First HD DVD Player Goes on Sale

Iria · Mar 31, 2006, 06:49 PM

Toshiba kicked off the next-generation of DVD technology on Friday with the launch of its first HD DVD player in Japan. The HD-XA1 is priced at 110,000 yen, or $940 USD -- slightly higher than it will cost in the United States. No movies in the format will be available until April, however the Toshiba player can play current DVD discs as well.

Toshiba delayed the introduction of the $799 HD-XA1 in the United States last week due to movie studios needing more time to prepare films. The electronics maker also plans to introduce a cheaper $499 player to help push adoption among consumers who may balk at the cost of upgrading to high definition. Sony is expected to launch its first Blu-ray player in July for $1,000.
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Source: BetaNews

studbagel9 · Mar 31, 2006, 08:29 PM

This pricing is outrageous to me. I don't really remember though... how expensive were DVD players when they first came out, does anyone remember? I know you can buy a cheap player for <40 USD these days, so I can't see many people other than the hardcore movie enthusiast purchasing a 1000 dollar player.

ivan300 · Mar 31, 2006, 09:00 PM

DVD players were about the same price when they came out. I remeber when the dvd burners came out they were 1500+

Customgamer1 · Mar 31, 2006, 10:50 PM

OK to the adverage person what do you think they will pick?

Two formants that in the standard person's eye are the same thing what one are they going to pick?

a $800 one or a $1000 one??? Could I be right at saying the $800 one?????? I bet I am. Thats what I am 90% sure HD DVD will win the war!

OldBuzzard · Mar 31, 2006, 10:50 PM

Seems like $1,000 is something of a 'magic number'. I remember when the first Sony Betamax players came out, and they were right at $1,000 too.

calidan · Apr 1, 2006, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Customgamer1

OK to the adverage person what do you think they will pick?

Two formants that in the standard person's eye are the same thing what one are they going to pick?

a $800 one or a $1000 one??? Could I be right at saying the $800 one?????? I bet I am. Thats what I am 90% sure HD DVD will win the war!

Cheaper products are not always better. Then again, neither is the more expensive products. People shouldn't judge by price alone.

Customgamer1 · Apr 1, 2006, 04:58 AM

Calidan thats true but when you are asking people to upgrade to buy a dvd player that 99% of the people already have is going to be hard. Just ask a few people some already think that DVD is HD?? Even for me buying all that new equiptment as in the DVD player, movies and cables. It is going to be a pain plus buying higher priced movies... Is it really worth it?????? Maybe in 2 years when the price comes down. I know for myself I did not buy a dvd player under they were a lot cheaper and the price of moves when down to $20 instead of $40 like they once were.

pr0digal jenius · Apr 1, 2006, 05:21 AM

betamax = sony = losing format

blu-ray = sony = losing format

SFOSOK · Apr 1, 2006, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldBuzzard

Seems like $1,000 is something of a 'magic number'. I remember when the first Sony Betamax players came out, and they were right at $1,000 too.

Whats betamax again? I guess 1,000 isn't the magic # afterall as PJ pointed out lol.

Cheaper wins, all the time, everytime. Not everyone is an enthusiast. Sony will lose, in fact they have already lost

Sandok · Apr 1, 2006, 07:01 AM

Sony has the PS3 to further help it... All is not lost.

Necrosis · Apr 1, 2006, 07:40 PM

If HDDVD is actually not going to have HDCP on the movies like they were. You can pretty much say "Goodbye" to Blu-Ray.

calidan · Apr 1, 2006, 11:01 PM

Well, Sony can still drop the price. If they relese Blu-ray players in Japan @ $1,000 like Toshiba and then release them here in the states cheaper than Toshiba or the same price then there will be some competition.

