Just so everyone knows, the new "battle plan" over at blu-ray.com is to have their members join all the A/V forums and try to convince people who bought A2's and A'3 yesterday to return them.

A few people wanted to stand outside Wal-Mart and talk people into returning them as they came out of the store ..... (Ugh).

I think we have a new shill direct from blu-ray.com or Dave had added another username to his repertoire.

Pathetic and sad.

I posted this in the other HD-DVD player story as well so people know what these people are up to.

you think you're all clever but you've lost sight of something very important. those people buying $98 hd-dvd players at k-mart/walmart can't afford $30 hd-dvd movies! that's the difference right there, it's not about how many players you sell, it's how many movies you sell. right now, blu-ray is KILLING hd-dvd in software sells. hd-dvd has not even won a single week. to deny this shows you are the one that's deluded and without basis in facts.

WTF, what kind of stupid a** logic is that?

I know that *I* waited until either players became reasonably priced or one died off based on betamax vs vhs not based on $30 HD-DVDs, I'd venture a guess that many others did too. Most consumers could care less about blu-ray vs hd-dvd we just want one to succeed, don't care which.

When blu-ray is under $150 I'll buy it too, that way I won't feel bad when I have to toss one of them because they were the latest "betamax".

deluded? yeah you sure are. They are both doing pretty poorly overall, so your illusion that blu-ray is killing HD (or even vice-versa) is just that, an illusion.

Something interesting I stumbled across the other day:
http://blog.compete.com/...28/netflix-bluray-hddvd/

dear god WTF is wrong with you ?

Thank you, fewt.

I feel it necessary to quote parts of that article, as I found it extremely interesting as well.

* Among the 14 million monthly average visitors to Netflix.com during those three recent months, only 0.3% viewed either of the two competing high-definition genres.

* Those who looked at Blu-ray titles outnumber those looking at HD-DVD by a factor of 1.8 to 1.

* Those who set an HD format as their preferred format selected HD-DVD over Blu-ray by a factor of 2.4 to 1.

* Those who looked at the HD-DVD genre were 4.4 times more likely than Blu-ray browsers to actually set this as their preferred format.

* Over this time period, Blu-ray adoption rates have remained flat while HD-DVD has grown.

I know those BD Smurfs love their statistics, so there you go.

Could it be that the PS3 doesn't count as much as most Blu-ray fanatics would like to believe? Probably so, as I'm sure most PS3 owners who use their consoles mainly for Blu-ray titles would rather dive head-first into a mass buy-a-thon rather than rent movies that aren't worth buying. Do they honestly think that studios don't look at rental sales as well as outright online and retail sales?

Or could it be that most people find HD DVD's exclusive content more appealing than Blu-ray's?

Who knows...

All I do know is that the aftermath of this weekend and the coming month is going to be interesting to analyze.

"hd-dvd has not even won a single week. to deny this shows you are the one that's deluded and without basis in facts."

http://www.campaignhd.co...7_HDDVD_Sales_Soar.html

You really need help. You used to be rather amusing, but you're not even funny anymore... you're just plain pathetic.

hey joey *&^* you i just bought 5 of them and i'm lower middle class and i even made sure and buy a couple wb movies you freakin loser

Don't count Sony out just yet. I was at fry's over the weekend with some friends. NONE on them knew that the 40 gig PS3 had no backwards compatibility, once I told them they said fu%k that.

But this let me know that most people are completely unaware of this issue. And the packaging doesn't make it obvious. So I think sooner or later Sony will be PISSING OFF a lot of new customers in the long run, while still getting their sales up.

Hollywood, anyone.

Whats the difference between the A2 and A3? And can I take advantage of the 7 free movies on both players?

I'm buying either today, I just want to know if theres a great significance spec wise on the A3 over the A2.

Hey plague201, I found an article where someone asked the same question (I was curious about it as well).

http://forums.highdefdig.../showthread.php?t=22837

I hope this helps, as I haven't read it thoroughly yet (I'm still at work). :)

watching on mine right now works great!!!

The blus have a new buy a thon planned see below. What a bunch of pathetic losers.

I've posted in the Warner thread, but there was a lot of off topic discussion on the cheaper $100-200 players & 1080i, so I think some important posts may get lost in the shuffle there, plus I thought this was serious enough to warrant starting a new thead in hopes that more people start checking the Warner thread. So here is what I am most concerned about & think we should all do regarding the Warner situation, which could play a big part in ending this war as you all know:
_________________________

I think regardless of the HD DVD sales, if "Blu-ray supporters ban together" and buy "mainly Warner titles this quarter", hold off on some of the new Sony/Disney/etc. titles "if money is pressing", then buy the Sony/Disney titles in the new year, that will keep Blu-ray way ahead in sales for Warner titles! For those who can buy all the Warner titles and the Sony/Disney/Fox/etc., then even better, but definitely focus on getting all the Warner ones first this quarter!!!

