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Sony Drops Price of New Blu-ray Player

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

June 4, 2007, 12:47 PM

Sony on Monday said it is lowering the cost of its upcoming Blu-ray player to $499 USD. Although it claims the $100 price drop is due to falling production costs and growing demand, Sony's move is likely more in response to rising sales of HD DVD players.

Data indicates that player sales for HD DVD have increased by five to ten times depending on the retailer following its price drop to $299 USD. Sony had originally planned for the BDP-S300 player to retail for $599 USD.

At $499, the cost of the new player will be the same as the Sony PlayStation 3, which is also capable of Blu-ray disc playback. Data seems to indicate much of the format's strength comes from PS3 owners buying the discs.

"The BD format gained great momentum in the past several months, and we're going to capitalize on that with the new model," said Chris Fawcett, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics' Home Product Division.

Sony's entry-level player will support 1080p, and has essentially the same feature set as the company's high-end BDP-S1 in a smaller form factor. Sony also announced a price drop on that player to $799 USD.

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By gazzie4

edited Jun 5, 2007 - 1:56 PM

I own both formats and just recently upgraded from a 1080i plasma to a 1080p lcd...I truthfully prefer the HD-DVD format. 2 main reasons, 1. The combo formats are nice, so if I buy a kids movie, I can watch it once with my son on the good tv and then let him watch it whenever he wants on his, with out having to get him a better system. 2. Price, I have 3 HD DVD players, and I got all of them for less than 1 blu ray player. 2 xbox add ons and the hd-a1.
The only reason I even got the blu ray player is because of the production companies lack of respect for the consumer and them only supporting one format. Many of my favorite movies are only on Blu-Ray.

Score: 0

By MidnightWatcher

edited Jun 5, 2007 - 11:28 AM

This $499 price for this new Sony Blu-ray player might seem nice and all, but the player itself is already defunct. It does not even support the mandated 10/31 BD-J 1.1 specifications and will not work with extras written for the 1.1 spec on future Blu-ray discs!! There's going to be a lot of unhappy customers when they realize the extras they wanted to try out will not work!

DVDTown: Don't Get The Blues - Say No To Blu-ray

http://www.dvdtown.com/n...ues-saynotoblu-ray/4407

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

edited Jun 5, 2007 - 9:56 AM

So, Weller is Dave BG eh.... Figures.

Sony is getting desperate, HD-DVD is almost dead even with BD in movie sales at present. BD thought they were going to run away with it. Morons.

The new A2 loads a movie in just a few seconds unlike the old XA1/XA2. I just got mine on the first of the month. We also purchased a Toshiba 65" DLP. I will have to make an apology for some of the past statements I have made however.

The A2 hooked up with HDMI looks spectacular, even standard DVD is amazing, the component output tends to give straight edges a stairstep effect. My DirecTV HR-20 still looks better via component however.

Dave, you are a cumstain on the comforter of life. I would love for you to post a picture of your BD or PS3 with a small piece of paper that says DaveBG like on the eBay auctions to prove you actually own a player. We all know you dont.

You only post what you want to believe without any proof, thinking we aren't smart enough to figure out it's you. I'm just waiting for you to add your tag line from the BD forum at the end of your pathetic posts that says "hd-dud". I think you have downs syndrome or are slightly autistic. We all know your a lazy eyed, pathetic little fat man who obsesses over Blu-Ray day and night, somehow thinkning this makes you important.

It would be different if one single person bedised Steve agrees with you and you are probably him or he's your equally retarded next door neighbor.

How do you even get on the internet? Are you stealing someone elses unprotected WiFi or do you go to the local library to use thier free access?

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 3:32 PM

How many times can you change your name to seem like a different person? Seriousily, Is that Dave, Joey, or that other one? Could they all be the same! the mystery continues....

This format war just has begun to call a winner now makes you a moron, the only winner is standard dvd as its beating ALL formats. Wait a few years then you can decide a winner.

