Blu-ray Players Could Sell For Under $40 This Year

[TheDickWard]

Similarly, low-end 42 inch HDTVs may be available for less than $300 according to DealNews.

http://dealnews.com/features/12-Thin...11/426288.html

[gravis778]

Got to wonder if those are going to be regular prices or Black Friday prices. I might be willing to pick up another 42 inch for $300, but if I have to stand in the cold at Thanksgiving, then its a no sale!

[rainman208]

Would love a 42" and a cheap blu ray player for the bedroom. I'll be watching prices closely. I've already seen 42 inchers for $399 which is amazing enough. An extra $100 lower would be a no brainer.

[David Susilo]

then people will complain about slow loading, inability to play new movies due to lack of firmware. As usual, you get what you pay for.

[sbt007]

According to the article, lower priced 42 inch tvs will destroy the market for 32 inch tvs.
Not necessarily. Certain spaces require smaller sizes.

[Sbert]

Quality of components are going upwards as well. Second tier manufacturers could be using stuff that's still in the channel before new components arrive. Hence a significant market for second tier devices as opposed to your brand name electronics.

Of course there is some rebadging going on of course.

[Wolvie]

It's an interesting, though not totally unexpected, prediction that prices will continue to come down, now that Blu-ray players have become a mainstream CE product. While I won't hold my breath for rock-bottom steals, the corollary is that this trend will pressure the middle-tier (and perhaps, some higher tier) manufacturers to stay competitive as well. That's where I'll be looking. Competition benefits the consumer.

[David Susilo]

In Canada you can get Wally World store-brand BD player for only CA$80 (and it can be modified to be zone selectable to play BD from other zones). Toshiba and Sony have models that sells for CA$90 everyday at Wally World. I'm sure you can get players for cheaper prices in the US at the moment, no?

[The_Doctor]

In Canada you can get Wally World store-brand BD player for only CA$80 (and it can be modified to be zone selectable to play BD from other zones).

Really which one?

I picked up a Insignia for $26 from Overstock auctions because it could do Region swaps easily

[David Susilo]

Can't remember the brand at the moment. I bought one several months ago (and returned it). While BD playback is acceptable (a bit of black crush), DVD upscaling is essentially non-existent (read: crapola).

The next time I go to Wally World, I'll check the name and post it here.

[David Susilo]

here you go:

Seiki BD660, $78 at WalMart Canada.

[The_Doctor]

here you go:

Seiki BD660, $78 at WalMart Canada.

Thanks.

Never heard of it. Not sure the US walmart has it, I'll look next time i go.

Anyhow here are the hack instructions for any interested in it.

Ensure no disc is in player
Power-up the player from 'standby' to 'on' with the remote
Once the green 'Seiki' wallpaper appears press the 'Setup'
button
Press these numbers sequentially: 8, 5, 2, 0

This brings up a 'Factory' menu where you can change the DVD
region code (use Region 0 for region free) and you can change
the Blu-Ray region too (there's no 'region free' option, so
you'll need to change it per disk)

Voila!

and a link for player specs
Seiki bd660

[almadacr]

For a higher price ( 129$ CND ) the Insignia Insignia NS-2BRDVD is also region free plus built in wi-fi and Netflix embedded at bestbuy .

[David Susilo]

Reduction in quality is definite.

Stores usually need 25 points for profit on small items, so that means the wholesale should be no more than $30. The manufacturer will require another 25 ponits profit makingthe max cost after packaging, shipping, environmental fees and licensing fees to be no more than $23.

Licensing cost, shipping and packaging is essentially fixed at about $10

So in terms of manufacturing cost INCLUDING development cost will have to be no more than $13.
Just imagine how crappy this thing at $40 msrp is going to be.

[Krawk]

I think this year is a bit too early for a $40 player. I have deemed my $150 LG player junk so I can't imagine imagine $40 being any good. Reminds me of the cheap dvd players... $25 too cheap, $60 a decent unit.