Panasonic DMP-BD50 price announced!!!

[CochiseGuy]

Panasonic has revealed that their upcoming BD-Live (Profile v2.0) Blu-ray Disc player, the DMP-BD50, will carry a manufacturers suggested retail price of $699.95 USD. The Panasonic DMP-BD50 will be the first standalone BD-Live Blu-ray player to be released on the market, and joins the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) as yet another option for those looking to experience the complete Blu-ray package.

Much as I hate to cite the site as source, a Google search only turned up other forums citing Blu-ray.com

Step right folks and be the first one on you block to own the very first complete Blu-ray non-gaming player for the Rockefeller friendly price of only six hundred ninety-nine bucks and ninety-five pennies.

You wanted only one format, now it's time to pay up. (As my sig indicates, I'll be waiting awhile).

[juankerr]

It's still cheaper than the $900 I paid for my Toshiba HD-XA2 (a month or so after it was released).

[Philnerd]

What the heck, fairly recently a BD insider said this would retail for under $600 (presumably $599).

$700. Ugh... looks like I'll have 2 PS3s in my house before the year is up.

[Sus Ano]

Luckily for blu-ray only a small percent of the population think videogames are a tool of satan or that Sony is an evil empire.

So as discussed a zillion times already MOST people who want and can afford a BR player will choose the cheapest, fastest, most fully functioning player they can. Which at this time is the PS3.

That all said there can't be THAT many people who value what a player cannot do over what it can, so I imagine the price will drop quite quickly after launch.

[goatmother]

Wow, that is expensive just like the only fully functionalt HD DVD players were at the beginning of the year.

PS3 for the win

[Jimbo976]

Well there is also the Sylvania Profile 1.1 Blu-ray player showing up in a few weeks. It is listed at $350 now on Amazon.com with shipping in 3-5 weeks.

I don't think the Pany is supposed to be a low end player even though we would all like it to be priced as such.

[spicynacho]

LOL Panasonic has declared a price war on the consumer.

[Pro-bassoonist]

Nothing to worry about. It is a "high" price given that there was a set expectation for an entry price for the first 2.0 player - As more hardware manufacturers deliver 2.0 players the prices will be adjusted. From software releases by the studios to the info coming out from the hardware manufacturers it appears that indeed Toshiba ended up the war a bit prematurely, which extends the waiting period for "affordable" players.

Pro-B

[JAWoOKIE]

pretty high IMO. Wonder how they will compare this with the PS3?

[ack_bak]

I think the price is too high as well. By at least $100.

That said, Visual Apex is selling it for $599:
http://www.visualapex.com/accessorie...sonic&Type=DVD

[hidefimports]

So 2 years after Blu-ray's introduction, new Blu-ray players models retail for $699.95.

Is that good?

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by hidefimports

So after 2 years, new Blu-ray players models retail for $699.95.

Is that good?

Not all BD players retail for $699. And there are plenty of DVD players out there that retail for more than $500 and DVD has been out 10+ years...

[spicynacho]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

Not all BD players retail for $699. And there are plenty of DVD players out there that retail for more than $500 and DVD has been out 10+ years...

This is true, but panasonic typically prices their products in the midrange. This isn't a denon or marantz (which are ussually just rebranded slightly tweaked panasonics).

Any number of things could explain this price tag from supply/demand for SA players to the weak dollar. But if they can put this out before anyone else can, they can pretty much charge whatever the market will bear. Once it hits, the street price will be lower and once sony, samsung, et al. Release competitve products, the price will fall.

When this is released panasonic will be a full two steps ahead of the next standalone BR player on the market. They know this and they want to profit on it. Can you blame them?

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by spicynacho

This is true, but panasonic typically prices their products in the midrange. This isn't a denon or marantz (which are ussually just rebranded slightly tweaked panasonics).

Any number of things could explain this price tag from supply/demand for SA players to the weak dollar. But if they can put this out before anyone else can, they can pretty much charge whatever the market will bear. Once it hits, the street price will be lower and once sony, samsung, et al. Release competitve products, the price will fall.

When this is released panasonic will be a full two steps ahead of the next standalone BR player on the market. They know this and they want to profit on it. Can you blame them?

I agree with you on being first to market. They are the only 2.0 standalone player out right now and there is a demand. I was just surprised to see the MSRP be $699. I thought it would be $599 and the player would street for around $499.. The PS3 is looking like it is the best deal (price for performance) right now which will not hurt Sony...

[cyberlaz]

It's official!

Blu-ray is the now the official PS3 movie format.

BD = UMD.