Straw that breaks the camels back...

[forumwriter]

Originally Posted by jason_grumpy

Actually this is not the case at all. In fact, the price game was claimed time and time again by the red side of the HDM. If anything this shopping season has destroyed the price argument once and for-all. It doesn't work and has been proven in real life as this is what Toshiba did with 1080i players such as you suggested for $99.

I think we might have to agree to disagree on this issue. As a potential HD (High Definition) consumer, I can't afford to risk investing in a format that may or may not survive. But, as I have shown on the MediaMarkt offer, I can get an HD collection going and essentially a player for free. Very tempting to Joe Public.

I would like to go Blu-Ray, but the cost difference is staggering. In Europe to get the same deal, I would be spending almost EUR 500 (USD 700) more with little or no visual improvement as I (like many Europeans) have a native 720p(736) display. This is a lot of money for the low end (like me) consumer on a gamble that a format will survive.

The VP of merchandise Rick Souder from Crutchfield would appear to agree with me in this article http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6506504.html

My suggestions are ways for Blu-Ray to win. The sooner there is one format the better and I feel that an inexpensive baseline Blu-Ray product without all the fancy gizmos is the answer.