Sub $200 Toshiba HD DVD player at Walmart?

[GlocksRock]

http://bigtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2007/10/25/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-wal-mart-offers-toshiba-player-for-under-200/

This could shake things up a bit. If this ends up being reality, that would make this player half what Sony's least expensive BluRay player costs... that being the upcoming 40 gig PS3. It would also be a good reason for anyone with an xbox 360 not to get the HD-DVD add on drive, since this player would allow for the new audio formats to be utilized.

 

[j_garcia]

Could make things interesting. There are a ton of good movies coming out on BD lately though. We just need to get the war over with...

 

[onlyshawn]

...viva capitalism! wal-mart is awesome...

 

[GlocksRock]

Could make things interesting. There are a ton of good movies coming out on BD lately though. We just need to get the war over with...

Yeah, it just sucks that some movies are on HD-DVD only... like Transformers

I also read somewhere that the price drop should take effect Nov. 3rd.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, now if Wal-Wart could just increase their HD title selection, that would be great!

 

[zumbo]

Fu** Wal-Mart. Can you imagine having to go there for your audio needs? That would be a sad Fu***ng day in audio. And further more, could you imagine working there?

 

[j_garcia]

Yeah, now if Wal-Wart could just increase their HD title selection, that would be great!

You mean from ZERO? There are very few of their B&M stores that actually carry the discs and none that carry the players as far as I have seen. If you order online though, you can pick them up in a local store for free.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Yeah, it just sucks that some movies are on HD-DVD only... like Transformers
.

Too bad some are only on BD Cuts both ways

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You mean from ZERO? There are very few of their B&M stores that actually carry the discs and none that carry the players as far as I have seen. If you order online though, you can pick them up in a local store for free.

There are three Wal-Marts close to my house that sell both HD DVD & BD movies. The only problem is that all three carry exactly the same movies and not enough of them. I think it's around 10 BD & 10 HD DVD titles.

I remember seeing the Jack Ryan Collection HD, Batman Begins HD, Evan Almightly HD, Distrubia HD & BD, Sopranos HD & BD, Transformers HD, Home of the Brave BD, The Condemned BD, Meet the Robins BD, Hostel BD, Hostel II BD, Top Gun HD, Mr. Brooks BD, and some other titles.

 

[GlocksRock]

Keep in mind that wal-mart only has a limited amount of shelf space in the area where they sell movies, so they aren't going to stock their shelves with products that most people aren't going to buy. Until there is a clear winner in the format war, I don't forsee Walmart stocking too many BD or HD-DVD discs in their stores. But it IS good that they are offering a quality name brand player for such a competetive price, wether you like walmart or not, it's good for competition, and could further drive down the prices of other players, both BD and HD-DVD.

And since those players will also upconvert standard dvd's it would make sense to buy a player like that instead of say a $200 oppo upconverting player. That way you have a nice upconverting player, and the ability to play HD-DVD.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Keep in mind that wal-mart only has a limited amount of shelf space in the area where they sell movies, so they aren't going to stock their shelves with products that most people aren't going to buy. Until there is a clear winner in the format war, I don't forsee Walmart stocking too many BD or HD-DVD discs in their stores. But it IS good that they are offering a quality name brand player for such a competetive price, wether you like walmart or not, it's good for competition, and could further drive down the prices of other players, both BD and HD-DVD.

And since those players will also upconvert standard dvd's it would make sense to buy a player like that instead of say a $200 oppo upconverting player. That way you have a nice upconverting player, and the ability to play HD-DVD.

I agree completely.
I shop at Wal-Mart at least once a week for food & house stuff. So it is nice to pop in the video department while I'm at it & check out some of the latest HD/BD movies. I'll be there next Tuesday when Spiderman Trilogy comes out.

And why spend $150 or $200 on any dvd player when you can buy a HD DVD player for $200 at Wal-Mart? Well, unless you want SACD or DVD-A.

 

[acacia987]

1080i

So the HD-A2 only outputs 1080i. but i hear from alot of forums that on most most Tv's you will not be able to tell the difference because the tv does a good job of converting i to p. i have a panasonic 42PZ77U 1080p plasma, is it worth it to get the HD-A20 for the 1080p output capability??

P.S. i dont wanna hear about the whole theory about not being able to tell the difference between 720 or 1080 on a 42 in.

 

[3db]

I'm waiting for the grand daddy of all DVD players

Could make things interesting. There are a ton of good movies coming out on BD lately though. We just need to get the war over with...

I want only one player, one that will play all of these formats; DVD, BR, HD-DVD, DVDA, SACD, and CD. (wonders what I missed about True Dolby or something like that) To think that I would have to buy to seperate components so that I can have a choice in this insipid format war is a lil fustrating.

So until I get a player like this and its down around 200 cdn, I'm not going to change to any of the new formats anytime soon.

 

[stratman]

I just checked the story and CNN is basically saying that it got the information from "online enthusiast forums," I checked the Wal Mart site, they have the HD A2 listed for $279.54, so I'll try and pass by a nearby Wal Mart today and speak to the manager, most likely this could have been from a Black Friday circular posted online that Wal Mart had asked to be removed. That discount sounds too deep.

http://www.black-friday.net/

 

[GlocksRock]

I read that they aren't actually changing the price until Nov. 3rd. I checked the walmart website too, but it doesn't reflect the price change. I guess we'll see what happens on Nov. 3rd... just run in to your local wally world and ask the mgr.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I want only one player, one that will play all of these formats; DVD, BR, HD-DVD, DVDA, SACD, and CD. (wonders what I missed about True Dolby or something like that) To think that I would have to buy to seperate components so that I can have a choice in this insipid format war is a lil fustrating.

So until I get a player like this and its down around 200 cdn, I'm not going to change to any of the new formats anytime soon.

I don't even think you can get a regular DVD player w/ SACD & DVD-A for $200. A BD/HD DVD/DVD/DVD-A/SACD/TrueHD/DTS-MA player for $200? I guess you can dream.

 

[DTS]

Amazon has the Toshiba HD-A2 for $227.12, free shipping. I ordered mine Tuesday night, this week, got it Thursday AM [but I paid for 2 day shipping]. So I have played around with it for a bit, so far It looks pretty darn good. Using with 55" Hitachi plasma w/ 720, upconverting looks real good [as been said, good as the transfer] messed a bit with King Kong Hd [which I got used from Amazon for around $12] it looks really good.

And I didn't have to go to Walmart

 

[j_garcia]

I don't even think you can get a regular DVD player w/ SACD & DVD-A for $200.

Oppo 980 $169

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Oppo 980 $169

Okay. So I was too lazy to look!

 

[zildjian]

P.S. i dont wanna hear about the whole theory about not being able to tell the difference between 720 or 1080 on a 42 in.

I'd like to have the 1080p capabilities in the player I get, since yes you can tell the difference even on a 42" (not a theory) IF you sit close enough to the TV. It's all a matter of viewing distance. I don't know if your set will accept a 1080p input or not, even though it's a 1080p display; I think the latest Home theater magazine has an article listing the input capabilities of all major plasma/lcd sets, like if it accepts 1080p/24 or not. Could be mistaken but I thought that was listed for many.