everyone plays video games. Like it or don't like it, $100 for a 1080i HD-DVD player is going to sell (even if it's for 1-day only)!! Hollywood is watching this and this is what is going to push movie sales.

[wicked]

Good comment, and it will upscale your DVD collection

[athlon770]

Now first things first, I have not looked into satalite so I do not know what they broadcast their HD channels at, but Cable TV services with a HD compatable receiver (the DVR) is at 480p/720p/1080i. That is as high as they go. Most of the new TV's being sold today (you probably will find it difficult to find a SDTV at this point in time as everything should be HDTV at this point) have a max res of 1080p. Will you notice a difference between 720p-1080i-1080p? Probably not. However, the HD movies on both Blue or Red are recorded at 1080p. So that is why there is such a stink over this cheap player only being 1080i. Oh, and for your info, the PS3 is a true BD player. And its output has actually been rated over standalone players which is why everyone is jazzed about it. The main reason for the "North vs South" war is untill now, the players, the discs, and the tv's have been quite expensive. But HD-DVD (aka red, aka the south) has taken away one of the high prices but still has weak studio support (sorry Cuco, but that is the truth) while BD has a strong studio support but have kept the prices of the equipment untolerably high. With this latest move by Toshiba, red may just be able to swing more studios from blue, but at what cost?

Picture quality and sound quality wise, both formats use the same codecs and compression scheems so all you fans saying one looks better than the other need to pipe down, they don't, it is all in the master, not the medium! The WB releases (WB is the only studio which is still neutral at the moment) were witheld from the BD side till the latest update 1.1 which included the PIP feature (something the red side already had, but the blue side has until now been lacking). So what is the big deal between the two...it all comes down to size.

Yes I am aware the 3 layer red is 51gig...has anyone seen those yet? And at what cost will those be to studios? Blue is the only true HD format that has the space to fit the HD movie without heavy compression and loss of features. (Boy will I get a lot of dissagrees for that comment)

So there you have it. In a nutshell. The only thing blue has over red is disc size, but under the same breath, red has nothing but a cheap (as in low priced) player.

[Mr Marbles]

Is better than any bluray player in certain areas, it has a ehternet port for internet connection, hardly any bluray players have that if any. It also loads and plays movies in a fraction of the time it takes a stand alone bluray player, they still take literally minutes to simply play the movie after you hit the play button, pure crap. PS3 is still the best bluray player, sad.

[athlon770]

Just keep it real bud, you don't have to make stuff up to try to swing someone on the fence from one side to the other, BD players do not take minutes to start playing a movie, and just like their red bretheren, nearly all have a ethernet jack for online firmware updates.

Don't try spreading junk to win someone over with bad information, us Pro BD guys won't let you get away with it, and then that person on the edge sees the blue guys post smartly, while the red side just makes stuff up!

[KingJames1906]

I don't need to run off Sony propriety failures (Beta, MiniDisks, UMD, ATRAC.) If Sony or Samsung or whoever does not sell a Blu-Ray player for at least $125.00. By the way, for those who argue that 1080P is the only true HD, Please find me a broadcaster (cable, satellite, or Network) that sends a pure (not upscaled) 1080P signal. People don't care about 1080P like you think since most broadcasters are sending out 720P and 1080i signals. My Directv receiver only upscales to 1080i. I haven't seen one yet that does 1080P. It's high def under a $100.00 dollars (plus $15 per movie) and you Blu-Ray die hard fans say this means nothing. I have to say your right. This only means something if Wal-Mart or other major retailers can sustain this price all holiday season for all Toshiba HD-DVD 1080i players. But it's not such a big risk at $100.00 bucks since it also plays standard DVD's. For you Europeans, I think that translates into 80-85 Euro's? Would you buy it at that price? You all probably would have to pay 100 Euro's.

[rofldings]

1080p is not and never will be sent out by broadcasters because it uses too much bandwidth.

However, why is this a problem with movies? It's not like they're broadcasting a movie to you ... why not enjoy a 1080p movie?

[KingJames1906]

It's not about how you enjoy your movies. There has always been audiophile and videophile's even during the VHS vs Beta choice provided to consumers. Consumers did not choose Beta's superior video quality. They decided on VHS's cheaper price (not to mention that porn only came in VHS at the time.) What my point was is how the general population gets their content on their high def sets today and in the future (since you so pointed 1080P can't be done.) News, Weather, Sports, and Network programming viewing is what 60-70 percent of the general population will be viewing most of the time (in 720p or upscaled 1080i.) Most people don't even care about 1080p or 1080i (I have two 1080p sets and I still don't have a "High Def" video player) Do you think that a movie studio will endorse a niche market? Because that's what will happen to Blu-Ray if they cannot meet or beat that $100.00 price. Assuming that 100.00 pricing model stays consistent throughout the holidays.

[Ju]

Eventually it will be 1080p. Simply because half of the TV set product range this holiday season is 1080p, basically everything which is 42" and up now has a 1080p model, and the prices are coming close to $1000. People might not be aware of it, but the future format is 1080p, nothing else. Sooner or later all the players will support that resolution.

I agree, however, 1080i is perfectly usable. I run my PS3 in 1080i (well and 720p) on a 42" screen (native 768p resolution). Even BluRay in that resolution is just fine (not that I'd see much of a difference to 720p, though, but the 1080i picture is still a little bit crispier - guess it scales better to the 768p then the 720p). The TV shows in 1080i are OK, but by far not comparable to a real HD movie on disk. The compression is such a crap that in fast camera movements you will see MPG (or what ever) artifacts. That does not happen on BD (well, have no HD-DVD, so can't say). For me i or p does not really make a difference, hardly noticeable. Either the PS3 does a good job with interlace filtering or the TV does.