Score: 0

By PSXp-ONE

posted Jun 5, 2007 - 2:27 AM

I agree, DVD is still the best...this weekend I went to Fry's electronics and not a single soul was in the HD/B-R aisle, EVERYONE was getting regular DVDs and to tell you the truth, I really don't see a difference yet, however, I do consider Blu-Ray for burning/archiving purposes =)

Score: 0

By Weller

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 2:54 PM

Of the three major territories, BluRay utterly dominates Japan/Asia with 98 percent of the market and are selling at more than twice the rate in the US and Europe in 2007.

BluRay player sales dwarf HD-DVD standalone and the no longer supported 360 addon.

Almost every single blockbuster title from the last two years will be on BluRay and only around 40 percent will appear on HD-DVD.

The only people still clinging to HD-DVD are the tiny Dreamcast/Xbox/Microsoft hardcore fanboy demographic that 'hate teh Sony'. And when even the mothership up in Redmond has given up on HD-DVD even the hardcore fanboys are going to stop throwing cash into a dead format like HD-DVD.

Score: 0

By CarLox

posted Jun 6, 2007 - 7:57 PM

how about if you probe it??? and i also wanna say that your mom is fat and that i fuked your sister two weeks ago and now she is pregnant and i fuked your mom too and i beat the hell out of your dad and brother, hell boy, i wanna mess with all your family you fanboy and personally, dont post sh!t if you dont know what you are talking about or if you dont have any link to back it up!!!! so dont talk smack as my football coach says, dont ever talk sh!t if you dont back it up you @sshole

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 4:47 PM

"BluRay player sales dwarf HD-DVD standalone and the no longer supported 360 addon."
Really Weller. I would love to see your proof for this.

"Almost every single blockbuster title from the last two years will be on BluRay and only around 40 percent will appear on HD-DVD.

The only people still clinging to HD-DVD are the tiny Dreamcast/Xbox/Microsoft hardcore fanboy demographic that 'hate teh Sony'. And when even the mothership up in Redmond has given up on HD-DVD even the hardcore fanboys are going to stop throwing cash into a dead format like HD-DVD."
Did your crystal ball tell you that Weller?

Score: 0

By CarLox

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 8:28 PM

mmm fanboy...... your mom is fat

Score: 0

By morriscox

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 11:28 PM

What is the basis for your assertation?

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 9:40 PM

How will I ever sleep at night after that one... /sarcasm off

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 2:12 PM

Ignoring the fanboy comments--sure, Blu-Ray player prices have definately been affecting sales. Over here, the local Best Buy doesn't have a Blu-Ray player for under $799 (just had the price drop too, it's the BDP-S1 model), and the HD-DVD player is sold out the last few times I've been by there. Granted, I'm just one guy looking at one Best Buy store, but everybody I've spoken to that wants a new player is not considering the Blu-Ray players because of their price.

Granted, I can confirm that most Blu-Ray movie buyers have PS3's, but I have yet to speak with any individual that actually owns a Blu-Ray player or recorder. They are hard to come by in this area (the greater Houston area). Again though I'm a ways east from Houston, and there's just a couple of Best Buy stores in this area at all, but nobody I've spoken to has even sold a Blu-Ray player.

Sony is right to lower the price of the player, because they need to at least get closer to the HD-DVD player's price mark. If they remained where they were at, Blu-Ray movie sales would steadily decline, because there's only so many people that will buy PS3's JUST to play Blu-Ray movies. My Grandparents certainly wouldn't, cause when they asked for my advice, I told them PS3 is cheapest for playing those movies. In the end, they decided to go with that $299 HD-DVD player though.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 2:05 PM

They can both keep their managed copy nightmares.

Those of us who aren't as easily separated from our money will simply sit back and smile knowingly.

Score: 0

By Weller

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 1:51 PM

"Sony's move is likely more in response to rising sales of HD DVD players."

Hilarious!

"Data seems to indicate much of the format's strength comes from PS3 owners buying the discs."

