Samsung Blu-ray player hits sub $300 level, HD-DVD trembling in fear

[Living Near Shamu]

http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20...bling-in-fear/

Wow. Proving that competition always benefits the consumer, HD format players are getting cheaper by the day. Today, one of Samsung’s flagship Blu-ray players hit the sub $300 price zone as the HD format war heats up this holiday season.

The Samsung BD-P1400 as it’s known, is currently available at Amazon for $297.95 reports Engadget. We’ve checked Amazon and it’s legit, although it’s unknown how long supplies will last at this price. The player retailed at over $1000 when it first hit stores. At some stores, it retailed for over $2000.

Amazon also has Sony’s BDP-S300 for $400, but that’s a weak bargain even though it also started out at over $1000. The Playstation 3 at $400 is a great Blu-ray player and it’s also an awesome gaming console, and it’s currently retailing everywhere for $400 or $500 depending on the model.

HD-DVD players are still the route to take if you’re looking for a cheap (in price) high def experience, but the format is struggling. Despite that Toshiba’s HD-A2 is currently at $217.88 on Amazon, overall the major studios are leaning towards Blu-ray as opposed to HD-DVD. And Hd-DVD’s biggest ally, Microsoft, is being forced to cash out large checks in order to keep companies at the HD-DVD camp.

Michael Bay, a huge Blu-ray supporter despite that his movies and his studio, Paramount Pictures, back HD-DVD, believes Microsoft is keeping HD-DVD alive in order to ultimately kill both formats in favor of direct downloads.

As Warner Brothers tries to figure out what it’ll ultimately favor, the biggest losers and winners here are the consumers. Competition means lower prices, but a competing format means some of us will have bought a player with nothing new to play on it once a winning format emerges. With the total number of stand alone players sold coming out to about the same for each format, the PS3 is giving Blu-ray a huge boost.

About 700,000 to 750,000 HD-DVD players are in people’s homes right now, and Blu-ray can claim the same. But Blu-ray also has about 2 million Playstation 3 units sold. Many will claim that PS3 owners don’t buy Blu-ray discs, but Blu-ray outsold HD-DVD in discs sold for Black Friday week and I (have a PS3 and) buy Blu-ray discs. I have friends with Playstation 3 units and they buy Blu-ray discs. PS3 owners buy or will buy Blu-ray discs and it’s foolish to think they don’t.

Knowing those numbers, is it wise to buy HD-DVD player? Since they’re not that expensive, if you really like HD-DVD, you’re not losing much anyway.

[Seretur]

Hey, that's a refreshingly candid article.

And a DTS-MA capable player at under $300 is a major force to be reckoned with.

[johnno1986]

Why is this Aussie news?

[Living Near Shamu]

Originally Posted by johnno1986

Why is this Aussie news?

Tech.blorge.com is based in Australia.

[johnno1986]

Ok. Thanks for the reply.

[w_tanoto]

been posted here today

[Blu-ray San]

go to Best Buy and Circuitcity, they have the 1400 for $299

[Zyclone]

i thought there was a bluray player for $300 aussie dollars and i was like holy crap im selling my kidney and buying one but its american

[JadedRaverLA]

Since when did the S300 or BD-P1400 ever go for anywhere near $1,000 -- much less the $2,000 claimed? The first gen S1 and BD-P1000 launched at $1,000... but even that doesn't explain the $2,000 comment.

[bluflu]

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=26441

[dialog_gvf]

Toshiba Pulls Plug On OLED & Local PR Event

Toshiba which last week suddenly pulled the plug on a major press conference in Sydney to showcase its latest series of LCD televisions and provide the media with an update on HD DVD in Australia, has now pulled the plug on OLED TV technology.

Several calls to Toshiba's in-house PR Manager Jo Balfour to ascertain why the local media event was cancelled on the same day that Sony got wide publicity for their claim that they had captured in excess of 93% of the market for Blu-ray Vs HD DVD have not been returned.

Also of interest is why Toshiba Australia Managing Director Mark Whittard suddenly had to fly to Tokyo after taking time off due to the birth of a new addition to his family.

[Dave]

Samsung BD-P1400 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player

Price: $269.98 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
You Save: $230.01 (46%)


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...35W/ref=nosim/


LOL now BD is cheaper than HD DVD!

[bmr76]

This price point is the sweetspot. 299 and under. Our store has the bdp-s300 for 299.99 and we sold out over the weekend. I have them on order. People were wanting this, I also think these prices have something to due with either pleasing warner, or taking some direction from warner. I cant believe these prices. These are awesome prices

[blukrank]

$299 is a great deal. If I did not already have a Blu-Ray player I would be all over that deal. And it does 1080p unlike the cheap HD DVD player selling for the same price.

[MrVorhees]

The important thing in here is (in my opinion)
the Samsung BD-P1400 is an fantastic blu-ray player! DTS MA playback, 1080P, 24hz, very fast loading times, HDMI 1.3!

The specs of this player are superb. now compare those specs to the 99$ "player" from toshiba

[Living Near Shamu]

Some Amazon vendor was selling the Sammy for <$250 yesterday. Not sure if that price is still up there or not.

[Thundercrash07]

I'd love to know how mand of these machines will be sold until christmas!