The price for the media is not an issue, get Netflix. Fine with me, one movie a week for < $10. And a huge HD library as well.

Eventually, a 50" 10K+ contrast ration TV is on my wish list (with full 1080p!) and a better surround system. But time will come.

For now, I think that $99 player is a great deal to add to my system.

[Jesso2k]

How many of you have a TV that is bigger than 42"?
I'm guessing you don't realize you can't see a difference other than on paper. Or that the 1080p tv's you don't have do a terrific job of upscaling 1080i content.

Ofcoarse you didn't. Do you care? Nope. PS3 FTW OMG PLAY B3YOND!!

[Plasmana]

TrueHD is an audio format.

[Grassroots]

Won't they be upset when they have no Disney movies to watch?

[KingJames1906]

Disney only makes Blu-Ray movies and NEVER sells DVD movies and an HD-DVD player cannot read or even upscale DVD movies. What will the kiddies do? <End Sarcasm>

[cdzie1]

The burden is on Disney to explain why they are not releasing movies on the format that more families can afford.

[HarryEtTubMan]

See the truth is this is a clearance sale for a few hours. LOL SOOO desperate OMG for good news. You actually think THIS is affects Disney and hows just yesterday he was telling them they already lost so GTFO you only in the way. They can't beat a Blu Ray playing playstation. Not a chance in h3ll. This is just a little clearance sale on November 3rd that means nothing at all.Guys, HD DVD can't win anymore. Blu ray has to players out and too much support. Even Micheal Bay knows it. Every movie and electronics company except Microbucks(I wonder why?),Toshiba, Paramount and Dreamworks .... and this will be changin after christmas. HD DVD is going to lose when a president of Disney is calling you out and TELLING YOU your only going to lose!

[Xbox is the BEST]

update 1080P

[Fighter]

I can see this happening at any shopping store:

Person: Hi, I just bought an HD DVD player and I'm looking for some great movies.

Store Clerk: There's Transformers, The Bourne Identity, King Kong and Cinderella Man just to name some.

Person: Transformers, yes I'll take that, do you recommend any Disney movies that are out so far? My kids love those movies.

Store Clerk: Um, um, there are no Disney movies on HD DVD, Disney exclusively supports Blu ray.

Person: Really? Most parents and kids love their movies. What about Spiderman 3 or the last James Bond movie?

Store clerk: nope. They are both Sony, another Blu ray supporter.

Person: Cars, Ratatouille, Meet the Robinsons or Pirates of the Caribbean?

Store Clerk: No, again, that's Disney. But Shrek is coming soon.

Person (now looking a bit frustrated): Fantastic Four 2, The Simpsons movie or the Die Hard trilogy?

Store Clerk: Nope, that's Fox, they support Blu ray also. But if you want Fantastic Four part 1 you can import the HD DVD version from Europe for triple the original price since our dollar is at an all time low.

Person (breathing heavily): Who supports HD DVD?

Store Clerk: Universal, Paramount support HD DVD exclusively while Warner Bros. supports Blu ray and HD DVD.

Person: Oh, so I can get Jaws, E.T, the Indiana Jones trilogy, Jurassic Park trilogy, and other Speilberg classics.

Store Clerk: Sorry, those movies are not out yet and they probably never will on HD DVD since Steven Speilberg hates HD DVD and expressed strong support for Blu ray. Paramount and Universal are not allowed to release his movies.

Person: Oh well, I'll just wait till the Star Wars trilogy comes out.

Store Clerk: Star Wars is not yet released on HD and it will be only on Blu ray since it's a Fox title.

Person (about to experience buyers remorse): That's just Fuken great.

Cheech: (High on Mary Jane with a copy of Spiderman 3 and Ratchet in his hands): BURNNNNN!!!!! HA HA you get what you pay for.

[theox2g7]

A huge percentage of the average joes out there could care less about buying a high definition disc as they can get the regular dvds and just upscale them with very little difference from their perspective. Surveys have proven this for a fact.
But they could care for getting a next generation player in the price field of a regular upscaling dvd player or even cheaper(and by price I mean the $200 price tag not this outrageous one day deal), heck almost all the families I know are looking for hdmi dvd players which are just about the same price, why not grab the hd dvd instead? It's not like Toshiba are gonna force them to buy hd dvd discs afterwards because like it or not, Bluray outselling hd dvd by whatever ratio aint got sh*t on standard dvd, the high def figures are insignificant compared to dvds, Personally I support neither but I can say from what I have seen(dont crucify me xbots) Bluray has more quality, but for $300 or $400 dollars more, no thanks sony, this is just like the whole Mac Pc thing, macs may be better but without deep pockets, it doesnt really matter anymore, it all balls down to price people, 1080p may be the best and u may call 1080i obsolete or whatever but in the real world, people dont just necessary shell out their entire paychecks just to get something quality,
This should serve as a reality check to Bluray, as much as I want bluray, they need to lower their prices because their products have the advantage of being much more appealing

[Ju]

People. Please stop that upscaling crap. Meanwhile, it hurts my eyes every time I put a DVD into my player. And I have a tremendous upscaling player. No really. You guys obviously had never watched a HD movie.

Even more reason why that is a great deal. Now I can get HD DVDs for what I can't get on BD, and can skip the DVD version.

[MasterChief2829]

I'm fine with a regular DVD player, I'm not all nit picky like you guys. :p But $98 is very very tempting. I might just have to go buy one... oh wait, I need a real HDTV first! >_< (I gots a 42" 480p Plasma Tv)

[Salvadore]

I am sold.