I think the "HD DVD guys are going to try and do the same"...they are going to buy mostly Warner titles like "Harry Potter" movies, etc., and thus try to change Warner's sales numbers down from 2:1 to go towards HD DVD's favor, knowing that Warner are watching. If they succeed, then Warner will likely stay neutral longer, but if we can all focus on Warner titles for this quarter and spread this word to all Blu-ray supporters that we want to change the sales ratio from 2:1 to 2.5:1 on Warner titles, then that will help spell the end of the war more quickly, as I think Warner would sway to Blu's side before the end of the 4th quarter, or at least shortly thereafter. It's in all our best interests, and in the interests of consumers in gereral, to end this war by focusing on Warner titles and getting them to go exclusively Blu!

I really feel that HD DVD supporters will try this same thing in their purchasing, and thus we must counter it, and then some! I still don't have any Blu-ray player or equipment yet, but I am buying some titles this quarter to do my part, and "they will be Warner titles only" for the very reasons I mentioned! Once I get my stuff and can actually play them (after xmas), I will focus on Sony, Disney, Fox, etc., as they have many movies I'd like, but I'm willing to wait on those so that I can do my part with the Warner issue, which I think is going to play a huge part in all this.

Anyone think this makes sense, or am I being paranoid on what I believe HD DVD guys will be focused on buying now in order to tip the scales of Warner sales their way a little, and thus keep Warner neutral (or they would 'hope' exclusive for them)?

"I still don't have any Blu-ray player or equipment yet, but I am buying some titles this quarter to do my part"

HAHAHAHAHAH!

Oh my god, that guy can't be serious. If he is he needs a pistol and some bullets.

I can't really say anything... I've been doing the same thing with HD DVD releases (only the ones I really care about though).

The way I see it, I know I'm getting one anyway, might as well have some to watch once I do. :)

Wow...it's too bad that stupidity like that isn't painful...

Actually, you can...providing you're picking up the combo discs.

since you mentioned it first, wonder what the suicide rate is of sony fanboys compared to normal rational thinking people???

This is a post by jocktheglide at the avs forum "good job blu brothers...you know I was thinking we could hang out at walmart and tell folks not to buy the A2..."

He is a bigger loser than our half retarded impressionable and easily brainwashed BD cult member Dave / Joey / aredo

C'mon Joey lets hear the "HD-DUD" comment you seem to use quite a bit over at blu-ray.com. You are the biggest follower I have ever had the pleasure of berading. Mr. I need to be a part of something or my pathetic life has no meaning.

I know you read the comments I make about you, cry for a while, then go to blu-ray.com for some therapy hugs and regroup and come back for more torture.

"good job blu brothers...you know I was thinking we could hang out at walmart and tell folks not to buy the A2..."

LMAO, oh man, so they want to stand at 1 Walmart and thats somehow going to keep people from buying a player? LMFAO.

I'm almost tempted to go during my lunch to Walmart and pick one up, just to kick a blo-ray supporter in the face on my way into the store. But alas, I only have 1 HDTV so there isn't much of a point in me having 2 HD-DVD players.

What a bunch of idiot children.

Sad f*ckwit tossers the lot of them
(for our US readeership that's 'jack offs', 'jag offs' or 'wankers' or 'tug men').

Standing in front of Wal-Mart telling people not to buy something? That's pathetic.

What a bunch of idiots. They must be really scared if they talk about this. Life will go on it is just a disk format.

I have to admit, I had no clue what that meant... just thought it was a funny name you made up.

I gotta hop across the pond more often, I suppose. :)

I decided not to get one...made a post down there somewhere ;). Don't want a bargain of this type yet. Chances are the products will be around this price soon enough. I can wait for 1080p HDdvd or BD for $199 or under, maybe beginning next year.

i picked one in columbus, ga this morning. it works great. i have it in my bedroom. it upconverts great. i am very happy with my $100 purchase. i couldn't be happier.

27 of them at the walmart i went too. half were gone by 8:15am. i grabbed one for myself along with 300 and transformers. almost forgot i don't know what movies they had on sale the shelf were they were was cleaned out when i got there

Well I couldn't find any in Walmart or Bestbuy at 8AM this morning, Neither store had any allocation (Bethlehem/Allentown, PA). They did however have them at $299, further enforcing my belief this is just a publicity stunt, and mose peopel will end up disappointed (or lucky) they did not get one.

Not that I would have actually bought one anyway as

a) I wouldn't have wasted my money on a 2nd HD format that studios are on the verge of dumping.

b) There is no room under my TV anyway.

if you are so sure it's a dead format then why would you have cared to go looking for them and why are you so worried about spreading hate about it... i have a hard time beleiving you about walmart we have 2 of them in a small town of 100,000 people and both of them had them. i was actually format nuetral until i seen how much hate there was in the blu group and i really did only buy this to put one more nail in the blu coffin...

