Blu-ray could end the format war IF....

[tron3]

The cost of the subcomponents to do so are probably a few dollars difference at best. You are paying for the "functional ability" of the player, and less the cost of the actual hardware. Now, if someone has different info, I would like to know.

Ever notice how a 1GB ipod-type device is one price and the 2GB version is almost 100 bucks more? The cost difference in production is nominal at best. Same thing here for our players.

The idea of blu-ray is to "keep moving forward" (RE:Meet the Robinsons), not going backwards. If that were the case why not a player that supports only 720p?

Spider, you never got back to us on that blu-bloods t-shirt. Fer shame.

[shatta]

u mean 1080i at the higest reso.....???BDA jus dont wanna stoop so low...1080i

[Spider1981]

Originally Posted by tron3

The cost of the subcomponents to do so are probably a few dollars difference at best. You are paying for the "functional ability" of the player, and less the cost of the actual hardware. Now, if someone has different info, I would like to know.

Ever notice how a 1GB ipod-type device is one price and the 2GB version is almost 100 bucks more? The cost difference in production is nominal at best. Same thing here for our players.

The idea of blu-ray is to "keep moving forward" (RE:Meet the Robinsons), not going backwards. If that were the case why not a player that supports only 720p?

Spider, you never got back to us on that blu-bloods t-shirt. Fer shame.

Oh, I worked on it for quite a while, and I have a nice rendition of the artwork at home, but I thought us Blu-Bloods kind of got slapped on the hands and told to calm down at one point around that time, and didn't think I was supposed to keep working on it after that. If I am, let me know, and I'll finish the artwork

[JJ]

For the record, I fully agree with Clayton.

[sokrman14]

My employee price for the Sony BDPS300 is around $330, which means the retail company buys it for around $300, which means that Sony probably makes them for about $150-200. I think they could drop the price if they wanted to, and I am sure that they will.

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by sokrman14

My employee price for the Sony BDPS300 is around $330, which means the retail company buys it for around $300, which means that Sony probably makes them for about $150-200. I think they could drop the price if they wanted to, and I am sure that they will.

Don't forget that one of the main reasons Blu-ray was invented (besides the obvious benefits to consumers) is that due to being an entirely new technology consumer electronics companies are able to charge higher prices and have much higher profit margins which were pretty much non-existent with the current DVD player market. This excites a lot of executives in many of these companies, so they're not about to just suddenly start dropping player prices and diminish their profit margins because Toshiba/HD DVD is trying to force them to do it.
Price drops will be gradual and over time, and not over-night.

[WickyWoo]

Why doesnt BD have an entry level player that is only 1080i at the same price as HD? Atleast until the dud is dead and gone?

Because the actual cost savings between 1080i and 1080p is negligable on the deck level. Almost certainly it's possible to flash the hardware on those A2s to output 1080p were someone to put the time in.

Because they have their loss-leader entry-level deck, they need a good reason for you to pay the extra $3-400 for the X series

It's the display where that is a big cost jump

[navychop]

Toshiba is pretty much the only company making and pushing HD DVD players, and is taking a loss on each one. I think they may have sold a few under another name. And there's a cheapo Chinese player out there, if you can find it.

But there are several companies making Blu-ray players, and advertising them and pushing the Blu-ray format. They can make a profit doing so.

Better to have several companies pushing the format, than just one. Studios can change sides rather quickly. Manufacturing can't.

[Storm]

Would not the introduction of a low end player, that is not 1080p only stand to confuse the market place more. Sony has invested large money in advertising on the Beyond High Definition campaign.
I have no issues paying more for better quality.
I see it more as perceived value. Until it closed, (this was a few years ago) I bought most of my new DVD's at Suncoast. I knew going in the door that I was paying more for the movies up front and I could buy cheaper at Wal-Mart, even when getting my members club "check". I was not for the lithographs, bobbleheads or trinkets you would get with certain movies.
I was beause I liked the staff and the service I received.
With Wal-Mart, I have yet to meet an associate that knows I as much as I about the format. They look confused and say "what's a blu ray."

[docjan_uk]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Don't forget that one of the main reasons Blu-ray was invented (besides the obvious benefits to consumers) is that due to being an entirely new technology consumer electronics companies are able to charge higher prices and have much higher profit margins which were pretty much non-existent with the current DVD player market. This excites a lot of executives in many of these companies, so they're not about to just suddenly start dropping player prices and diminish their profit margins because Toshiba/HD DVD is trying to force them to do it.
Price drops will be gradual and over time, and not over-night.

In the end the mass market and cheap prices turns into a chicken egg situation. Somewhat besides the point though, they need new technologies etc to stimulate a flat market.
"Everyone" already bought into the DVD market. Now they want those same people and more to buy into the HD market. What better way to stimulate sales than get everyone to double dip on stuff they've already bought?!