[pwnsause]

wow, this is getting interesting, I wonder how the BDA is going to respond

[bootsielon]

As much as I love blu-ray's technological superiority, $100 with five movies is like getting the player for free. Even if HD-DVD loses, it was only $100 bucks lost (plus movies). If Blu-ray loses, it's $100 loss in a PS3 (that is, $100 more expensive than it should have been). But then again, I believe Blu-ray brings benefits to gaming...

This is a great deal, but I hope Blu-ray retaliates. They can't just sit there like idiots doing nothing, they have to do something. I hope Samsung comes with a $199 Blu-ray player, or something like that.

[Fighter]

That is a really good price and the five movies are great incentives, but.... I have a 1080p HDTV and I don't want to downgrade. If that was a 1080p player then I would buy for sure because some HD DVD exclusives are alright (upcoming Battlestar Galactica) plus it will be like a collector's item to me.

Bottom line:

Price is really great

Specs are not up to current standards

HD DVD exclusive library looks small for the future. I don't see Blu ray exclusive studios switching just becasue of this player which is on sale for only three days, then it will be back to $199.

[wageslave]

"As much as I love blu-ray's technological superiority"

Uhm, what exactly would that be? There is some serious defect in the water that PS3 owners must drink.

What are you inventing to justify that BS? The two formats show movies nearly identically. You (nor I) could tell the difference if presented with the output, so, what exactly are you talking about?

Behind-the-scenes, they are marginally different, but nothing appreciable by the viewer.

@cheech
No, a one-day sale isnt going to drive BR out of the market. But, just ignore this 1-day sale for a moment; what *is* going to drive BR out of the market is that $198 player. And, like the PS3 price drop and 40GB, the Xbox 360 is *still* less. The price relationship between BR & HD-DVD (and PS3 & Xbox 360) will always be the same. *THIS* is what will drive BR out of the market. When the industry said "HD-DVD technology is less expensive to manufacture (discs & players)" THIS is the known consequence, the machines are going to be in far far more households as a result.

You and I might hang around N4G and watch the weekly movie sales charts, but Soccer Moms are going to be buying $198 HD-DVD players for their husbands by the millions this Xmass. BR had *better* get price competitive before the holiday or 2008 is going to see the retailers and wider-industry dumping BR like Betamax, ATAC, DAT, UMD, MemoryStick and all the rest of Sony's failed proprietary, closed formats.

[rofldings]

superior in that it can hold more data, dumbass, it's theoretical limit is 200gb per disc.

You just hate blu-ray because it is associated with the PS3; When in actuality Sony is just another supporter of the format.

"And, like the PS3 price drop and 40GB, the Xbox 360 is *still* less."

You act as if the 360 has a built in HD-DVD player ... how does that pertain at all?

[cherdman]

Ouch. Whichever format Walmart chooses to support will win.

[aliveinboston]

Walmart isn't making any money on HD-DVD or Blu-Ray hardware. They will choose whoever has better content and a larger installed base.

This is a temporary sale funded by Microsoft/Toshiba to get rid of old inventory. This is basically a discontinued player that no one wanted to pay full price for. Hence the excess inventory. If you cant sell it, give it away!

[Bladestar]

crap!... I'm getting one of this!... less than $100! even if you are looking for just a DVD player that can upscale this is a great deal!
Call it desperate measures.. or wherever you want... for $99 I am desperately going to get one... and I know lots of people will do the same... even you Sony fanboys should try getting this player... that freaken cheap even if blu-ray wins 2 years from now... this way you don't miss any movies...

[aliveinboston]

Toshiba is refunding Walmart the $100 difference (like a rebate). Plus even at $200 Toshiba is already losing a massive amount of money on the hardware. HD-DVD players cost just as much to manufacture as Blu-Ray drives.

No other manufacturer is willing to touch the damn thing. There's no money in it for manufacturers. This is basically a desperate Microsoft funded attempt to try to match the installed base of Blu-Ray.

They are literally giving it away. Hilarious!

[LoydX-mas]

You do realize that Wal-mart placed an order for 2 million HD-DVD players back in April.

I'm pretty sure at those numbers, Toshiba found a way to make some money.

[aliveinboston]

Sorry my friend, that 2Million HD-DVD player story was a rumor started by a chinese company and was promptly shot-down by Wal-Mart.

The $98 dollar price (losses refunded by Microsoft via Toshiba) is to get rid of old inventory for a discontinued product that no one wants. If there's one thing Wal-Mart hates, it's wasting space with a crappy product. Wal-Mart is the most efficient retailer on the planet and this deal with Microsoft (via Toshiba) basically attacks 2 problems:

1) Allows Wal-Mart to clear out old crap that no one was buying
2) Gives Toshiba a chance to increase the installed base slightly at a significant cost. Luckily for Toshiba, Microsoft is there ready to give hand-outs in the name of Xbox.

If it was possible to manufacture HD-DVD drives profitable at $100 then every company would be clamouring to get in on it and use their brands to get a dominant marketshare.

Reality: Component costs for HD-DVD is virtually identical to Blu-Ray players. The most expensive component, the laser diode is identical and comes from the same suppliers!

[tientch1]

A new technology whose price go down so quick (98 US$ dammmnnn)
I am not so sure about that

[LoydX-mas]

For $98 ,how could you go wrong? There are upconverting dvd players that cost more.

[ip-student]

That is what Sony must be feeling right now - they sacrificed the PS3 in hopes of winning the format war and now it looks like both formats are going to co-exist. That will prevent Sony from charging as much as it wanted to and thus, Sony is going to lose millions (probably hundreds of millions but who knows).

[wageslave]

Scared is right.

They pulled this same nonsense with UMD in the PSP. And, if the PSP had played standard DVDs, the world would be a different place. UMD is a dead media format.

BTW, Sony's PS division lost $847 Million in Q2 2007. One quarter, nearly a Billion Dollars lost.

