Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player: $100, this Friday, Wal-Mart – engadget: Still waiting to jump into the high def disc game? Or just wanted another weaker, cheaper player for the last-gen TV you phased out to your rumpus room? Well, whatever your reasons, some (not all!) Wal-Mart locations will be selling Toshiba HD-A2s for $100 — down from $200 — this Friday. Ridiculous, we know. Blu-ray gonna fight back? We hope so, we’d really like to get our hands on one for under $300, and not just by using our hookup that sells gear out of his trunk, you know?
Check out the Wal-Mart page here.
I picked up one of these players a few months ago, and it performs fine. Win the installed base, and you’ll win the format war. The HD-DVD backers must be subsidizing this low ball pricing strategy.
That’s one way to win the platform war. Make em nice and cheap
[Duplicate comment. – Deleted. – ed.]
No #2 was right. The vast majority doesn’t no the difference. Example, the metric–buttload of crappy throw away DVD players Wal-Mart and other have sold.
The HD DVD is getting desperate. They are practically giving the players away now.
At least it will pressure Blueray to lower prices to keep up.
I personally will not buy one until the war is settled, although I do have a 1080p 57″ DLP set with HDMI inputs. I just don’t watch enough movies to make early adoption reasonable for me. I wish I had saved the extra $1000 bux it cost me to buy this tv and just gone with a 720p set.
At least I am future proofed for the next 10 years or so.
Don
Don
#5 – I probably will buy a 720 set when I do buy… though right now I’m happy not to have a TV.
HD and Blu-Ray are still, to me, solutions in search of a problem. And we are years away from a catalog that will satisfy me. When I can buy Blu-Ray or HD discs, on clearance for $7.50 or $4.99 each, and play them in my $50 HDBlu Hybrid player that still plays my extensive library of DVDs.
Movies are about writers, directors, performances, and stories… none of which are ever improved by resolution.
It isn’t that I don’t appreciate the eye-candy. It’s nice, and when it is affordable, I’ll have it.
No thanks. I’m not interested in either format after five years of bullshit.
I’m sure in a year or two Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD will be about as important as DVD+ vs DVD- is now. Thats when I will buy.
#5 & #6
My good fellows, It’s only $98 bucks! Why even comment if you don’t own a TV or you are too dignified to watch what’s out there. They will still make a profit on this player anyway. Even if you only watch SD DVD’s, this player is one of the best upconverting players out there.
#6 OhForTheLoveOf
What size T.V. do you own?
Does this player have SD outputs? I don’t have an HD set, but will next year. But if this thing can down convert to SD and give either S-ZVideo or component NTSC I would get it, then buy the discs knowing they will look much better next year when I get the better set.
#9 – I don’t own a TV… When I do buy, I’ll probably buy no smaller than 50 inches, but for now I watch DVDs on my PC and I have a 21inch widescreen.
Its okay because I live alone… I’ll need something “shareable” eventually.
I don’t think the new tech is BS… I do think its too expensive for most people. Its a luxury I can do without. DVD looks pretty good and even if HD or Blu Ray is 1000 times better, The Fast and The Furious is still a shitty movie. Know what I mean?
This machine originally sold in some locations for $999.00 and can be bought for as little as $179.00.
Meanwhile, all of these ripped BluRay and HD-DVD discs look great on my HTPC. No need for a player when a week long Torrent download will do.
#11 – Thanks for confirming the stereotype you perpetuate.
#13 – Sorry James… I forget that you are the President of the Paul Walker fan club. I mean, he is pretty dreamy.
#11 OhForTheLoveOf
“I do think its too expensive for most people. Its a luxury I can do without.”
I couldn’t agree more. It is way too expensive and your right it is a luxury.
“The Fast and The Furious is still a shitty movie. Know what I mean?”
Absolutely. Higher resolution can’t fix a shit story. But when the story is good and it is a well crafted film it can really make the experience even more enjoyable.
I bought an A2 a few months ago. It is a nice unit, although disk loading times are a bit slow. That damn DRM imposes a lot of overhead.
#10 It has component out.
I went to Walmart this afternoon looking to pick one up. They apparently sold out in minutes early this morning. What a rip. Is this some sort of gimmick to get people’s email address or what?
OK so the price of the players isn’t a problem – the price of the screen is however. For a usable 1080 screen you’ve got to shell out, what, at least $1500? A well-mastered DVD is a great viewing experience IMHO, the screen technology needs to mature and drop massively in price before I consider this – and I’m not even going to think about it until the format war is over and the media is a reasonable price… I’m still not convinced that this won’t go the way of DVD-A and SACD (remember them??)
NOT in Wisconsin !!!!!!
I wonder WHY ??
Maybe a column John
Too bad, the link just goes to Wal-Mart’s Christmas “Balls” now !