Well I had to pop into BestBuy anyway, and I work 2 doors up from Walmart, so was interested.

As for FUD and Hate, I would be more concerned with Hollywood's claims of 2 million players, and $99 players available this Xmas, both of which are total BS.

This is nothing more than a stupid publicity stunt, and the sad reality for HD DVD, is that many more £399 40GB PS3's would have been sold today, than Toshiba HD-A2's

I smell BS. I was told (and the ad says) every store was GUARANTEED 10. So, sorry I'm a little skeptical on this. It's FUD like this that makes you guys look bad.

A quick skimn over the usual sites (AVS, Engadget) shows many people claiming some stores got none, and only bigger stores got anything in double figures. Walmart also seems to have got the lions share, with BB even rarer to find $99 HD DVD.

http://www.walmart.com/s...s.do?sfsearch_zip=18016

just clicked on the walmart link above clicked on the hd dvd special put in your zip and it says they are available in all 20 walmarts in your area.....

You are such a lying sack of s***.

Again you are full of BS the store I went to is far from a larger area and they got almost 30. Besides what do you care you are in love with blo ray.

Yes there is, right next to that dusty PS3 and SkyHD box, you posted a picture, remember?

Lying sack of crap, you live in Europe.

Dave, your desperation will never work here, I'm too smart for you.

Exactly what you need to convince yourself, you are so pathetic. I have been reading posts on other sites, now that HD-DVD pulled this.

The blu-ray.com fanboys are getting a bad rep all over the place. People are Googling and finding posts in your forum, then commenting on how childish and retarded you guys all are.

It's ironic that the biggest fanboy site for BD is the one converting people to HD-DVD.

steve/joey/dave did a good job of convincing me hd-dvd was the better choice

Same here, him and Mark Gillipse convinced me like 8 months ago. THANKS MARKY and DAVEY!!! I couldn't be happier with my xbox 360 and HD-DVD player.

That's funny. A friend of mine bought 2 at the Walmart supercenter in Macungie...

They even commented on THAT site that people are doing this and we are starting to look bad. Classic I love it. They truly are a classless act.

LMAO. Only if there was a Walmart in Macungie.

Macungie is a suberb of Allentown.

Wal-Mart Supercenter# 2641
1091 Millcreek Road
Allentown, PA 18106

I didn't realize that they still considered this address Allentown...

My bad...it's about 2 miles or so from Lower Macungie Road. (Near the golf club that's right off of 222)

Oh the Blu ray forums are a hoot to read. They are going absolutely ballistic!

A few of them have gone out and bought $98 worth of BR movies as a 'protest'. They really are the saddest, most pathetic zealots on the internet.

They are even turning on each other! Some of the members have gone out and taken advantage of the awesome Walmart deal, only to be chastised as traitors by the die hards. They say stuff like, "I will die before I use HD-DVD." What absolute nutters...

They truly are a bunch or morons. I don't see what the big deal is. The consumer wins. If you like a movie buy it. What I do not understand is the whole buy a thons. Running out and buying movies just because want to show up the competition is beyond childish. If you have money to waste, which is what they are doing help out a charity or something. I swear they act like a bunch of rabid caged animals. There needs to be some serious growing up. Its a movie for God's sake. Blu Army how gay is that?

Toshiba must be really desperate to sell HD-DVD units at more than a loss. Anyway they had to throw away the old models...

Yeah like what Sony is doing with the PS3.

touche :) FWIW, just got back from Wal-Mart.. i'm shocked that there isn't more people for all the items.. about 22 HD DVDs by my count, of which half were gone by 8:10 when i left (two people bought two in the interest of full disclosure).

About i'd say 30 laptops.. only 5 of them were bought. Other items pretty much sitting.

The $14.98 HD DVDs were okay, but not my type of movies. One of them is FMJ, which you can get for free thru toshiba anyway.

Thanks for the updates everyone. I'm heading to Wal-Mart (both if I have to) on my lunch break to see if I can manage to score one.

Oh, and not to put you on the spot Ed, but in the interest of full disclosure, did you happen to take advantage of the sale as well? :)

Update from Knoxville TN: At my local store they were a bit sheepish about the actual number of units on hand. When I got there, there were about 20 people in the electronics dept. with it being an even split between a computer that was on sale, and the HD DVD player.

The movie selection was decent, but as Ed pointed out, FMJ is available thru the 5 free deal. I may swing by before I go to work, and see how many (if any) of the players are left.

The store in Parma Ohio had about 30 HD players all gone by about 8:15, still had about ten laptops and the TV had no interest. I was hoping that they would have had better movies. HD must not be as desperate as blu since they haven't had any buy one get one deals. The full metal jacket was the remastered which is not the one that you get free by the way. The store however did not seem very prepared.

