Retailers: HD-DVD players nearly sold out

[Roger]

According to Video Business Online new window as of last Friday many retailers reported having sold out of Toshiba’s HD-A1 HD-DVD player. The total number of HD-DVD players shipped is said to be between 10,000 and 15,000 units, which includes the HD-A1 ($499) and HD-XA1 ($799) models.

Although it’s hard to pin down the exact numbers of HD-A1’s sold, a contact at a local distributor told me that the HD-A1 accounted for a large chunk of the initial 10-15k players shipped.

I think this goes to show the publics interest in pre-recorded HD content. Naturally several retailers reported better on-hand stock for the more expensive HD-XA1, which retails for the aforementioned $799, which brings me to the real point here.

If Toshiba is easily selling the HD-A1 at $499 but the XA1 at $799 isn’t quite as popular, what could this mean for a player that will retail at $999? That’s right; Sony will have no $499 answer to HD-A1 at launch, Sony’s BDP-S1 Blu-ray player will list for $999.

Obviously we’re still too early in the process to call the eventual winner in the format war but considering the animosity expressed new window for the PS3’s (touted as Blu-ray’s killer-app) announced price, I think we can safely say that price will play a factor here, how big a factor remains to be seen.


Link To Original Article

[Tommy]

What do you think, is the HD-A1 ($499) worth getting now or waiting?

[Sonnie]

It all depends on how bad you want HD DVD right now. I'm waiting on second generation players myself just because I don't want to spend that much now and again in 8-12 months for a better player.

[bobgpsr]

The first gen Toshiba players are built like a tank out of general purpose components. Most of their issues can be fixed with firmware updates to the player and the actual NEC drive. Second gen players will be much cheaper to build and likely faster in operation but a lot more like the build quality of current high volume DVD players. Of course there likely will also be hi end hi def players for over $1500 that are solidly built (I'd like to see very high quality universal players).

Bob

[fibreKid]

There is a review that's worth a read here...

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...06-part-1.html

It looks nice but I'm waiting, I would like a universal player that does HD/blue ray and is an excellent legacy upconverting player. Oh I forgot to mention great audio sacd blah blah blah

=john