In my estimation, the RIAA and MPAA divisions of Sony have just sunk Sony by trying to fight the whole world by adopting *another* closed, proprietary media format. It wont work this time.

Digital Distribution is going to come along and tank both HD-DVD and BR, meanwhile, HD-DVD is a far far more open standard, and will be much more closely aligned with the Comptuer Industry; while BR will be aligned with the "closed set-top box" model. Which is totally doomed.

Im sure "scared" is not even beginning to describe the desperation @ Sony right now.

[rofldings]

Not really "losing" money - they're investing and banking on the PS3; by selling at a loss, make up with game sales.

No. Losing money is like when your product has a 33% failure rate and you have to pay to fix them all. ;)

[ip-student]

For $200 dollars I was going to do it but for $100, assuming I can get one, oh yeah. It upscales regular DVDs and most of my favorite movies are on HD DVD (LOTR is coming allegedly - that seals the deal for me).

To everyone one that says "Oh, but it isn't 1080p" - don't be a fool. I bet no one has a set-up on this entire site that can see the difference. 40 inch tvs - hahahaha. You need to go 60" to see the diference at any reasonable distance if you have 20/20 because your eye can only see 28 seconds of an arc (8 feet under perfect conditions for a 60" with 1080p - in reality it is probably more like 6-7 feet). And since I have a 50" that only does 720 (because I understand the limits of my eyes and the distance I am sitting from the set) - anything more is a waste. Now there is one downside to this player - it is slow to start up. But for a $100, I can turn on the player first, go put in the bag of popcorn and the movie will still be playing before I am ready.

Great deal and simply impossible to resist. And looking at the number of movies that are available - there is more than enough to make it worth while even if the format dies. $100 FTW.

P.S. The format war is going to continue - it is okay to pick sides because neither side is going away.

[zsscommand]

I wonder how BDA will respond.

[Baron79]

most likely say HD-DVD is dead! You can almost guarantee it. I hate the BDA!

[aiphanes]

It only $98...there is no need to get a dualformat player for $700 to $1200...just get a 40GB PS3 for bluray, and the Toshiba $98 HD-DVD player tommorrow and you are set...sure it will not do 1080p like the PS3...but you will at least see 1080i.....remember $98...this is a better deal than the HD-DVD addon for the Xbox 360....

[IntelligentAj]

I would prefer for Blu-Ray to be the dominate format(as I'll own a PS3)but $98. They want to make that an impulse buy. I want to get one but my only concern is the quality. I understand it's Toshiba but it's $98. I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for. That being said I'll wait until someone I know gets one then i'll make my decision. Great news for HD-DVD though. Maybe this will force a cheaper Blu-Ray player onto the market. Complacency kills.

[marcdz1]

100.00 DOLLAR HD-DVD PLAYERS!!
I would not buy a HD-DVD player for 100.00 dollars unless I know it's for sure that it is true 1080p. WTH are they selling their HD-DVD players at the same price as the DVD-players, it took lots of years before they came down and HD-DVD came down in price in a matter of an year. Does anyone see failure when it smacks them in the face. Most people buying these players these holiday season don't even own and HD TV haha. Anyways Playstation 2 was the first DVD player I own back in the day and now it's the first Blu-Ray player I own. History repeating itself. WTF wants a dead format. I don't want to get stuck with a movie player that I only own 3 or 4 movies too. After awhile I will unplug it and give it away for free.

[Baron79]

The PS2 is not a bluray player. HAHAHAHAH! You were tricked by sony into supprorting their dead format. HAHAHAHA! You only have a blu ray player because you bought a Video Game system. You will be stuck with 3 or 4 movies on you PS3 and no Games. HAHAHAHAHAH!!!

[RudeSole Devil]

Seems like an act of desperation considering that Warner Brothers was talking Blu-Ray exclusive a couple days ago. Any way this price won't last because this is a pre black Friday special with very limited amount, which only shows Warner Brothers that HD-DVD is desperate. BTH do I know you your fan boy talk is very familiar to me.

read this and you will see.
http://www.n4g.com/tech/New...
http://www.n4g.com/industry...

[Enigma_2099]

What'd they take out of it?!?!?

[aliveinboston]

DVD: around 400k pixels
720: around 920k pixels
1080i: just over 1M pixels
1080p: over 2M pixels

This piece of crap is 1080i, just over 1M pixels.

The low price is to get rid of the excess inventory. Wal-Mart basically tells manufacturers that if product doesnt move the manufacturer pays to have it moved, ie., subsidizes the sale.

[ip-student]

1080i does not mean 1M pixels on the movie side - that is only on the TV side.

On the data side, the difference between 1080i and 1080p will be invisible to 95% of the people who have a 1080p TV (only 1080p tvs that accept 1080p/24 and can play at 48 or 72Hz benefit from true 1080p/24 signals). Most TVs have to convert 1080p/24 into something else. Guess what that usually is? Yep, 1080i/30 (which is what the HD DVD player in question outputs). The two fields are combined together in the TV and then repeated so you get 60 Hz (and the nice smooth looking film you would want), assuming you even have a 1080p capable set.

For people spending 15k on a home theater system this isn't the player of choice but for people spending $800-$2000 - this is a perfect player. And in two years when the prices come down further, a 1080p player will cost $100. So there is really no reason to wait - even if HD DVD dies it will not matter because this is a good up-converter of regular DVDs. Win-Win.

[aliveinboston]

Sorry you bought into the 1080i excuse bandwagon.

It's true that the actual HD-DVD disc contains 1080P with 1080 lines per frame but the sad reality is that when display at the highest resolution it can (1080i) the cut-price HD-A2 can only process 540 lines per frame. Thats all that's sent to the TV ... 540 lines.

