Will the BDP-S1 & PS3 Launch Same Time?

[JimPullan]

Do you believe that the Sony BDP-S1 and the PS3 will launch their street date at the same time ? Being so close now, do you anticipate any further delays?

Jim

[Jim L]

Jim I thought you would have more inside information than the average forum member does.

My thoughts on this - I think the PS3 launch date is firm. There's a lot of money in advertising and PS3 launch related activities that can't be changed this late. And the timing before Christmas shopping and Thanksgiving is critical for a product like this.

I don't want to start a rumor based on one comment I heard, but here goes. I've mentioned here already that I ordered the Sony BDP-S1 but got a loaner / same-cost substitute (Panasonic) from Tweeter because of a mix-up on their part. When I was in their store last week, the sales rep handling my purchase reassured me that I could still get the Sony if I wanted it or just keep the Panasonic. He also showed me the Pioneer which was on display nearby. I asked about when I could exchange it for the Sony. He said he expected early December, but that the Pioneer might be mid-November. For a brief moment I thought about the Pioneer, but the cost is more than I want to pay. However, the "mid-November" date sounded suspiciously close to the PS3 launch.

What if the Blu-ray companies have been bluffing all along to throw off the other side? Other items to consider: Fox announced X-Men 3 suddenly last week and there is a very odd lack of Sony title announcements.

I don't know if Sony and the BDA are smart enough to stage this kind of surprise after the earlier bungling they've done. It would be interesting if a Blu-ray Blitzkrieg did occur at the PS3 launch.

If not, just based on current release dates for movies and players, there will be a lot of Blu-ray goodies in time for Christmas this year.

[JimPullan]

Originally Posted by Jim L

Jim I thought you would have more inside information than the average forum member does.

I'm not stating I am without insight on this issue, but simply wanted to know if others here have a different or updated perspective on this, and by asking a 'generic' questions, keeps JTK off my back along with his negative personal comments. Just playing it safe for a change.

Jim

[theknub]

Originally Posted by JimPullan

I'm not stating I am without insight on this issue, but simply wanted to know if others here have a different or updated perspective on this, and by asking a 'generic' questions, keeps JTK off my back along with his negative personal comments. Just playing it safe for a change.

Jim

haha, good plan. personally, i don't think sony would launch sometime in december. that is just ludicrous when it comes to holiday shopping. IMO, the latest would be the day after thanksgiving since that is when things become nuts. but, that is just my opinion.

[Jim L]

I just got the Tweeter catalog in the mail today.

As I was browsing through it I noticed that their printed catalog had a picture of the Pioneer 1080p plasma with their matching. Under their Blu-ray player it said Available mid-November.

That confirmed what the sales rep told me last week. As I flipped past the pages of Sony HD displays I saw no similar pairing with their Blu-ray player. I figured, "They're still running late."

But in the back they have section devoted to HD disc players. On page 62 is the Sony BDP-S1 and under it: Available mid-November.

I just called Tweeter and the guy there said their system shows the Sony arriving December 1st, but it could be early. He also said they definitely expect the Pioneer before the Sony. Maybe Sony has been telling us "worst-case" release dates in order to not disappoint everyone again. Or maybe their strategy all along has been to try to have a massive release of everything together to help give Blu-ray a huge push.

I don't know if this will be the shock and awe, but I really hope it is. I hope both of these players are solid pieces of equipment with top-notch performance.

I'm sure that even if they are perfect and have better performance than any other HD source, the folks at AVS will still trash them and say "But they're more expensive than the Toshiba . . ."