Microsoft Drops Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Price To $129.99

Microsoft has officially dropped the price of the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player from $179.99 to $129.99.

The new price will go into effect immediately in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

[Tempist]

I guess it was a little folly to make a choice like this for a console.

[Cwalat]

this is i think the most pathetic move by microsoft yet...

instead of making an announcement that they will stop supporting Hd-DVD they announce a pricedrop of about 49$ ?
LOL x LOL = LOL^2

[DarkSniiper]

I think Xriderbc said it best on his post on Fatwallet found here http://www.fatwallet.com/t/... "It is so tiring to hear people say HD-DVD is dead, just because of media hype... what's really sad is it is working though, because it makes the uninformed buyer scared that it's true, so it will become true. The ironic thing is, when Sony had betamax, which was the superior technology, it was outdone because of marketing. This time around, HD-DVD had the better tech, and hype is making it die. I guess Sony learned it's lesson last time around. Sad thing is, the consumer will be the loser if BD has no competition, and Sony has it's copy protected nightmare become the standard. They've already shown they don't care about the consumer with the rootkit they put on their previous copy protection scheme, causing stability problems for people, and denying it existed until someone proved it was there. They've also come up with a proprietary technology for just about everything they produce, making it more expensive to use.

And yet, people keep gleefully saying "HD-DVD is dead." I guess if I had horribly overpaid for a blue ray player inside a PS3, I would be sighing relief if it looked like BD might stay around too. How many people know that Blue Ray needed the extra disc space because of it's horrible audio compression, that took over half of the disk just for the sound track? Not many, it seems. They just hear "blue ray discs have more storage space than HD-DVD". Jeeez."

$nipe

[Why o why]

DarkSniper has a stalker (fake clone) already

MS says they WILL make money off you no matter what

[GIJeff]

When someone says HD-DVD has the better tech, thats when that article and writer fail. Blu-Ray has ALWAYS had the better tech. 25gb vs. 50? gee...

Blu-Ray can go far beyond 2 layers, 4 and beyond has already been done. 200gb on optical media isnt bad, and its far better tech than HD-DVD. Face it, the superior format has one this time around, and we should all be happy.

[wageslave]

And the heat keeps coming. As we saw on the Super Bowl commercial, you can buy a $150 stand-alone player at Target, Walmart, Best Buy and others -- its no surprise that MS would price this unit relative to that.

The benefits to consumers is compelling;

HD-DVD players upscale your current libraries.
HD-DVD discs play on your current players (but at standard DVD quality).
HD-DVDs cost less to make and cost less for the player.

I personally want what benefits me more (HD-DVD) than what benefits the MPAA and RIAA more.

This is far from "over".

[fenderputty]

this in any way other then a last ditch effort from a sinking format. They loose on every front regardless of what price drops they make. Who cares about the super bowl footage? In a couple months, HD-DVD won't have even close to the amount of material on the shelves that BD offers. It's loosing studio support including TDK who won't produce any of the re-writable disks. Bestbuy and other stores are stipping HD-DVD from their shelves to give more space for BD. Not only is HD-DVD sinking, it's sinking fast. I don't even need to bring up how bad it's stinking over seas do I?

[marinelife9]

LOL @ "as we saw"

No we didn't see a $150 HD-DVD commercial during the superbowl because Toshiba couldn't fund the nationwide plan so they had to go with the regional package. I'm sure fox told them the regional package was just as good and to write the check out to BDA supporter inc.

Microsoft and Toshiba are better off selling these on an infomercial for $19.99 With all the free movies they giveaway they can add in quite a few "BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE" plugs.

[Graphics by ATi]

Hey Wageslave, only special HD DVD / DVD combo disks play on regular DVD players.

Normal HD DVD disks will NOT, I repeat, NOT play on standard DVD players.

You may stop your blind support of HD DVD now. It's ok, we promise.

[GIJeff]

upscales normal DVDs beautifully, AND it plays the superior Blu-Ray discs...wage = fail.

oh, and by "plays hddvd in standard dvd" you mean side 2? this further backs claims that like the 360, hd-dvd is dvd.5, or, xbox.5. I choose whole steps forward when upgrading.

[laryforlife]

honestly hd-dvd is cheaper, and the same picture quality as blu ray also with dual format hd and dvd on one disc, why is hd-dvd not winning? It will be as cheap as dvd players soon.

[jinn]

who gives a crap about movie platforms?

[moujahed]

50$ OFF!!! If they wanna move these units they should've just made is 50$.

[Iron Man 2]

Too little too late Microsoft,HD DVD already lost and Blu-Ray is king after DVD;)

[Bender]

Agreed, why wont Toshiba just let it die?

[niall77]

anyone

[mighty_douche]

Just give them away... ill take a couple, make some nice book ends.

[shine1396]

no need to say anything really...

[PStriple703]

LMAO

[Bruceongames]

.....Microsoft announce their Blu Ray add on drive?

[v1c1ous]

a 6 month grace period.

maybe a week or two after paramount's deal with hd-dvd is nullified

[xboxlj]

They might as well give them away and send it to the landfill. They are soon to be nothing more than paperweights.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I think Toshiba just screwed up all the way around on HD-DVD...sure they were the cheapest...but when looking at the add-on...it was a PRICEY add-on even if it was an HD-DVD player...it was still an Add-on.

If they had this closer to $100 at launch I think they could have used it more effectively as a Trojan Horse as MANY more 360 owners would have bought it. They could / should have bundled Transformers with it INSTEAD of King Kong once it came out.....now its just too late.

[mighty_douche]

while i agree, a lower price point would have probably improved sales, it would also mean alot more customers now with red faces.

