Venturer HD DVD Player Surfaces at Wal-Mart

[jed]

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Venturer HD DVD Player Surfaces at Wal-Mart

The long-anticipated budget HD DVD player from Venturer has finally arrived, and is being sold by Wal-Mart for $199.

Back when it was first announced in late August, Venturer's SHD7000 player had been expected to break low-price records this holiday season, but with Toshiba's entry-level HD DVD players being sold for as little as $99 earlier this month (also at Wal-Mart), Venturer's HD DVD launch has lost a bit of its thunder.

Still, with Wal-Mart carrying the player, there's no telling how many Christmas shoppers may be wooed by its low price. (At press time, the retail giant was offering the player at select stores and online for $199.)

According to early reports, the player is functionally identical to Toshiba's HA-A3 HD DVD player, offering 1080i video output via HDMI and Dolby TrueHD support.

Venturer SHD7000 HD DVD Player @ Wal-Mart.com:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=7942216

[ed081873]

Not a bad looking player at all. I was expecting the cheap o look all the way.

[Arkadin]

interesting after Wal-Mart denied they were carrying this player.
"at this time.....we have no plans......"
I guess the "time" is different now.

[djassa1]

It has been confirmed on the AVS Forum that this player is an A3 with a different case made by Alco....

[Teajack]

At the end of the day Alco is the only manufacturer of HD-DVD. One for Toshiba and one for their house brand Venturer.

[diabolo]

Originally Posted by Teajack

At the end of the day Alco is the only manufacturer of HD-DVD. One for Toshiba and one for their house brand Venturer.

At the end of the day china's official HD format is HD DVD

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News...x?NewsId=21863



Low prices, high volumes= mass market
http://www.betanews.com/article/New_...nge/1189196071

Now, the DVD Forum's involvement has evidently made it possible for Chinese manufacturers to produce components that play blue-laser, high-def discs using the Chinese national standard, though which are fundamentally compatible with HD DVD with only minor adjustments.

While it makes so-called CH-DVD players for the home market (the name is subject to change, the new consortium says), China can also produce HD DVD players for the rest of the world, at prices that can best be described as Chinese.

It's HD DVD china now not CH-DVD

HD DVD Enters Chinese Market With The Foundation of China High Definition DVD Industry Association

The realization of CH-DVD was supported by the Chinese government, and will pave the way for the localization of blue-laser, high-definition DVD in China.

CHDA is expected to play a leadership role in the promotion of CH-DVD, and will make a big push to launch CH-DVD player into the Chinese market in 2008

.

[Arkadin]

Yeah I've been telling people that the China standard is basically the same as the US. It is said to only require a firmware update to be completely compatible I have read. Basically China is going to be HD DVD, although Blu-Ray is trying to make some inroads with their announcement recently regarding bringing Blu-ray to China also. This is news that no-one is really talking about, but should be.

[MidnightWatcher]

This essentially uses the same hardware as the A3, looks like its even the exact same firmware. Nice!

[REDMAN]

This would be a good guest/game room player.

[hdfan90]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

Yeah I've been telling people that the China standard is basically the same as the US. It is said to only require a firmware update to be completely compatible I have read. Basically China is going to be HD DVD, although Blu-Ray is trying to make some inroads with their announcement recently regarding bringing Blu-ray to China also. This is news that no-one is really talking about, but should be.

Makes sense that China would go RED!

[kcmurphy88]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

Yeah I've been telling people that the China standard is basically the same as the US. It is said to only require a firmware update to be completely compatible I have read. Basically China is going to be HD DVD, although Blu-Ray is trying to make some inroads with their announcement recently regarding bringing Blu-ray to China also. This is news that no-one is really talking about, but should be.

Yeah, region codes and advanced copy protection should be big sellers in China.

[kcmurphy88]

Originally Posted by MidnightWatcher

This essentially uses the same hardware as the A3, looks like its even the exact same firmware. Nice!

No mention of optical audio out or component video. That will cut a lot of the market out.

[Roger Mathus]

In the region that I live Wal Mart is running TV ads to the effect "the store for your Blu Ray needs" with no mention of HD DVD. In the local super center they seem to be getting all of the new Blu Ray titles but little HD DVD. They did not even have TRANSFORMERS on street date. Their HD display is Blu Ray/HD DVD about 5 to 1 for titles. They have several older HD DVD titles at just below $15. I have not seen the Venturer or Toshiba players at the local super center but they did have the $99 blow out several weels ago.

[airportguy]

Can anyone explain why someone would by the Venturer over the name-recognized A3? (assuming the same price for each)

[James99]

These players first starting showing up at Wal-Marts in Canada where it is a Wal-Mart exclusive.

It seems that stores closest to Venturer's Head Office(Ontario) where the first to get them though it now seems that are available coast to coast.

They also appear in Wal-Mart print flyers.