HD DVD set-top player $99 sales moves units
NOV. 6 | The HD DVD format significantly pumped its installed base over the weekend, as dueling store clearances sold an estimated 90,000 Toshiba players, according to sources close to retailers.
Store sources also note that the $100 price drop on the 80GB PlayStation 3 to $499, plus the Nov. 2 bow of the $399 40GB PlayStation 3, has significantly improved the sales of the console, which has been lagging behind Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii.
Hastings Entertainment reports PlayStation 3 sales over the past 30 days have doubled over the console’s average weekly sales prior to the changes.
“We’ll take double sales anytime,” said Allen Smith, Hastings senior category manager for interactive gaming. The $399 PS3 “is now the cheapest Blu-ray player in the market. There is more excitement around Blu-ray. It’s probably [because of] the promotional environment [of new products]. And that is picking things up a bit.”
That tally covers Friday to Sunday sales of Toshiba’s second-generation HD-A2 model, which Wal-Mart and Best Buy sold for about $99 on Nov. 2. That’s $200 less than Toshiba’s $299 list price and $100 off widespread retail pricing of $199.
The $99 players made up most of the 90,000 units sold, a source said.
Within three days, Toshiba corralled nearly as many sales as the best-selling stand-alone Blu-ray Disc player has sold since its launch. Sony’s dominant Blu-ray set-top, the $499 BDP-S300, has shipped about 100,000 since it bowed this summer.
In that weekend frame, the huge retail sales fattened Toshiba HD DVD penetration by at least 35%, as DisplaySearch estimates that 256,000 Toshiba set-top players have sold through July.
However, the Blu-ray format still retains the largest overall installation base, due largely to the millions of PlayStation 3 hardware sold.
In fact, the 90,000 figure for HD-A2 sales could be even higher, as it doesn’t appear to include all retailer information. The figure does span consumer activity on HD-A2s at Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Circuit City, among others.
However, the Blu-ray format still retains the largest overall installation base, due largely to the millions of PS3 hardware sold.
Best Buy also shaved $100 off Toshiba’s $299 third-generation player, the HD-A3, Friday through Sunday. At deadline, a Best Buy spokesman did not provide updated sales on the HD-A3.
Toshiba and the HD DVD Promotional Group also declined comment.
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| Submitted by: | Matt 11/7/2007 3:53:59 PM PT |
| Location: | Colorado |
| Occupation: | IT |
Glenn must be a Sony executive. He proves that by saying that consumers are stupid. That's definitely Sony thinking right there.
| Submitted by: | andrew gagne 11/7/2007 8:20:50 AM PT |
| Location: | CT |
| Occupation: | software developer/super TV watcher |
BOoooo for glenn... Hey dumbass... 1080P is the highest it goes... BTW, you blu-ray fanboy, most movies are shot in 720P... Only movies known to date that are shot in 1080P are the star wars prequels... Unless you have the sharpest eyes known to mankind, you will not see a difference in 1080P or 1080i... and $99 for a DVD player that was originally shipped at $599 or something like that, is one hell of a deal...
| Submitted by: | Mike 11/7/2007 8:10:42 AM PT |
| Location: | Connecticut |
| Occupation: | Computer Tech |
1080i = 1080p on a 1080p tv that doesn't do 24hz. 1080i will look EXACTLY the same as 1080p on 90%+ of the current 1080p tvs. Its because you need to interlace the 1080p signal to 1080i so you can do the 3:2 pulldown required for 60hz tvs, thne back to 1080p in the tv. Even the 24hz tvs(120hz popular),the real benefit is smoothness of motion due to the lack of having to add extra frames, not so much better clarity.
| Submitted by: | Ryan 11/7/2007 7:14:29 AM PT |
| Location: | Iowa |
| Occupation: | IT |
Glenn is an idiot. Period. Both me and a friend have ahd this player since release with no problems what so ever. Get a clue, and move on.
| Submitted by: | Walt 11/7/2007 6:53:09 AM PT |
| Location: | America |
| Occupation: | Design Engineer |
HD DVD players do 1080p too. Matter of fact, mine does 1080p/60 and 1080p/24. Howard forums is not shut down. Lies, repeated, are still lies.
| Submitted by: | Bob Yentililly 11/7/2007 5:51:51 AM PT |
| Location: | NY |
| Occupation: | Sys Ad |
Glen is about as bright as my cat. If you don't like the system, don't buy it. You are basically a moron and true idiot in the sense of stupid... oh, and how old are you? 12 or 13?
| Submitted by: | Glenn 11/7/2007 5:38:15 AM PT |
| Location: | PA |
| Occupation: | IT |
Consumers are stupid, HD-DVD at 99.99 not only is the system a POS, but its not even TRUE Hi-DEF Capable. 1080i look since im sure but doesn't my local cable provider do this also? If Im looking for TRUE-HD to go with my TRUE 1080p or Higher TV's I'm sure not getting this thing. Blu-Ray is better.
| Submitted by: | Robert (bobgpsr@aol.com) 11/6/2007 8:04:49 PM PT |
| Location: | Iowa |
| Occupation: | sw engineer |
In other news today at 6 PST, the AVS Forum had to shut down their BD and HD DVD Forum sections till Nov 8th due to too much fighting amongst hi def format war partisans. Silly but sad. :(
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