[bohemian 23]

I'm buying one. It might be stupid but this format war isn't over and in the end if blu ray wins witch i know it most likely will it's only 120 bucks when it's all said and done I spend that every two weeks on a bag so oh well.

[PMR_21]

you just love wasting your money right? how sad

JUMP OUT & PLAY B3YOND

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Do it quick, I believe the Toshiba 5 free movie deal ends at the end of Feb. $120 w/ 6 free movies is a good deal even if a dying format. Also, Amazon is selling HD-DVD's at 50% off so...you can build up a quick nice library for cheap ...and then move on to Blu Ray when / if you feel like it.

[BloodySinner]

Take it to the open zone.

[Nostradamus]

Ha, I get my sacks at 120 too!

Sometimes 100, we must be near each other.

[GIJeff]

at least i dont have to ask myself "is this fool high or somethin?"

[The Bloody BladeMart]

still 130$ too much

[Fat Onion]

The Toshiba HD-A3 HD-DVD Player is cheaper than this. At Amazon.com it is less than $120 Plus you get 5 HD-DVD movies

I would much rather have a stand alone player.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref...

[tatotiburon]

sorry microsoft, i love my xbox 360 but the war is over and this hd-dvd player is a waste of money

[KILLERAPP]

Only idiots will buy this.

[The Bloody BladeMart]

the real idiots already bought this hehe

[Bill Gates]

WOW, M$ really went to town on the arsenal of the BABOONS with the HD-DVD add-on. Funny how the darn thing is an "add-on" but yet M$ is "subtracting" it from their inventory, and selling it to you BABOONS......AAAHAHHAHHAHHAH

You monkeys love collecting JUNK.....AHAAHHAHAHHHA

[etownone]

toshiba could of and should of had this add-on at a $99 price long time ago just to get it in the houses of 360 owners. It would have made a difference in the long run.

sony did everything right, the trojan horse in every blu-ray, dropping prices and taking a loss on every ps3 sold, advertisement on tv and in all the magazines I read.

now, for HD-DVD, its just to late.

[DarkSniper]

Normally in the retail industry, when a price is lowered on an item, you will see a sales spike and sometimes consistent increases in sales and revenue. But with this price drop, it's more than likely not going to happen.

The reason being is because the Microsoft Corporation has set a current trend on creating failed hardware at a breakneck speed. By Microsoft opting out of Blu-Ray support and engaging in cahoots with Toshiba, Microsoft has once again invested in a business decision that indeed is a failure.

The next step for the X-Box 360 HD-DVD Player is to send it where it belongs, in the desert with the burial of ET for Atari 2600.

$niper

[DarkSniiper]

What I meant to say is this will send the PofS3's blu-ray packing and the HD-DVD format will become the standard for HIGH DEFINITION! Xbox 360 FTW!!!

$nipe

[cr33ping_death]

hey dark looks like you got a groupie. you take care of her now you hear.

[skitzoid]

I don't think this is anything more then MS trying to get rid of their stock of HD DVD add ons. I can't see them making any more of them. They probably just dropped the price to move what they have left in warehouses and retail stores.

[BloodySinner]

Good riddance.

[BloodySinner]

What is there to disagree with? I do not understand. :-S

[chaosatom333]

it's not gonna save hd-dvd, unless it's free. maybe not. if someone did want to watch moives, they would have bought a ps3. Microsoft made a huge mistake when they decided not to include hd-dvd. if they did, then hd-dvd could be saved, but the xbox numbers would have been down. so i guess they had to choose between xbox or hd-dvd and they chose xbox.

[SIX]

Even if they wanted to they couldn't have. HD DVD wasn't ready in time to implement into the 360. They wanted a head start in the console war at all cost. Well it looks like it's costing them now. If they where to put an HD DVD into every 360 at the time I think the defects would have been closer to 60%. Either way, unless MS comes up with some serious "MUST HAVE" games. They are toast in 08.

[giggy]

they could drop it to $19.99 and it would still be a wast of money.

[BrianC6234]

Can you say fire sale? If they really want to get rid of them include a game too. Maybe one that has been out a while. Even at this reduced price the drive isn't worth buying.

[Myth]

That thing is only worth $10.

Question if my 360 goes down, doesn't that mean so does my HD-DVD add on?

[Wile]

That makes no sense...if my PS3 goes out my blu-ray player does too. What is your point.

[JOLLY1]

6 discs @ $20=$120 or a hd-dvd player with 6 free discs=$130. $10 for a player to only play 6 movies sounds like a good deal, even if it is obsolete in 6 month, who cares?

[BrianC6234]

If it could play Blu-ray movies too it would be worth buying but HD DVD is about dead. No matter what Toshiba keeps saying most people agree. Do you really want to waste money on a piece of hardware that will soon be dead? If so go ahead but that $129 could buy you two new games instead.

[JOLLY1]

who cares if it dead? I can watch 6 movies for $130. That is a standard price....actually cheap, for hd. If i purchased the exact same 6 movies it would be the same cost on blu-ray, but i can get them now. I don't have to wait for them to be made on blu-ray.

[Bubble Buddy]

Or you can buy the 5 free blu-ray movie deal before... and who cares, do you actually pay that much for movies? I get movies for free in dvd quality and even high-def and i transfer to the ps3. However hi-def takes too long to download.

[Fux4Bux]

Still an awful deal.

[Silent]

You'll have an HD-DVD add on and a Blu-Ray add on. The best of both worlds.

LOL

[staub91]

Microsoft is starting to look desperate.

[SIX]

haha $49 bucks........ I'm not falling for this one. Cheap ass MS.

[jackdoe]

Obvious business decision. If you cannot lure people to buy a format with Studio Support, then you have to lure them with a low price.

[meepmoopmeep]

liqiudation

[Qbanboi]

They should just give it for free. Then i will get 2.