Toshiba HD-DVD Player: $267 At Amazon

[dkennedy]

Toshiba HD-DVD Player: $267 At Amazon

The company's new high-def player aims to edge out Blu-ray.

May 20, 2007

By Phillip Swann, tvpredictions.com

Toshiba's HD-A2 HD-DVD player is now available for $267.87 at Amazon.com.

The company's second-generation HD-DVD player, which was launched last October, has a suggested retail price of $399, although the company is offering a $100 discount from May 20 to June 16.

The Amazon $267 price tag is believed to be the lowest ever for a high-def DVD player. The e-commerce site also lists the player available for $249 from third-party sellers.

Toshiba's HD-DVD format is battling with the Sony-supported Blu-ray format for the new high-def DVD audience. Player prices for both formats are dropping fast with Panasonic last week introducing a Blu-ray player for $599.

CNET.com, the technology web site, said this about the HD-A2 HD-DVD player when it was first launched last year:

"At first glance, the HD-A2 looks like a better player than the HD-A1 (Toshiba's first HD-DVD player), and hopefully the company has indeed addressed some of the first-generation player's usability quirks. For HDTV owners with $500 to spend on a disc player that delivers phenomenal video quality, it looks like a solid value," the site said.

The HD-A2 HD-DVD player can display high-def video in 1080i.

[dkennedy]

Toshiba: $299 HD DVD Player Selling Fast

Company says sales are up tenfold at some retailers.

May 30, 2007

By Phillip Swann, tvpredictions.com

Toshiba is now running a one-month promotion offering a $100 instant rebate on its HD DVD player. The discount drops the price to $299 and Toshiba says consumers are scooping them up.

According to Video Business, Toshiba says the rebate has increased sales of the high-def disc player by as much as tenfold at some retailers.

“We’re thrilled to see that consumers are, by far, choosing Toshiba’s HD DVD players as their source for high-definition,” says Jodi Sally, vice president of marketing for Toshiba.

At Amazon.com, the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player is now ranked #16 in overall electronics sales. Yesterday, TVPredictions.com reported that Amazon was selling the player for just $242, but a strong demand caused the e-commerce site to raise the price back to $299.

Toshiba's one-month $100 instant rebate is good until June 16, but many industry observers are predicting a price war between HD DVD and its rival, Blu-ray. Panasonic this month announced the launch of a $599 Blu-ray player and Sony is scheduled to issue a $599 Blu-ray player this summer.

The two high-def formats are locked in an intense battle for the new high-def disc audience. Many industry officials, particularly retailers, are urging an end to the format war, saying it's confusing consumers. Consequently, they say, high-def player and title sales are well below what they should be.