Maybe you need glasses, but most people can tell the difference between 540 lines and 1080 lines. Basically 1080i is interlaced while 1080P is progressive scan. $30 DVD players have been progressive scan for years now because of how poor interlaced looks when there's movement on the screen thanks to the alternating lines. 1080i is fine for looking at still shots but most movies I've seen movies have motion. Yet Toshiba jips consumers with a non-progressive scan HD-DVD player ... pathetic.

As for the cost of a good 1080P true progressive scan (that can display true 1080P in full detail) display, you can get a nice 42" for about $1000 these days. BTW, I heard Lens Crafters has a good deal this month.

------------------

Regarding your post below:

Your first line from the first para asks a silly question:
" I don't know where this 540 lines BS comes from, but that talk is pure crap."

You answer your own question
"The only difference is the timing and thus the bandwidth requirements to transmit the signal, where a 1080 frame is cut in half and send sequentially instead at once (however these two "half frames" are not in sync)."

1080 divided by half = 540 lines

Because the two "half frames" are not in sync you get artifacts related to motion.

[Ju]

I don't know where this 540 lines BS comes from, but that talk is pure crap. 1080i has 1080 lines as well does 1080p. The only difference is the timing and thus the bandwidth requirements to transmit the signal, where a 1080 frame is cut in half and send sequentially instead at once (however these two "half frames" are not in sync).

This "async" effect is, that even and odd lines have a slight time gap (exactly half the frame time), which in case of fast movements shifts half frames and might become visible thru a "smear" effect. Filters and "deinterlaces" can interpolate those two frames to reduce the smearing. But the pixel resolution, especially in a still frame, is absolutely identical. Even more so, if your TV outputs at 60Hz, a still frame will be 60 HZ, no matter if i or p. (however, I don't know any 1080 native display which would only be 1080i but not p, this mostly applies to 720p displays which can be fed thru a 1080 signal - which is then downscaled anyway). No TFT displays an i signal! This only applies to tubes - which nobody sells any more.

What I forgot to say. These half frames (that's where the 540 lines comes from) is interleaved (or "interlaced" what it was called before, that's where the "i" in 1080i comes from). The reason why tubes supported i but not p was simply, at that time it was very difficult to produce a raster beam tube to have a beam fast enough to display a 1080p 60Hz signal (simply physics, a tube shoots electrons against a wall after all). And before that, the same applied to NTSC/PAL displays (at an approx. 800x600 resolution). Why interlaced was used is, because the fluorescent phosphor used in tubes "stores" a pixel for some time and thus works as a simple "analog" filter to minimize the interlace effect. Something which no longer exists on Plasma/TFT displays. Thus all new displays "deinterlace" the signal and show the picture in "p" eventually. That "merging" of half-frames can have an quality impact, but what you see is a "p" picture on current flat panels.

[ip-student]

Re the glasses - I think you realize by now that was a silly comment.
Once you do the conversion to 1080p/30, it is mathematically identical to providing 1080i/30 or 1080p30 (because 1080i/30 is really just spliting the 30 frames of 1080p/30 into two half-frames and sending the information twice as fast so that it can be combined on the other end to form the 1080p/30 frame (which is of course converted to 1080p/60 by your tv by repeating each frame twice). So - bottom line is that if your TV is a 1080p set, the different between 1080p/30 and 1080i/30 is about nothing. The only possible advantage to having 1080p/30 output is if your TV sucks at recombining the lines - which is unlikely - or your TV is one of the few that can accept 1080p/24 (and outputs @ 48 or 72 Hz) and can therefore avoid the issues with 2:3 pulldown (and is large).

So artifacts aren't really an issue with HD DVD at 1080i because the data is at 1080p/24. Assuming the conversion process is handled properly - there will be no discernable difference. It is only when the conversion process is not handled correctly that you have problems with artifacts.

I think you are confusing the issue of artifacts with filming in 1080i - that is when you get artifacts because you are capturing alternating 540 lines every 1/60 of a second instead of capturing the entire frame every 30 or 60 seconds. The problem the networks have is that capturing 1080p/60 is a pain (too much data) so they either capture in 1080i (and create artifacts when they compress and send over cable) or capture in 720p/60 and avoid artifacts.

Bottom line - on the vast majority of TV (if you have a 60" 1080p TV that can accept 1080p/24 you might be the exception - if you are sitting about 7-8 feet away) you cannot tell the difference between 1080p/30 and 1080i/30. And if you have a 720p set like I have, then there is no advantage to paying more for 1080p.

[nirwanda]

Can you do a similar deal in the UK at your ASDA stores

[ghettocheeze]

If a good HD TV costs upwards of $1000 then why would someone bundle it with a cheap $98 HD DVD. This is for the Walmart crowd that buys the terrible Vizio and Olevia TVs for $500. Sorry but that is not the crowd that will end up buying HD-DVD software in the dozens. No 1080P means all the people with high end TVs will not buy this thing. People this exactly what happened last gen where the $100 DVD was bought by people with old tube TVs let alone a flatscreen or projection box. Some people still play the 360 or PS3 and these old worn out TVs. This format war will not be decided buy the price of the player but rather the price of the TV. There is no point in upgrading to HD movies if you don't have a decent HD TV to watch it on. Toshiba and Sony need to work on cheaper TVs if you want the mainstream to make the switch. Sorry but I'm not sold.

[ParaDise_LosT]

60g?
nuff said :D

[nevelo07]

sorry but i dont care if you or i cant tell the difference but i bought a 1080p tv to get 1080p not 1080i sorry so this is not a prchase for me unless what that gut said about the firmware upgrading it to do 1080p. plus blu-ray is the better format anyway. more studios.

