Picture proof of $198 Toshiba HD DVD player!

[exrob]

Just got back from the Dickson City, PA (near Scranton) Wal-Mart about 30 minutes ago. Happened to browse through the TV/DVD section and I see this!!



So the rumors are true...I also noticed for the first time this night that they actually had some HD DVD discs, although they had not even 10 total including duplicates while they had 30+ Blu-ray.

They probably just put these HD DVD players out today on the shelf, because I was just there the other day and they weren't...plus they were putting out the display demo model as I was walking through!

[Master X]

Awesome dude

[Arkadin]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
this is supposed to be a secret til Nov 3!

[PIHB]

awesome deal

[carolinaborn77]

Wow. I guess all that talk about Wal-Mart not selling a sub-$200 HD DVD player this Christmas wasn't true. This has the potential to be huge for HD DVD and I don't see how Blu-ray could counter with a comparably priced model for $200. The closest it gets now is the 40 GB PS3 coming out sometime in November for $400.

I have hardware for both, but I would like to see HD DVD succeed in the long run.

[E-Dogg]

Glad the article was truthful by saying these players are only 1080i and not true hd. Good luck to Toshiba whom at this point need to start giving these players away in order to stick around. No thanks, I'll stay with my PS3 which is 1080p and my numerous exclusive titles.

[Vincent Grayson]

It'll be interesting to see how this works out.

Most people who shop at Walmart are well...poor for lack of a better word. Trying to move high-def players to people who very likely do not know what high-def is, much less own an HDtv is a bit of a gamble, I'd think.

[ddwyer]

Smoking deal! Too bad I already bought one back when they were ~$330. Hopefully consumers will understand that there's a difference between "HD-DVD" and high definition quality/1080i/p (i.e., upscaling) DVD players - otherwise, even at $198, J6P might think it's an expensive upscaling player. Too bad they don't bundle a copy of Transformers with it, that'd really sell them.

If the BDA camp can come out with a decent 1.1 player sub-$300, I think that'd sell well, too (I'd buy one, anyway). I'm sure it's just a matter of time but sooner would be nicer than later (unless they price themselves out of the format war - unlikely, though).

[Ashamed Pegasus]

Originally Posted by Vincent Grayson

Most people who shop at Walmart are well...poor for lack of a better word. Trying to move high-def players to people who very likely do not know what high-def is, much less own an HDtv is a bit of a gamble, I'd think.

I brought this same topic up months ago and was beat to a pulp for it... I think this player will in no way at all cater to the average Wal-Mart shopper, instead it will just make a normal Best Buy or Circuit City shopper stop in for the model... WM may be a huge seller in DVD's, but WM shoppers will not flock to this thing one bit... Just search the web for Black Friday sales and see how they act towards a $30 DVD player; a $198 HD DVD player to them is still $150 too much...

Originally Posted by ddwyer

If the BDA camp can come out with a decent 1.1 player sub-$300, I think that'd sell well, too (I'd buy one, anyway). I'm sure it's just a matter of time but sooner would be nicer than later (unless they price themselves out of the format war - unlikely, though).

If you include the $100 credit from SonyStyle.com you can get the 40GB PS3 for $300...

Originally Posted by carolinaborn77

Wow. I guess all that talk about Wal-Mart not selling a sub-$200 HD DVD player this Christmas wasn't true. This has the potential to be huge for HD DVD and I don't see how Blu-ray could counter with a comparably priced model for $200. The closest it gets now is the 40 GB PS3 coming out sometime in November for $400.

Actually, walmart said they were not stocking the "sub-$200 VENTURER HD DVD player". But doesn't mean they won't stock other brands.

[arty100]

Over at AVS forum, folks are reporting running into "cannot sell until 11/3" on
Walmart registers when trying to check out...

[BobbyB]

Originally Posted by E-Dogg

Glad the article was truthful by saying these players are only 1080i and not true hd. Good luck to Toshiba whom at this point need to start giving these players away in order to stick around. No thanks, I'll stay with my PS3 which is 1080p and my numerous exclusive titles.

First of all, buddy, 1080i IS TRUE HD! If you had a 1080p monitor, the display upconverts to progressive scan anyway. The resolution and number of pixels is exactly the same. Hell, even 720p is considered true HD.

Secondly, all the upper models from Toshia output full 1080p and are only $100 more MSRP. This makes even the 1080p players at least $100 less expensive than your videogame even after Sony's desperate price drop!

And I'll bet you a dollar against a dime I own more exclusive titles on HD DVD than you and your videogame.

[drseid]

Originally Posted by E-Dogg

Glad the article was truthful by saying these players are only 1080i and not true hd. Good luck to Toshiba whom at this point need to start giving these players away in order to stick around. No thanks, I'll stay with my PS3 which is 1080p and my numerous exclusive titles.

1080i *is* "true" hd.

---Dave

[tranzparentl]

Originally Posted by arty100

Over at AVS forum, folks are reporting running into "cannot sell until 11/3" on
Walmart registers when trying to check out...

Yea well if its on the shelf with a big $198 sign next to it, they better sell it.
Otherwise I would just ask for a manager.

[supra2jzgte]

Originally Posted by E-Dogg

Glad the article was truthful by saying these players are only 1080i and not true hd. Good luck to Toshiba whom at this point need to start giving these players away in order to stick around. No thanks, I'll stay with my PS3 which is 1080p and my numerous exclusive titles.

If you are shopping for HD at Wal Mart, that means you cant afford 1080p Samsung or Sony sets which are good sets. So, you will get something a bit cheaper that can do either 1080i or 720p, and the A-2 is the model. This is a good thing for HD-DVD, but I dont know how good.

I have the A2 with a 1080p Samsung TV and it looks wonderful.