Ha, yes.

For me, jumping into this has ALWAYS been about price. I first said 200.. but then got cold feet because of the studios. When i heard $98, i couldn't resist.

I've spent far more on stuff that was a waste :)

Hey look another Dave alias. Did they finally stop letting you create new email addresses at hotmail and GMail so you can't come up with new usernames here ....... Dave?

I wasn't going to get one since I already have the 'bolt-on' for my 360. But to make Joey happy I think I'll buy one.

I wonder why blu-ray.com hasn't posted this news in thier "official" forum. It seems this would have some impact in thier "war".

Although every BD fanatic can go format neutral this weekend for $99, they would rather whine and complain.

i was in avs's blu player section earlier and a majority of the comments i seen were to go neutral

Hehe have you looked through their site?
Its utter blind panic going on
"I have counted close to 10 threads started about black friday sales which have no place on a BD forum. Can we please delete those threads and this one when your done."
Or my favorate panic one:
"YES...PLEASE...

These threads are showing up in Google searches."

and
"Please! We need to get rid of (delete) most of the FUD spitting trolls. They over run our site cause we are clearly winning the war, which I guess is good in that way, but it looks back to have all this stuff on Google searches, and in general.
Do they realize how bad they make themselves and the entire HD-DVD camp look?
Especially pqfinest which has been making comments in the latest WB news report. His comments are not just anti-blu, they are down right sick! He is a pervert that needs to be banned for good" - Thats all from only one thread

And then sure enough there was a surge in banning.
Someone should setup a information site that archives many of the threads that pop up their to show people the level of maturity that goes on there. I feel sorry for any poor person who gets caught up there because google told them. You could not go to a more disinformed site if you wanted to :(

Are you some kind of idiot?

"I wonder why blu-ray.com hasn't posted this news in thier "official" forum."

Because it's HD-DVD!!!

I wonder why the BMW website has no mention of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS...

Jesus, some people are REALLY thick...

That's pretty sad, but not unexpected.

If they were smart they would.

The same as if the PS3 had a "fire sale" of this magnitude, I would probably buy one finally (since it's the only Blu-ray player that stands a halfway decent chance of being upgradeable).

Funny how they get pissed if someone comes to their site but they recruit the bloods to go to other sites to do the same. What is the difference what they are doing or what they are complaining about. Nothing it is the same they need to grow some back bone and get a life.

LMAO! Finally a comment from the village oaf on this. And one of the biggest losers at blu-ray.com ..... our lovely Dave Peterson.

What about the Paramount leaving BD story? You idiots posted that and complained for months. Michael Bay retracting his "I wont make Transformers 2 if Paramount doesn't support BD". Only to retract and say the BD group got him drunk and I quote "Drank the kool-Aid" referring to Jonestown.

Zealots are known for their "do as I say, not as I do" mentality...

Update here in Reading, PA: went to BB here.. was told the player is on backorder and no local stores have them. So, whatever A2s are out there.. look like its at Wal-Mart.

Even the Blu-ray folks have to admit, this was a big move on the part of HD DVD. I gotta give them credit: they've priced a next-gen DVD player almost where good DVD players are now.

This will be interesting to see the PR fight.. stay tuned to BN folks, this should be a fun weekend full of daggers from both sides ;)

Thanks Ed.

So does that mean we'll have weekend updates? :)

Thanks for that heads up Ed. I have family in that area, who were going to go to BB instead of Wally World. I'll pass that on to them in the morning.

Well, only as much as either side will give us. I'm sure we'll get at least something from HD DVD. But Blu-ray has never passed up a chance to swipe back (or vice versa for that matter).

did you go to Bloomsburg?

For college? No, Temple University. Had several friends in school from the area however.

Ok, you two need to stop with the PA line of talk. You're making me nostalgic for the homeland (last place lived was the Lehigh Valley).

small world. Ever hear of Macungie?

OMG! hahaha, yes!

WOW. I used to live up in NE Berks past Kutztown... about a minute from the Northampton Co. line. I think I was about 15 minutes from Macungie if I'm not mistaken.

Now, live west of Reading in Sinking Spring.

I called 5 Walmarts here in San Antonio, all had sold out except one, and I picked up the last 2 there. We have 21 Walmarts here, and everyone that I called had over 20 units, and none had any of the HDDVD movies left. All the bins were empty... looks like a success to me.

My ex used to work at the Pied Piper (which apparently has been torn down now)...

Maybe you went to RHPS at the General Cinema?

Same here great news for the format. What surprises me is all these units and disks sold out with out a planned buy-a-thon. /sarcasm off.

lol. went through Sinking Springs all the time on my way out to Lancaster back in my college days. Took the "Road to Nowhere". I think they have an official bypass now.

