What's going on with Sony's BlueRay Player?

[SCDVD]

While doing some shopping this weekend I thought I would check prices on Sony's BlueRay player. But much to my surprise, Costco, Target, Best Buy and Fry's don't have any in stock. "Haven't had any in a long time" seemed to be the standard response. Sony just "won" the format war but the stores don't have any BlueRay players. Does anybody have any idea what is going on?

[SCDVD]

I just checked Sony's web site and Sony shows them on backorder status. This is really strange!

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&sto...tegoryId=27898

[jagabo]

Why would a shortage now be strange? With the demise of HD-DVD demand for Blu-ray players has suddenly increased. It will take Sony several months to ramp up production to meet the new level of demand.

[SCDVD]

Why would a shortage now be strange? With the demise of HD-DVD demand for Blu-ray players has suddenly increased. It will take Sony several months to ramp up production to meet the new level of demand.

That was my first thought as well but I asked at the stores that I went to if there had been a run on them after the "BlueRay Won" announcement. They all said no. My only remaining guess is that before the Sony "victory", stores were afraid to order many because they were afraid they might get stuck with inventory they couldn't move if the other format won (whichever "other format" meant wasn't at all clear just a couple of months ago.)

[poisondeathray]

artificially low supply => jacked up prices? hmmm

[yoda313]

There are other brands for Bluray settop models. of course if you have a powerful enough computer and are ok with using it on your main hdtv you can buy a much cheaper (around 200.00) bluray rom player

[nwo]

Why would a shortage now be strange? With the demise of HD-DVD demand for Blu-ray players has suddenly increased. It will take Sony several months to ramp up production to meet the new level of demand.

what if sony stopped selling blu-ray players, just to sell more PS3's.

[mrswla]

Why would a shortage now be strange? With the demise of HD-DVD demand for Blu-ray players has suddenly increased. It will take Sony several months to ramp up production to meet the new level of demand.

Now that's funny...

[budz]

Why would a shortage now be strange? With the demise of HD-DVD demand for Blu-ray players has suddenly increased. It will take Sony several months to ramp up production to meet the new level of demand.

what if sony stopped selling blu-ray players, just to sell more PS3's.

I wouldn't doubt that this is just a SONY marketing ploy to make the consumer buy the PS3 units for Blu-ray.

[dwisniski]

Sony is about to introduce two profile 2.0 standalone Blu-ray players imminently, the 350 and the 550. Maybe they are just phasing out the generation 2 player(s) to make way for the next wave...

I tried the bdp-s300, wasn't impressed with it as a player. Slow load times and responsiveness, mediocore upconverting. I went with the Panny BD30, very happy now.

[SCDVD]

if you have a powerful enough computer and are ok with using it on your main hdtv you can buy a much cheaper (around 200.00) bluray rom player

That is a worthwhile option to consider. One thing that anyone who is considering this approach should be aware of is HDCP (High Definition Content Protection). If a computer isn't fully HDCP compliant, it will only output 420 SD video.

[jman98]

For the benefit of SCDVD and others who may care...
I cannot personally recommend that anyone who wants a BluRay player buy anything other than a PS3. The PS3 is the only player guaranteed to be fully compliant with all of the ever evolving BluRay specifications. Many early adopters are now crying about how their non-PS3 players can't be upgraded to fully support the current (final?) level of the BluRay spec. At least one class action lawsuit has begun over this.

[mrswla]

At least one class action lawsuit has begun over this.

Good. I hope Sony losses millions. Oh, never mind. Then they would have to raise the prices even higher.