Thoughts from someone who just returned an HD DVD player

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Originally Posted by ArkGuy

I think you're right. If a big B&M chain were to starting dumping some Chinesee made $199 player on the market, in either format, it would be darned relevant.

I suspect it would be dumping.

At $199 SRP, the wholesale price would need to be around $150 or less. And with a $40 - $50 royalty cost in each box, I think it would be difficult to have a profitable HD disc player at $150 wholesale.

Drive: $50
SoC: $20
Misc: $60 (DRAM, case, power supply, HDMI chip, etc.)
Royalties: $40
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Cost: $170

We haven't heard a peep about the Chinese HD DVD players since CES. And the CES announcement said they'd be here by now.

Like Thomson (RCA) and the HD-A1, you have to wonder if Toshiba's aggressive pricing has made it unprofitable to enter the HD DVD arena?

Gary