Small world.

Oh the panic from bluray.com

"time to regroup at blu-ray.com and get back in focus"

Oh man, am I giggling my t*ties off here.

Everyone wanted someone to 'call' on this format war and now all the major retailers in the USA have just done so loud & clear.

Watch Warners go HD DVD exclusive by Jan 2008.

Hooray the underdogs.

This has been one smart & f*cking classy marketing strategy in action.
Blu-ray killed in Q4 2007.
Wow but it was brutal!

Blu-ray another failed proprietary format.
PS3's version of UMD.
The dim kiddies' format of choice.
LMAO.

According to Mr Hunt it is an illigal dumping act. Just because his format got caught with its pants down. B1G1 on Transformers week was a clever marketing plan but when HD shocks the industry it is against the law. He has lost all creditbility with many I would think. Well not the blu blood army.

Bill Hunt 'came out' as nothing less than a dreary little Blu-ray shill long ago and forfeited the right to be considered as saying anything on behalf of the independent and the consumer.

He really sh*t all over his name in this and once this is long over & forgotten I just hope he made enough for it to be worth it.

More than a few will end up confused & wondering why Bill got it so wrong and kept getting it so wrong.....'course the BD parties and junkets had absolutely nothing to do with with it, eh?

Joey Deacon's pathetic attempt to keep people from going to stores to get the $99 A2 cracks me up as the sales don't start until tomorrow morning. So we are disinclined to acquiesce to your request ............. Means no, Dave.

He lives in Europe for crying out loud.

I was at Wal Mart no less than a couple hours ago, they have pallettes of players lining the center aisle that goes past the A/V section.

The girl told me they wont take the shrink wrap off and put the sign up until the store closes tonight. Employees do not get to purchase players until the end of the day, and that's if there are any left.

She also said people have been calling all day to try and reserve one etc....

They will sell out in one day, so will BB and CC. There should be a few million more HD-DVD players in peoples houses by Saturday. Wal Mart alone is allocated 2 million, BB and CC's are having them rushed in from the main thier district warehouses as they usually ony have a dozen or so in each store.

It's about time they got off thier asses and pulled something drastic like this.

Lastly, WB will make a decision in the coming days, if they jump the BD ship, Disney will do the same the following day.

The Wally Worlds in my area (3 in all) are telling the same story.

same thing i found out earlier

My wife said, "You want to go with to Wal Mart?" I jumped at the chance to see if this was a real sale or just some "few per store" BS. They've got lots and lots of them.

Poor Joey .... it is Joey now, right? Not Dave?

If I had an HD Tele, I'd be jumping on this. Who cares about the format when $90 = instant HD love?

Best Buy is doing the same promotion.

someone on another forum just said cicuit city pricematched bestbuy plus 10% they got an a2 for $90

I knew CC would have to match BB's pricing as well, they have the 110% guarantee.

Looks like a whole lot of people are getting HD-DVD players this Christmas.

Target also offers similar guarantees, which means Wal-Mart, BB, CC. and Target will all be selling the A2 at $99.00 (plus 10% off at CC).

Most stores have already run out, as staff bought them. There certainly won't be any left in 2 months time..

More lies and FUD, how big is your nose now? lol

You have no clue who bought what.

dam you really are a dum&*$ anytime walmart is doing door busters they bring in special inventory just for that sale they do it everyear with apex dvd players you can go by the store and see the sealed up paletes sitting around the night before the sale. that's okay you can sit at home in denial stroking your ps3 the rest of us will be out getting hd

I don't know how it is elsewhere, but the Wal-marts in my area don't allow the staff any special treatment.

If you work at one, and want something that's part of a big sale...you get in line like everyone else.

and they can't be on duty either they have to take time off or get somebody to stand in line for them.

Okay, dude....

I'm all for opinions and conflict. THe world is full of it, but you are seriously talking out of your a** here. You have no prrof of any of your claims made here and past experience would tell anyone who was paying attention that door-busters such as these are backed up with a generous inventory that is brought in the day, if not the night before the event.

You could get away with saying, "I wouldn't be surprised if they're all gone in under 10 minutes", because that would be an opinion. Saying, "There will not be any left" is just plain stupid superiority BS.

You have no way of knowing.

History tells us otherwise.

You sound like a complete idiot. Of course, if that is what you are going for, more power to you. Otherwise, you might want to consider a different tack.

Keep lying. Who are you trying to convince, us or yourself?

A look on EngadgetHD forums, show an endless stream of people unable to find these mythical players, all stores having sold them, or not getting stock in that paticlar store.

If you want to be a manipulated BetaPuppet, fine, but do some research on an INDEPENDANT site, at least, not the biased one sided crap you get here.

You are right the staff bought 2 million of them. What a lying sack of s*** you are.