[Baron79]

More studios maybe(what 1 more). But I would rather have Universal and Paramount over FOX (always delays) and Disney (Kid movies) any day. If your T.V. is good enough it will upscale 1080i to 1080p. And Blur Ray is not the better format.

[Gmoney]

Sounds like these stores are clearing their inventories on HD-DVD stuff 'cause they know they won't be able to sell them once Blu-Ray takes over. RIP HD-DVD.

[kn]

But this is a smoking deal. If the 5 free disks are titles you'd like to have, the player is free. You get a taste of HD for peanuts... At the least it will get people off of DVD and moving into High Definition movies... Maybe they will buy a 1080P player later but at least it gets the ball rolling.

Best Buy has the unit on their website at 99.99 and they are currently doing a "buy and Toshiba HD-DVD player and get 7 movies free". You get the 5 from a mail in and pick two from their library valued at $34.99 or less... They are sold out online and are limited to the stock they have on hand. Sadly, my local BBs are sold out and it's too far to the closest one with stock. Check your local best buy if you want this deal as it is available NOW....

Edit -- LOL at a fanboy disagree. IT'S ON THE BEST BUY SITE. How can you disagree with that?

[Ju]

I just checked. Its sold out everywhere. (at least in my city)

[bombzombie]

Which city is that?

[Ju]

Phoenix, AZ. I checked all Best Buys. I was at one locally and asked. Shelf was empty.

[HondaSIRowner]

Your absolutely right ?!?!? how can it be that cheap and without any sacrifices being made. Loss of money is one thing.

Probably these Toshiba players will have some reliability problems.

[kn]

The A2 has been replaced by the A3 and hence it has been marked down. They most certainly didn't call all the A2s back to the factory to pull out valuable components and stick them back on the shelf at a cheaper price... Think about it... It's basically a clearance.

I expect there will be a mark down on the A3 as we get closer to Christmas -- I suspect the A3 will be $198 very, very soon.

I think Sony has some older models as well. They should follow suit... Mark 'em down and get a bunch of dedicated players to Joe Six Pack.

[nevelo07]

are u serious with hddvd no saws no hostel no spiderman no potc no simpsons not all disney movies are for kids get real with yoself

[wageslave]

"no saws no hostel" good.

You clearly dont care about film if you're worried about the HD quality of that garbage. As for Disney, the only thing they produce that is worthwhile comes out of Miramax. And, the Weinstein Brothers left with Dimension Films late 2005.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

In short, Disney can scuk it (they are also, along with Sony, some of the most notorious copyright villans in the MPAA / RIAA. Those two (Disney/Sony) are the *WORST* memebers of those criminal groups.)

[rofldings]

Wageslaves has issues. And a disorder: fanboyism.

[dragonJP]

Transformers no Shrek 3 no Bourne no Matrix... get the point? Both sides of this format war have great exclusives. Maybe THAT's what is getting everybody so fired up--- fanboys making themselves choose one format over the other, and losing out either way on some great films in HD. Got an HD DVD player? Wait for Blu-ray to get under $300 or get a PS3. Got a Blu-ray player? Get your a** to Walmart and get in on HD DVD. Both formats are great, and both formats are getting waxed by DVD. All of this arguing is pointless, since DVD/HD downloads is going to bury both of them soon unless sales pick up. Give Toshiba credit for trying....

[shysun]

lol 98$! lol I still don't want one!

[pshizle]

lol good joke...

anyways im buying one =)

[Grassroots]

I mean come on, and no it's not cheaper since the hd combo discs are more expensive than blu-ray (except fox movies). All that is happening is more confusion, and a drawn out demise of the red format.

[season007]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site...

[Dashmoney101]

in bussiness, a company will drop the prices to rediculous lows to sell the product in order to make a profit on it later. THIS DOESNT MEAN THE PLAYER IS OF LOW QUALITY.
This means Toshiba is willing to take a hit this christmas to win the format war. Which is a very ligit reason.
Standing from a neutral piont, I think that HD DVD will win becuz of 2 things 1. The player is cheap and in a America, Cheap wins [McDonalds]2. The Name: HD DVD . I have talked to many people about this sugject and People dont know what Blu ray is [ some guy thought it was a Missle defense system lol] But when i said HD DVD they all said OOOhh! High Def DVD, right? Just an opionon though

[cooke15]

holy crap. Ill buy 2

[arika]

its cheap because it cheat! its not a real hd player because there is no 1080p capability. not worth my time and money..... lame player.

[arika]

its cheap because it cheats! its not a real hd player because there is no 1080p capability. not worth my time and money..... lame player.

[PS3n360]

you do realise that this player is more HD than that game you have as an avatar right? R&C is not even 720p its 704p which according to you is not HD. Tell me genius how does that foot taste?

Fanboys- the look and sound of stupid

[bombzombie]

http://www.engadgethd.com/

The news is all over the web. Further, does Sony have the cash to respond to this?

Recall that Msft has just made a bonanza in cash with Halo 3 and a huge uptick in Vista sales. Toshiba is also selling at a stable and healthy clip.

Isn't this really a plan to go for the jugular?

BE HONEST! And I love Sony TVs, Receivers and whatnot, but these guys are getting hit on all sides...1st X360, then HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray and the mighty Nintendo Wii with no end in sight for popularity (Have you seen the prices on Ebay - 1 year later!!)

If Sony is come out of this, it is likely by sacrificing the PS3 and coming out with a PS4 on an advanced schedule. They need a hit and quickly.

And I'm not a fan of anything...just observing what appears to be some tough sledding ahead.

[aggh im on fire]

I have a 1080p tv and i can honestly say i can see no difference whatsoever between that and 1080i. Mt tv is 42'' and im sure at 50'' and above it makes a difference but anything below that there isn't none i can see.
Hell most people who are discussing the benifits of 1080p only have a normal ray tube tv..
Games are the same...whether its 720p or 1080p theres no discernable difference on a tv below 50''.
I even invited friends round to see the difference...they said the same. People are just gullable enough to belive the guy in the eletrical shop who's trying to grab more money off them.