Gee, could it also be the fact that BluRay has the largest exclusive studio support by a wide margin...

And, gee, could it also be BluRay's technological advantage...

I guess it is too tempting for sites to want to pretend there still is or ever was a BluRay / HD-DVD war. Even Microsoft and their half-assed attempt to push HD-DVD have thrown in the towel on the dead format when they decided not to include HD-DVD in their so called 'high end media 360' or even bother to make a matching black version of the now useless HD-DVD addon.

BluRay sales are 70-80 percent of the market in all three major territories. The only people still buying HD-DVD are foaming at the mouth Xbox fans. And even their pathetically sad burning hatred of Sony won't keep them throwing money after a dead format when Microsoft themselves have giving up on it.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 2:19 PM

"Gee, could it also be the fact that BluRay has the largest exclusive studio support by a wide margin...

And, gee, could it also be BluRay's technological advantage..."
No and no.

"BluRay sales are 70-80 percent of the market in all three major territories."
Proof?

"The only people still buying HD-DVD are foaming at the mouth Xbox fans."
Guess there is a lot of Xbox fans considering the HD-DVD players are still thrashing Blu-Ray in player sales.

"when Microsoft themselves have giving up on it."
Really last time I checked MS is still supporting HD-DVD. Guess you like to post your wishful thinking.

Score: 0

By ir0nw0lf

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 2:04 PM

If sony didn't pay you for that spew, they should! Finest example of true fanboi'ism I've seen the last week.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Jun 5, 2007 - 3:07 AM

Weller is DaveBG under another name. His posts are unmistakeable. This guy absolutely has nothing better to do.

He doesn't work for Sony because he would actually own a BD player if he did. This loser posts constantly on blu-ray.com and actually thinks he is part owner of the site. I dont understand how someone could be so brainwashed and have such a fixation on a format and player he doesnt even own.

He is absolutely retarded.

Score: 0

By VikingBlade

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 2:01 PM

So I suppose you are disputing: "Data indicates that player sales for HD DVD have increased by five to ten times depending on the retailer following its price drop to $299 USD." I don't give a s*** about these crappy both doomed formats, but I like some cited evidence.

Score: 0

By dlab21

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 2:17 PM

hmm they dropped the price 25% and only increase sales 5-10%? depending on the # it increased from this isn't as strong of a number as it should be. that sony fan boy rant was ridiculous but cited evidence wont make it any better, saying that bd sales are 300% higher than the first month of sales doesn't mean much. the %s are only impressive depending on what they relate to.

Score: 0

By siryak

edited Jun 4, 2007 - 4:45 PM

"sales for HD DVD have increased by five to ten times"

Edit: nvm what the guy below said lol.

Score: 0

By Maymne

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 3:08 PM

Actually, 400-900% increase, as the first 100% does count.

100% increase = 2* prior number.
200% increase = 3* prior number.
300% increase = 4* prior number.
400% increase = 5* prior number.
500% increase = 6* prior number.

You get the idea. When you're talking about increases, you need to drop your percentage by 100. When you're talking about total percentage, the higher number is okay. so HD-DVD sales have increased to 500-1000% of their prior levels, but have only increased by 400-900%.

Anyways, just a math peave that I have, especially when the numbers are the point of the people's arguments.

Score: 0

By dlab21

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 2:36 PM

oh I had misread the article. The point i had made wasn't about the physical % increase that mattered it was the number it was based off which of course is not mentioned in the article or which retailers were reporting this increase.

Score: 0

By Lawrence01

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 5:10 PM

Sony just blows, need I say more?

Tried rootkitting our computers with their cd's and only stopped when the consumer found out about it.

They are the microsoft of hardware, trying to lock us in and making thing proprietary when possible.

Sony is evil period. I will never buy any product from them if I can find a similar product elsewhere. Not their crappy cameras, Stereo equipment, laptops, desktops, playstations, tv's, anything....

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 4, 2007 - 5:48 PM

You forgot overpriced.

Score: 0

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