PreGameLobby - Sony announces cheaper Blu-ray player

ZoomZoom71 · 02-26-2007, 12:51 PM

Quote:

NEW YORK - Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news). said Monday it is bringing out a cheaper player for Blu-ray discs early this summer, a crucial step in its battle to make the high-definition format the replacement for DVDs. The BDP-S300 will cost $599, yet will have the same capabilities as the $999 BDP-S1 Sony is currently selling, said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of the home products division of Sony Electronics.
Sony and Samsung Corp., which also makes a Blu-ray player, have been undersold by Toshiba Corp.'s players for the rival HD DVD format. Toshiba has a model on the market for $499.
However, sales of players for either format have been tepid, as consumers have stood back, waiting for the market to settle on one of the discs.
Most people buying high-definition discs are apparently doing so to play them on PlayStation 3 game consoles. There are two versions of the console, for $499 and $599, and Sony sold 1.8 million units last year.
"Eighty percent of people who buy a PS3 also buy Blu-ray movies to go with it," Waynick told reporters at a meeting here.
"The consumers have determined that that's the format they're choosing to go with," he said, citing retail data from Nielsen VideoScan that showed Blu-ray discs outselling HD DVDs by three to one this year.
The BDP-S300 is a smaller unit than the BDP-S1, and is about the same size as a DVD player. Like the current model, it will be able to output a signal in the highest high-definition format, known as 1080p. It will also be able to play CDs, which the BDP-S1 does not.
Stan Glasgow, president of Sony Electronics, told reporters at a meeting here that by Christmas, prices for Blu-ray players should be down below $500.
Sony has previously complained that DVD players became a commodity product too soon, and that it was hard to make a profit in a market dominated by $50 units. Glasgow predicted that Blu-ray players would take the same route.
"Over time, I think it will be just like DVD," he said.

Source

Fragmintz · 02-26-2007, 01:35 PM

Sweet! Does it come with a PS3?

WormholeXtreme · 02-26-2007, 05:58 PM

The PS3 20GB will still be the best deal. It will be a while until any BD player matches the speed of the PS3 when it comes to watching BD movies.

MadBryan · 02-26-2007, 06:02 PM

Not cheap enough!

GoatMother · 02-26-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadBryan

Not cheap enough!

Hey, we agree on something!

Jon Liu · 02-26-2007, 08:31 PM

hahaha it's a good sign though. As a standalone, it's a good, competative price!

MadBryan · 02-27-2007, 04:54 PM

competative if they did it now, the competition will just lower theirs by then again. I hope they battle it out till $199 then I'll buy if it looks like its gonna be a blu world.

laxgod · 02-27-2007, 08:53 PM

I think it's pretty much a forgone conclusion it's going to be a "blu world". IMO, HD DVD has no chance of winning this war.

MadBryan · 02-28-2007, 04:51 AM

Yep, I counted on a responce like that. I'm not going to start another debate! Sorry

Jon Liu · 02-28-2007, 07:48 AM

No worries, MadB. Yeah, a response like that will cause a lot of debate.

I still think it's too early to tell for sure, but predictions can be made!

I disagree that HD-DVD has NO chance. I feel it might be struggling a little bit, but it's not out of the race yet!!

laxgod · 02-28-2007, 11:26 AM

I'm not trying to argue with anyone here, I'm just stating my opinion on things. I do own a HD DVD player along with Blu-ray so whichever format were to win I'd be set, but I find it hard to find a realistic scenario where Blu-ray doesn't come out the winner. The people who talk of HD DVD winning do so based on this idea that some of the exclusive studios are going to flip and start making HD DVDs. There have been NO signs of that actually happening and without studio support you are doomed.

BiffCo · 02-28-2007, 11:48 AM

I think we'll see the format war over whenever Universal goes format neutral. It's bound to happen sooner or later.

-Brad

BiffCo · 02-28-2007, 11:50 AM

Jon, while I want to agree with you that HDDVD is still in the race, right now it's not. Hardly any new content while BR is releasing more and more movies every week. Some might say that sony is releasing "quantity over quality," but I'd disagree with that statement as well. Just because one HDDVD fanboy says they are doesn't make it true. I like a ton more BR movies than HDDVD movies.

They need to do something quick with HDDVD or they're going to lose it.

-Brad

GoatMother · 02-28-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Brad

Jon, while I want to agree with you that HDDVD is still in the race, right now it's not. Hardly any new content while BR is releasing more and more movies every week. Some might say that sony is releasing "quantity over quality," but I'd disagree with that statement as well. Just because one HDDVD fanboy says they are doesn't make it true. I like a ton more BR movies than HDDVD movies.

They need to do something quick with HDDVD or they're going to lose it.

-Brad

Well said.

Jon Liu · 02-28-2007, 12:36 PM

I'm definitely not saying that I don't feel that Blu-ray is in the lead because I feel that they definitely are! I was just merely stating that HD-DVD isn't out of the race yet, which simply means they haven't given up.

I believe Sony has put out some FANTASTIC titles that are not only the quantity we are looking for but also the quality! I think a mixture of both is a good combination, but what's been surprising me is that Blu-ray continues to put out stunning title over and over again, regardless of how many they are releasing!

I agree that something has to happen in the HD-DVD camp to make it a more even battle at this point, but I am just not counting them out of the war yet.

MadBryan · 02-28-2007, 03:31 PM

I read something the other day that made since. Universal will not go bluray because the don't want Sony (who also makes movies) to have that much power and no company wants to pay their compitition to release their content. As far as the content on bluray, alot of you say its better like its a fact. Its called an opinion and its not one I and many others share. Are there a couple BD's I want? Sure, and I can import them.

GoatMother · 02-28-2007, 03:44 PM

Seems like overseas movies are released on different formats a bit. I don't import as it is expensive. I'm glad I can just drive over to Fry's or Best Buy to buy many of the blu-ray movies I want. Sometimes I take those things for granted living where I do.

MadBryan · 02-28-2007, 04:09 PM

importing does cost $5 to $10 more, but since it saved me five hundred dollars on the player (at the time I chose to enter the WAR) it was an easy decision. I personally don't buy any HD-DVD's at the store cause Amazon is so much cheaper, but there have been exceptions

WormholeXtreme · 02-28-2007, 04:14 PM

HD DVd and BD total sales don't even come close to the sales of the Pirates of the Caribbean for the first day DVD sales. BD and HD DVD are nothing but a drop in the bucket. They have a long ways to go. One format might win over the other but with downloads becoming more prevalent I don't think the current HD disc formats will ever come close to sales level that DVD is now. I personally have around 200 titles, 145 HD DVD and 55 BD, but I am the exception. Most people don't even have an HD set and many of those people that do don't even watch any HD. And many people have no plans on getting an HD DVD or BD player. BD might win out over HD DVD(after a couple more years) but in the long run neither will probably gain mass acceptance.

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