[sly777]

It very hard to tell but there is a difference. It's more apparent when there is a a lot of camera panning due to motion. That's one of the reasons you want to watch sports in anything progressively scanned.

Anyways, it's still a good deal, especially if the free movies are sill offered.

[ip-student]

Broadcast often film in 1080i (because of the amount of data) and then you get artifacts. I hate watching sports filmed in 1080i - the compression algorithms used by Comcast make the artifacts even worse. Where as with HD filmed in 720p/60 there is no issue with artifacts and the compression doesn't generate artifacts.

Film, on the other hand, is filmed progressively and is stored in 1080p/24 and has to be coverted (either with 2:3 pulldown or directly if you have an uber TV). Since the data is all there and the conversion process is mathematically straightforward - the difference should be nothing.

[fredy]

the average user will not know a difference between 1080i and 1080p, especially depending on the size of their television and how far they sit away.

1080P is marketing BS.

It should be clear about the factors instead of paying an extra $1000 for a 32 inch 1080p tv.

Whats funny is its just the fanboys that underestimate the power of "Cheap Prices" at "Big Retailers", which have the power to change the strategies of Studios and other retailers.

Not saying it will but don't be surprised if it does..

[Cherchez La Ghost]

I just went to Wal-Mart website and typed in "HD-DVD" in their search engine. There are no HD-DVD players coming up. Are they out-of stock?!

[Cherchez La Ghost]

Wal-Mart, Circuit City (around my area in DC) and Best Buy are out of stock!!

[xplosneer]

CLEARENCE SALE

I hate this war. Seriously.

[bloodzombie77]

do you know how much consumer ignorance there's gonna be?

I'm seeing LOTS of pissed of people when they can't play Spider-man on their HDDVD player because they didn't research their purchase.

[Crazyglues]

Wow this is a big move for HD-DVD one that will definitely put some blood on the knife they plan on sticking in Blu-Rays back... Talk about playing dirty.. $99 bucks is hard to turn down for the consumer.

[DRE1970]

CAN YOU SAY DESPERATE

[ActionBastard]

No analog 5.1 or 7.1 support
Slow boot process
No bookmarking
Built-in Dolby True-HD 5.1 through HDMI ONLY
No DTS-HD decoding
No 1080p

I'd rather put that $98 towards Blu Ray

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

We know you would.

[demolitionX]

$98 worth of movies better than a piece of hardware that will be thrown in year.
anyway it's a good offer for the poor, happy holidays!!! toshiba should give away some to kitchen soup!

[Cherchez La Ghost]

Right now I've been recording "Heroes" 2nd Season in HD (1080i). I have a 56" 1080p Samsung HDTV. And comparing the 1st Season 1080p to my HD-DVR 2nd Season in 1080i, there is a small difference in picture clarity. I'm sorry fanboys, you can rant-n-rave 1080p, True Audio, 100gig, HD-DVD is desperate, Blu-Ray FTW, Blu-Blah-Blu-Blah all day. If this "Dead Format Non-True HD" player is not worth purchasing, why is it "SOLD OUT" almost everywhere. $200 player is something people can afford. It's what people can afford that will sell. If I was lying, the PS3 would still be $599.00.

[ActionBastard]

Why is it sold out? Each store has 5 of them.

[Cherchez La Ghost]

If this "Dead Format Non-True HD" player is not worth purchasing, why is it "SOLD OUT" everywhere.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

hmmm great deal, I should get one so i have both blu-ray and HD-dvd.

[ROCCOZILLA]

THAT THING IS A PIECE OF GARBAGE.IT ONLY PLAYS BACK AT 1080I MAX.STILL NOT TRUE HIGH DEF!WASTE OF MONEY.

[TruthbeTold]

I'm sick of people trying to pass that off as if it's something more than it is. You must be regurgitating what you've heard from some salesman. Before 1080p, 1080i was the one referred to by the snobs as "True HD". And now suddenly for arguments sake 1080i is garbage. lol

The truth is, that you can barely tell the difference. If you feel that it's better to spend several hundred more dollars for a picture difference so slight that the average person won't even notice it, then hey, that's your thing. But quit trying to dog people who would save some money and still get a very good product. This "True HD" nonsense is ridiculous, unjustified snobbery. Whoever buys one of these players for around 100 bucks is getting a steal. Period.

[demolitionX]

Toshiba wants to shovel inferior technolgy to people's @ss!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!! why don't they give it for free? too bad for HD DVD, they will never see a single movie from fox or disney nor sony pictures.

[Cherchez La Ghost]

If 1080i is not "True Hi-Def", then we all shoud raise hell to Fox, NBC, CBS, WB, HBO, Showtime, The Movie Channel, Starz, Cinemax, and all other television station providers that broadcast in 1080i. I don't know about you, but MOJO channel and Fox Sunday football in 1080i looks very, very good on my fathers 2001 "Fossil" Rear-Projection 480p/1080i HDTV.

Manlaw #987 - "Thou shall not disturb man while watching football on Sundays"!!!!

[demolitionX]

if toshiba kept that offer they will bankrupt in a year

[Silvia007]

ohhh look ma, I just got a $90 hd-dvd player to go with my $3,000 television! WOOT! Yeah right. People who buy these cheap players probably are still in the standard def, 480p max, 30 in., 200lbs crts. That being the case, dvd players and dvd's are cheaper, so unless HD-DVD's costs $20 dollars a copy, $90 dollar players don't mean jack sh!t.