The sale starts tomorrow dip s***. The store even told me they are not on the floor until after the store closes. What is so hard to understand? For God sack get over yourself. Trouble is brewing for your side so pack you bags and go home to bloray.com.

Make that "There certainly wont be any left after this weekend" Do you really think it matters if they sell 2 million in one weekend or two months, two million is two million you annoying little insignifcant nothing.

Your abilty to appear less important and utterly retarded each day astounds me. I keep saying "he's*** rock ottom" but you manage to come up with less intelligent statments and utter desperate nonsense.

You and he BD boys need to "regroup and focus" because you backed the wrong horse, jagoff.

He needs to convince himself daily that this is all just a bad dream, it's how unimportant people get by.

They say something until they believe it themselves, it's truly a sign of weakness, and he knows it.

The same Engadget with a raving BD fanboy posting about HD-DVD's "illegal" dump sale this weekend.

Yes, why don't you show us more links to a biased site, like blu-ray.com or ps3fanboy.com?

Jackass

Where did 2 million spring from?

Last thing I heard, it's 50,000 units across ALL stores (Walmart, Target, Bestbuy, Amazon).

If there are 2 million surplus A2's in the retail chain, that HD DVD player sales must have bombed more than everyone had previously thought.

How many millions of Ps3's are unsold. See you can spin that too.

Exactly.

How long ago did Sony claim their warehouses were devoid of the 60 GB models finally?

It's not hard to find the 60 GB model in retail outlets... still.

2 million is the deal wal-mart did earlier in the year when the A2 first came out.
That information is actually on one of those sites you posted previously.

Really?

I find that interesting since on my Trip to Wal-Mart this Friday morning, the shelves were full of them.

Neither format will "win" or "lose." Adoption is pathetic, but it's enough to continue on with the war. Adoption rates won't ever eclipse DVD, as by the time HD ramps up, people will have moved on to the next format, hopefully one that is more open.

SD DVD will sooner or later go away so that is a naive statement.

If there is a next format. I think that buy the time either of these HD formats become obsolete, so will physical media.

hmm
dang, I take neither side with HDdvd vs BD...but this might make me pick up the thing for $100. What do you think? Any BD fans want to dissuade a neutral from doing so? Just give me good reasons and try not to be a-hole-ish about it, hehe.
Seriously, completely neutral and considering. I am more for BD btw ;)

Go for it. Watching movies in HD is a feast for the eyes. Plus you can not ask for a better price. I have both and highly recommend the purchase.

Just make sure you don't buy dialog movies on HD-DVD, it's seems like a waste. Transformers and 300 are great starters.

Have you been reading the threads on other sites. It appears that Warner has known about this sale for some time and is watching carefully. Warner is watching standalone sales as a guide. If that is really true Sony is in big trouble since their stand alone sales have not been very good. Then look at the fact that every bluray stand alone player is already obsolete thanks to profile 1.1.

HD-DVD has been outselling BD with stand alones from day one. The PS3 is the only thing keeping BD alive. And with all those millions of PS3's they can barely hold a 2 to 1 movie sales lead in the US.

That will all change after tomorrow though. Amazon's numbers will skyrocket for HD-DVD, I just hope I can get a Harry Potter 1-5 with all these new HD-DVD customers to compete with.

Warner did no re-sign with Blu Ray on October 31st, they will use this sale as an excuse to leave BD. Mark my words.

Why pay $200 for a 1080i HD DVD player (lets face it, your chances of the $100 player is slim to none) which is slow to boot, only supports 1080i, and 5.1 sound, when you can get a Blu-ray 1080p player, that does much better DVD upscaling, has SACD support, does full 7.1 sound, does media streaming, and plays PS3 games for another $200 more.

Keep dreaming.
This last desperate tentative from Toshiba won't change anything.
And not counting the PS3 as a BD player it's a pretty patethic fanatic statement.

He said nothing of the sort. He merely stated rather well-known facts.

HD DVD stand-alone players outsell Blu-ray stand-alone players.

If you count the PS3 as a BD-capable device (which I think you should), then it looks even worse for Blu-ray, as they have only managed to scrape a 2:1 lead in software sales with 10x as many players.

After this weekend though, I expect that player sales lead to drop significantly, and their meager software sales lead to follow suit.

Slow to boot? Have you seen Pirates?
Much better DVD upscaling? Last I knew the better option for DVD upscaling was NOT blu-ray or hd-dvd
SAwhat? I got one SACD and guess what, it came from Japan :) Digital purchases FTW
7.1 sound isnt going to mean jack s*** to all the people that would buy this player because its cheap. If sony payed attention they would do a simular cheap player.

As for plays games.. well I wont say anything about that.

*sigh* another person who doesnt boffer to read

He did say stand alone

"and plays PS3 games"

There are games on that thing?

