Why the extremely high price?

[Zten]

Originally Posted by smitty4ut

I would like to know where you all found these cheap first gen dvd players. Mine was a Mitsu and it cost $699. Also there was a much bigger difference in picture quality. Going from VHS to DVD was stunning. The difference in picture from an upscaled dvd and bluray is not the same. Bluray is better, just not the same leap. I do remember the cost of dvd's back then. Most of the one's I got were around the $20 mark. Now the bluray's are 29.99 to 34.99. Also before you bash me, most reviews say that there is not a huge difference between upscaled dvd's and bluray.

How big is your TV? Obviously, the larger the TV the more likely you will be to see the improved resolution. If you are watchin on a 37" screen and sitting back 6 feet, it may be hard to see the difference between 480i and 1080p But if you are 8 feet back from a 63" set capable of 1080p, i assure you you will see a significant difference.

Back to you original question on why does Blu Ray cost so much? Blu Ray requires re-investment in new production equiment. Manufacturers have to re-coop that cost. As time passes and the production equipment depreciates, costs passed on to the consumer will go down.

Also, the way it works in hi tech is you make the best margin on your best stuff. So the overall business plan is to make maybe $0.50 on DVDs, and $5 on DVD players. Q: How will business survive given all the overhead costs??? A: By making $5.00 on BDs and $50 on Blu Ray players. Then the overall business can survive and make the profit it needs. BDs and BD players will come down in price slowly as investment costs are re-cooped (this will be especially slow in the near future since the competing technology has given up the fight!!!), then they will come down in price dramatically when there is a new Margin Leader product the manufacturers can rely on -- What's next after BD? Prices will plummet once everyone has fibre to their homes and can watch 1080p and uncompressed 7.1 audio on pay-per-view for $3.99.... )