[level 360]

Wow! Good for the average consumers, bad for the gullible buyers' of the first ( and very expensive ) series HD-DVD players... Hah ha!

[dolomyte3d69]

I love my Blu-ray AND HD-DVD players. The think I really like about HD-DVD, however, is the dual-sided discs. What a bit of HD-DVD on the Toshiba, flip the disc over and you can watch the SD version in your car, on the road, or by folks who don't have a high-def player. Also, I don't care how much of a Sony fan you are, at this price, why not have both? I watched Transformers on HD-DVD and just picked up Spiderman 3 and Meet the Robinsons on Blu-Ray. I'll be picking up Heroes Season 1 next.

[Gahigiddy]

And can be bought by poor people who can't even afford the setup (HDTV etc) to use it.

Yeah, this'll sell like hotcakes...

PS3 will beat it of course but so will lower BR player prices. War was over when PS3 launched! BR wins.

[Death]

What kind of world do we live in when a name brand next gen DVD player is below $100 and people say it's a bad thing? If this was a Blu-Ray player, everyone complaining would be saying it's a great thing.

1080 is 1080. This is the maximum resolution any HDTV can display. You can achieve this in two ways, interlacing and progressive scan. Progressive is better since the same results are achieved with one pass where interlacing takes two. The actual differance is measured in framerates, your eye can't tell the differance between the two. Films are regulated to run at 24 frames per second.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Some of the hardcore fans also need to keep in mind that more 1080i tv's are in peoples homes than 1080p.

-Death

[level 360]

Hah ha... Gullible 1080p, 1080i cynicists who cares? Can't really see the difference, what I see clearly is the huge price difference.

[Pain]

Golly geez Hillbilly! ima get me one of them fancy HD players!
But in the Real world $100 gets u what it is cheap outdated 1080i player. Not True HD that is 1080'p'

Atleast Hollywood and the rest of the world know's what winner is and thats the beter tech that is
blu-ray 1080p.

and sure $400 PS3 blu-ray player will open the masses,

P.s Did u kids know that when Tosiba helped make cell thay wanted to put hddvd in ps3 but sony said hell no to yurr outdated tech~ hmm .

know yur facts kids and keep dreaming that wallymart will settle this silly format war

[KingJames1906]

Just curious. What major Sporting Event that happens in Jan/Feb that the world takes notice. I've give you a hint. Their initials are S.B. Do you think the Super Bowl is broadcast in Glorious 1080p? NO. It's 720p upscaled to 1080i. News, Weather, Sports, and Network Broadcasting is what 65-75 percent of viewing public will use their sets for.

[Pain]

@king Most people dont care what therr t.v show play in just games and movie .and in cananda its
1080P this 1080p that and most do know that 1080P = HD not high rev 1080i.

[KingJames1906]

You do know that Hi Def TV's were out years before the first HD-DVD or Blu-Ray players hit the market. Do you honestly think people invested thousands on the hope that a 1080P signal would (as you say in Canada) come even though their high def sets could not receive a 1080p signal because they bought a 720p or 1080i set. (Remember those $10,000 Plasma TV's what 6 years ago?) It was News, Weather, Sports, and Network Broadcasting that made the CONSUMER choose, not High Def movie disks. So people do care about HD. Just not Blue-Ray or HD-DVD. Now if Toshiba can manufacture more $100.00 HD-DVD players and sell them to the mass market, Then you see more studios joining or going neutral producing Blue-Ray and HD-DVD until the CONSUMER makes that final choice. It's hard to argue with 99.00 dollars. I bought 3 today (I have one and the others are for co-works who couldn't get the day off.) My only gripe is the content is to expensive. But I rent so I don't mind as much. I'll tell you one thing, this sure will move Blockbuster and Netflix's traffic over this sale.

[Pain]

And it was never for a 1080p signal back then it was just High 'rez' that 'most' wher after and thats more
or less what 1080i is, sure some well say other but 720p is higher detail then 1080i thats why most tvs had 1080i .

and the 1080p signal that most want for tv cant and wont be avalable as a standard till08 when signal is swithched to digital from Anolog then sure its 1080i.p 720p or whatever yur t.v can handle.

and yes joe blow tv watcher dont care about high rez TV utill they get it for free. but movie watchers
always do care what there watching

ps if that dont make sence sorry im in a rush ><

[bloodzombie77]

I think everyone is getting ahead of themselves. The price is for ONE DAY ONLY!!!!!! And yes, I know they'll sell out, but like I said before: WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY COMES VAST AMOUNTS OF CONSUMER IGNORANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How much do you wanna bet that when Billy Joe Bob and his cousin/sister/girlfriend goes to buy that HDDVD player, they buy Blu-ray movies to try and play them on it, only to result in confusion and drunken phone calls back to Wal-Mart wondering why the hell his fancy new HDDVD player won't play Spider-man 3

[Sodium]

The $99 HD DVD's were all gone in less than 5 minutes... It looked like they had about 50 of them.

[KingJames1906]

Man it's a mad house in their. I bought 3 HD-DVD Players

1 - For me.
2 - My best Friend (Gift for Christmas he just bought an HD - TV)
3 - My Co-worker (He'll get the money on Monday.

I saw the 40GB PS3. I would have bought it but instead opted for the 348.99 Acer Laptop. Not bad for the specs (see below.)

15.4'' WXGA LCD Screen
1GB DDR2
80GB HDD
DVD/CD - RW
56k
10/100 Base T
802.11b/g
Windows Vista Basic (I might load XP)

I think I'm going to wait on the PS3. I have an Xbox360 and I'm pretty happy with it. Only games I'm looking forward to are Heavenly Sword and MSG4 possibly Uncharted. The others I can get on the 360. I think the price of the PS3 can an will go lower than 399.99 so I'm in no rush.