SFOSOK · Apr 1, 2006, 11:04 PM

Well I think the only ones using blue ray are the ones who buy a PS3. I don't think anyone will buy a blue ray player seperately. Not like Sony will go under or anything with Japan behind them but they won't win the format war

Mar 31, 2006, 06:49 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	First HD DVD Player Goes on Sale Toshiba kicked off the next-generation of DVD technology on Friday with the launch of its first HD DVD player in Japan. The HD-XA1 is priced at 110,000 yen, or $940 USD -- slightly higher than it will cost in the United States. No movies in the format will be available until April, however the Toshiba player can play current DVD discs as well. Toshiba delayed the introduction of the $799 HD-XA1 in the United States last week due to movie studios needing more time to prepare films. The electronics maker also plans to introduce a cheaper $499 player to help push adoption among consumers who may balk at the cost of upgrading to high definition. Sony is expected to launch its first Blu-ray player in July for $1,000. ____________ Source: BetaNews

Mar 31, 2006, 08:29 PM	#2
studbagel9 Rolling the Hard Six Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lock Haven, PA Posts: 767 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	This pricing is outrageous to me. I don't really remember though... how expensive were DVD players when they first came out, does anyone remember? I know you can buy a cheap player for <40 USD these days, so I can't see many people other than the hardcore movie enthusiast purchasing a 1000 dollar player. __________________

Mar 31, 2006, 10:50 PM	#4
Customgamer1 Fell off the tech wagon Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,273 Rep Power: 74 System Specs	OK to the adverage person what do you think they will pick? Two formants that in the standard person's eye are the same thing what one are they going to pick? a $800 one or a $1000 one??? Could I be right at saying the $800 one?????? I bet I am. Thats what I am 90% sure HD DVD will win the war! __________________ Asus Laptop: 2.5 Intel Core 2 Duo, 4gigs DDR 2, Windows 7 64bit! Windows 7 > OSX!

Mar 31, 2006, 10:50 PM	#5
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,782 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	Seems like $1,000 is something of a 'magic number'. I remember when the first Sony Betamax players came out, and they were right at $1,000 too. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Apr 1, 2006, 04:58 AM	#7
Customgamer1 Fell off the tech wagon Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,273 Rep Power: 74 System Specs	Calidan thats true but when you are asking people to upgrade to buy a dvd player that 99% of the people already have is going to be hard. Just ask a few people some already think that DVD is HD?? Even for me buying all that new equiptment as in the DVD player, movies and cables. It is going to be a pain plus buying higher priced movies... Is it really worth it?????? Maybe in 2 years when the price comes down. I know for myself I did not buy a dvd player under they were a lot cheaper and the price of moves when down to $20 instead of $40 like they once were. __________________ Asus Laptop: 2.5 Intel Core 2 Duo, 4gigs DDR 2, Windows 7 64bit! Windows 7 > OSX!

Mar 31, 2006, 09:00 PM	#3
ivan300 Booooo Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Vancouver Bc Posts: 236 Rep Power: 0	DVD players were about the same price when they came out. I remeber when the dvd burners came out they were 1500+

Apr 1, 2006, 05:21 AM	#8
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	betamax = sony = losing format blu-ray = sony = losing format

Apr 1, 2006, 07:01 AM	#10
Sandok DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 9,472 Rep Power: 0	Sony has the PS3 to further help it... All is not lost.

Apr 1, 2006, 07:40 PM	#11
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	If HDDVD is actually not going to have HDCP on the movies like they were. You can pretty much say "Goodbye" to Blu-Ray.

Apr 1, 2006, 11:01 PM	#12
calidan Frozen in Carbonite Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 1,409 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Well, Sony can still drop the price. If they relese Blu-ray players in Japan @ $1,000 like Toshiba and then release them here in the states cheaper than Toshiba or the same price then there will be some competition. __________________ Steam Community :: ID :: calidan "Don't try to be like Jackie. There is only one Jackie.... Study computers instead." - Jackie Chan

Apr 1, 2006, 11:04 PM	#13
SFOSOK 939 Goin Strong Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,033 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	Well I think the only ones using blue ray are the ones who buy a PS3. I don't think anyone will buy a blue ray player seperately. Not like Sony will go under or anything with Japan behind them but they won't win the format war __________________ Warning - Explicit Content Preceeding METAL!!