Nov 1 2007

HD DVD players hit $99 at Wal-Mart, Best Buy

(Credit: Wal-Mart)

Earlier this week it was big news that HD DVD broke the $200 price barrier. Well, in the same week it looks like HD DVD has broken the $100 price barrier as well. As previously reported, Wal-Mart is running a "Secret In-Store Specials" sale this Friday and one of the heavily discounted items is the Toshiba HD-A2 selling for $98.87. Of course, this isn't a true price drop, as the sale is only good as long quantities last and the Toshiba HD-A2 won't be available at all Wal-Mart locations. On the other hand, it is representative of HD DVD's significant advantage in hardware pricing -- the least expensive Blu-ray player is the $400 PlayStation 3, which also hits stores tomorrow.

The $99 price tag is sweet, but the deal is even better than that. Toshiba continues to give away five free movies to anyone that buys an HD DVD player--all you need to do is fill out this form (PDF link) and mail it in. If you're not thrilled about Toshiba's selection of free movies (we're not either), Wal-Mart is also running on a sale on HD DVD movies tomorrow, priced at $14.96 each. That's a pretty significant discount, as most of the HD DVDs we saw at Amazon were priced from $20 to $30.

Not to be outdone, it also looks as if Best Buy is selling the Toshiba HD-A2 for $99 as well. You can't order from Best Buy online, but it seems like if you get to your local Best Buy before they run out of stock, you can nab an HD-A2 for $99.

It remains to be seen whether these rock-bottom prices are the result of retailers blowing out extra inventory or a sign of continually falling prices for HD DVD. Technically, the HD-A2 has already been replaced by the new Toshiba HD-A3 which still costs $250 at Best Buy (and isn't sold at Wal-Mart). Either way, this is a great deal for high-def movie fans who can get their hands on one of these $99 players.

Posted in: Home video
Tags: hd dvd, toshiba, hd-a2, format war, wal-mart, best buy
 

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 46 comments (Page 1 of 4)
Wal Mart pushing HD DVD
by mogamer November 1, 2007 11:55 AM PDT
Wal Mart going full out selling HD DVD? But CNET said that HD DVD was going to die soon?
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$99 HD-A2 at Best Buy
by JM2_HDDVD November 1, 2007 1:28 PM PDT
Toshiba HD-A2 only $99 at Best Buy http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8021767&st=hd-a2&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1158323325814 http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/01/best-buy-offers-the-toshiba-hd-a2-for-100-too-and-other-hd-dv/
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Couldn't get one.
by epitone November 1, 2007 2:33 PM PDT
I was willing to shell out $99 for an upconverting DVD player that would let me watch HD-DVDs that I'd Netflix, so I tried my luck today but came up short at 2 different BBs. Anyway, no sour grapes here but this whole thing smacks of desperation to me. The Blu-Ray camp is doing just fine with their players all priced at $400 and above, so the HD side's last-ditch move is to slash prices enough to get the hardware in as many homes as possible. Or, to put it in high school terms, the most popular guy in school is usually not the one paying girls to date him.
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A Thousand Times, Yes!
by Darkneptune November 1, 2007 5:25 PM PDT
i think alot of people are confusing desperation with smart pricing...mass market pricing! The PS3 has proven that the $400 is too pricey for an all-in-one, let alone just a movie player. HD-DVD has hit the sweet spot pricing at just the right time to build enough buzz to send it well into 2008...people are soooo going to buy this $99 player for their living rooms, their loved ones, and the HD DVD movies as stock stuffers. Bluray owners should be very uncomfortable right now.
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Wow.. crazy
by rygo.net November 1, 2007 5:42 PM PDT
I think this is absolutely crazy! Finally, a cheap HD-DVD player!! -Ryan http://rygo.net
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Even I thought I was crazy
by j_a_s_p_e_r November 1, 2007 5:55 PM PDT
I originally said $129 would be the price barrier. Even I thought I was pushing it a bit, but this is just nuts. The HD-A3 comes packaged with 2 movies and you get 5 with mail-in for 169. May be a slightly better deal, don't know
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Blatant mistake in Crave Story...
by harrellnukeem November 1, 2007 8:24 PM PDT
Walmart has A3's on the shelf... I was just in a "low end" hispanic focused Supercenter and they had A3's there... Walk into a wal-mart OK?
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Got mine is a secret spot
by AKIELB November 1, 2007 8:45 PM PDT
I just got back from wal-mart where I got the last unit on the floor. I took that unit walked around with it for awhile then neatly tucked it behind some boxes in another department. Guess I'll just walk in and wait till they hand the units out then grab mine and head up and get it - saves me the time of having to wait in line, not even sure if there will be a line but I'm not taking any chances. Its like this is the worst advertised sale ever - there is a small poster in the front of the store that says there will be great prices on these items at 8am tomorrow, then has pictures - no prices, so there might not be a mad rush to get the units and there might be, it just depends on local word of mouth I guess
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Where can you get the A3 for 169?
by rlbedford November 1, 2007 10:33 PM PDT
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HD-A2 GOOD 2 BE BLU?
by funketeche1 November 2, 2007 12:59 AM PDT
Tech shared info on Toshiba Unit: HD-A2 plays 1080i max, 1080p HD-DVD placed in the HD-A2 are said to have high percentage errors and playback issues because it doesn't allow 1080p down conversion. What's really the deal and reason for price drop...limited HD playback with a savvy marketing upswing sugarcoats a format boo-boo. Question: If its dipped in powdered sugar, would you eat it, no questions asked? Buyer Beware.
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