He will avoid the attachment rate since there is nothing to say. HD has been killing bloray when looking at attachment rates. If it weren't for the stupid buy a thins they would look even worse. The entire catalog of titles barely beat out one title (Transformers) and they claim that a victory, sad.

It looks like they skipped right over the $200 magic number, right to $99. I love the fact that Best Buy is price matching, it will make it easier for people to get one cheaply.

Too bad it's not a combo player though, that would be sweet.

I seriously wish that I had known about this 2 days ago. I picked another up when they announced the $199 price...

No worries though, Wal-mart is pretty good at doing refund adjustments (maybe I'll use the $100 back and just get one more!)

they might give you a hard time they usually put a different sku on doorbusters so they might tell you it's not the same product

If that's the case, it's not hard to return the 2 day old unit, and buy 2 of the lower priced ones with the refund money!

that's what i'm going to do i needed another dvd player so i just bought a upconvert last weekend thankfully haven't used it yet

Warner interesting

http://www.n4g.com/industrynews/News-78962.aspx

Save even more money by not buying HD-DVD or Blu-Ray.

Seriously, how you guys have such venom to fling over each other at something so utterly inconsequential as a media format... I despair.

+1!

Will you mary me?

http://www.bestbuy.com/s...=1&id=1158323325814

bestbuy just matched walmarts price, bd is about to get slaughtered

I'm still not sure if it's worth it in the long run if they lose. Obviously if they win, then good for the people jumping on this deal.

Uncertainty, not only in WHICH format, but IF an HD media format would thrive 3-5 years down the road is still holding me back.

I'm glad I only bought into 3 or 4 DVD-Audio discs. I still have a sneaky suspicion we'll look back on these years as the "DVD-Audio vs. SACD part II: The video years"

To be honest lonechicken, a lot of people didn't adopt SACD or DVD-Audio because most people couldn't hear the difference unnles it was properly set up in a store evironment, on a true surround system. Nobody won the SACD / DVD-Audio war.

BD and HD-DVD only require an HDTV, which is pretty much all you can buy right now. Secondly, the difference between HD and S-DVD on certain movies is stunning.

The difference between SD/HD on DirecTV is night and day and people actually notice this, so HD movies have a much better chance of going mainstream that SACD or DVD-Audio, in my opinion.

I can't watch anything on TV in SD anymore. The standard definition picture is so blurry, you might as well rub dirt in my eyes.

yea but at this price even if they lose you still have a really good upconvert dvd player for sdvd's

i agree hd is like crack for your eyes. just got it about 3months ago and i can't stand watching anything else now.

Wow. A score of one.

I think that's only the second time I've ever seen that here.

Add that +1 to my -98 and I'm only -97 in the hole.

True about quality differences between HD and SD media. I only watch animation and scrubs in non-HD. I don't even watch non-HD football games.

But, unlike the audio format war where the only way I can find HD audio content would have been buying discs... I can get HD content from DirecTV (or insert your provider here), over the air, and/or PPV for new movies. I don't have to buy a disc. And about extras, yeah I get suckered into buying DVDs with more extras as well, but rarely ever watch those extras.

I don't see what the big to-do is about 1080i players, considering it's only been in the last year that 1080p televisions have even been affordable, plus, a lot of people seem to forget.... HDTV's have been around a lot longer than a year... Some of us bought in early (like myself) on HD and don't even have units that do 1080p OR HDMI inputs. So the A2 would do me just fine. There's a wal mart in the next town over from me and I'll be there tomorrow morning :) You can't beat that price with a stick!

As long as your 1080p display properly de-interlaces the 1080i signal there's no difference in the image. Buy the cheaper 1080i Toshiba & use the saving for HD-DVDs and rest comfortably knowing the PQ is identical to your neighbor's 1080p player. Google it if you don't believe me. Dozens of articles on this trying to set people straight.

Alls it takes is momentum. If this temp fire sale of HD-DVD players kick starts the upgrade from SD to HD great.

Now, when people look around and see a HD player for under $200 and another for $400, they are going to buy the cheaper one. that is just how it works; it does not matter which one is "better".

Is it HD? that is what people will ask.

I'll be waiting in line!

Now I can add one more: "Most stores have already run out, as staff bought them. There certainly won't be any left in 2 months time.. "

LMAO! For a sale that hasn't started yet, that's pretty impressive.

Here's the rest of the desperation quotes of the last few days:

"FIRE SALE! FIRE SALE! Only 8 per store, Only 8 per store. It's only temporary, price goes back up when they are gone."

