Toshiba slashes price of HD-DVD players

[roma_turok]

Effective immediately, Toshiba has slashed the price of its HD-DVD players in the US.
The major HD-DVD manufacturer is dropping prices of its entire HD-DVD line of players, with the entry level HD-A2 reduced to $399 and the newly released HD-A20 model coming to market at $499.

This “strategic reduction” is an obvious response to Microsoft’s decision not to include a built-in HD-DVD player in the Xbox 360 Elite. Microsoft’s announcing that “Whatever format wins it is highly likely we will offer a solution”raised concerns that HD-DVD would lose the format war against Blu-ray.

HD-DVD supporters including Warner Bros, Paramount and Eagle Rock have welcomed the move."The spring is ramping up well for HD-DVD, with an incredible list of movies and the best priced hardware on the market", commented Ken Graffeo, executive VP of marketing at Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
http://www.megagames.com/news/html/hardware/hd-dvdplayersdropto$399.shtml

[roma_turok]

Without HD-DVD drive recorder they gonna loss for sure.

[sunderland]

IMO that is why microsoft wont put one in the xbo360 as it knows that when blue ray does win it can just make the addon for the xbox360,

[MJA]

that will be a dark day in history If Blu-ray wins

[Rudyard]

why? And from all reports I seem to read these days its only a matter of when not if....

[SatStorm]

Reports written by who?
I believe nobody regarding this subject.
Only time shall tell! Not the reports...

I can testify, that most reports are fake: I'm the senior editor on a local technology magazine and I know first hand the situation under the table. Nothing is granted!

I know only one thing for certain: We can use DVDs to burn authored HD-DVD material and we can playback those discs on HD DVD players without any issues. This solution officially is supported by this format.

That bring us back to the SVCD days in a way. That small detail counts a lot for me! It's a matter of time before magazines, newspapers and porn publications start using this feature.
Don't mention the PVRs rips from the few DVB S2 channels we have in Europe.

[Rudyard]

SatStorm.....I am refering to the latest general press (read from here and other sites) it seems blu ray is taking over in terms of sales and the fact that it has so many movie companies on board compared to a small handfull simply means more of the movies will be available on it.

People also discount the PS3 but that is going to be a massive base of people who if decided to get a movie will choose blu ray simply because they have one. The fact that microsoft is still sitting on the fence is also not a positive sign of confidence.

I have been burnt with laserdisc and mini disc before and as such am in no rush to pick either until there is a clear sign what I buy will not crash out of the market......the hybrid player intrests me to cover each bet.

I will admit I have no in house knowledge like yourself and just casually read the reports and sales figures.

[Marvingj]

Who ever has the most money & greatest P.R. Dept. will win! Reminds me of VHS verses Betamax....