"Good luck finding a Wii before Chrstmas, I got mine :)"

"PS3 is the most powerful gaming system on the planet"

"XBOX 360 adds another incompatible SKU"

"30% of XBOX's are bricked"

"6 million PS3's sold"

"The Wii continues to dominate"

"Blu Ray is out selling 2 to 1 in the US, 4 to 1 in Europe and 9 to 1 in Japan"

"It's over for HD-DVD"

"Profile 1.1 is on the way, thanks for asking"

"Paramount invented Transformers sales numbers"

"The A2 only does crappy 1080i"

This one is good "pitdingo - The superior format gets even better. I hear there is a fire sale on HD-DVD as no one is buying them."

You are right considering they havent gone on sale yet. I can see the pathetic desperation already. We need to give Dave / Joey / Steve a big group hug seeing that a few million players will be sold on Friday alone.

I grabbed this cry for help from the avsforum -

"Come on Target do a special this friday to counteract the walmart frenzy....come on you support Blu brothers lower that sony player to 200 dollars PULLLEZZZ..............."

I would swear that was Dave but he's been banned for a long time now.

That was from the Blu Ray related posts only area.

Feel free to help me fill in and add the comments we are sure to hear in this thread today, most of which will be off topic.

p.s. This will be an interesting Holiday for BD and HD-DVD with those giveaway prices. Let's see what Warner decides.

The problem is you Europeans underestimate Americans, when there is a pre-holiday sale like this one, where people can save big money, they usually don't care what the item is. They will line up from here to China to get one.

And when all the A2's are cleared out, they will go to Sears to get the A3 because it's only $70 more on Friday.

Do you think they picked Friday because it's pay day and most people are in a good mood because the weekend is here? That's exactly what I would have done.

You can be sure that people will get at least one or two movies at the same time they are buying a player.(I would think)

If they sell 2.5 million players at those prices (A2's and A3's) and even half of the people grab a movie, that would put HD-DVD movie sales close or over that of BD. These BD robots are sh!tting thier pants over this at blu-ray.com and I am sitting here laughing because I have no work today, kids are at school, and a DVR full of HD football to watch.

If Warner makes a decision to go HD-DVD only, I will be smiling from now until 2008, if they go BD, I won't be smiling but I'll be picking up the Harry Potter 1-5 set.

now that sh*t is funny.... i can't wait to see some numbers on how many of these walmart sales tomorrow between this sale and sears next month this has just gotta crush joey/steve/dave's hopes and dreams

I don't know how many each person can buy but I'm there. I need two more anyways, we are finally getting rid of our only CRT in the house and putting up some god awful plasma that my wife wants, I'll need a dedicated HD-DVD for that room and there is no way I'm using the old XA1. I'll give the other one to my brother who just got his first HDTV.

dam all i get from my brother is grief....

Awesome. I noticed the panic over blo.com myself. The desperation is laughable. I really hope that this lifts HD over BD I still don't trust Sony. Never have and never will.

i once got a picture of my brother from him in a frame wearing a black s*** with "ironic" wording and sun glasses. He was draped over a rock trying to look sexy. It was the most thoughtless cheap a** gift I've ever received.

You aren't serious .... are you?

It's laughable how naieve you are.

here is a wakeup call.

THERE ARE NOT MILLIONS OF HD-A2's AVAILABLE.

It's an end-of-line product, and when they are gone, they are gone. The A3 promotion is even more limited.

This is a despertae publicity stunt, and WILL backfire, as few people will be actally walking away with $99 HD DVD players.

Have your HD DVD moment, sure, but bear in mind Warners comments about making a decision, and definatly supporting Blu, and it's only going 1 way...

i didn't know you were in charge of wal-mart's inventory.... got any proof of how many they have available? not only there inventory but pretty much every retailer is going to have to match that price as well...

"i didn't know you were in charge of wal-mart's inventory"

I'm not, but any idot can tell it's a publicity stunt/loss leader, and VERY limitied in supplies.

This stunt will surely backfire, with many more people disappointed, that those happy.

alright dumb%$* i just stopped by walmart and they told me not to worry about it they have plenty of them at both of the walmarts here

No, your making assumptions AGAIN.

You lie over and over. Does your boss know about your serious honesty problem?

Wal Mart has 2 million of them to split between stores. Sorry Joey, you will need some Advil after Friday.

The CAPS show your desperation and frustration.

You won't get a wink of sleep tonight, will you BD boy? You are a laughing stock, just read the comments to your posts.

I don't know about you, but I already got a +1 today, jagoff.

Of course this post will cancel that out but who cares. Oh and by the way Dave it's "naive", dipsh!t.

"It's laughable how naieve you are."

With a misspelling like that, are you sure you don't want to retract the shot you took at the American educational system?

Please give us a good explanation about why this is a 'despertae' publicity stunt
Would like to hear it, and dont forget to include comparisons with other products that have had simular 'despertae' sales since its not a hd-dvd exclusive.

They had plenty when I got mine.

Thanks for playing.

He tends to misspell quite a lot when he gets "despertae". :)