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Wal-Mart's Secret In-Store Specials ad
Wal-Mart to sell HD DVD player for $98 this Friday

Just as the market was getting used to the idea of a sub-$200 HD DVD player, the looming promise of crazy sales for this holiday season has driven high-definition movie hardware at levels never thought possible.

Believe it or not Wal-Mart is advertising that it will sell the Toshiba HD-A2 this Friday for $98.87. The holiday-themed ad calls the sale this Friday the “Secret In-Store Specials.” The Toshiba HD-A2 is asterisked with the notes saying that the product may not be available in all stores and that it will be while quantities last – suggesting that there could be a limited number set aside as a “doorcrasher” item.

The third-generation Toshiba HD-A3 will also be soon selling at $169.99 at Sears during its Black Friday sale, according to blackfriday.info. The player currently sells for $299.99.

Although Blu-ray Disc software is outselling that of HD DVD, the hardware entry price point is clearly in HD DVD’s favor. Retailers sensitive to the pricing of its electronics products appear to be siding with the lower cost of HD DVD machinery.

Wal-Mart was one of the first retailers to reveal its plans to carry Toshiba’s entry-level HD DVD player at $198. Just days after Wal-Mart’s reveal, Circuit City and Amazon.com priced the HD-A2 on their respective websites for $197.99.

Also notable in Wal-Mart's Friday ad is the Sanyo 50-inch plasma HDTV, which will fit nicely as this holiday's most wanted gift. Those looking to jump straight into high-definition content will find quite the bargain with Wal-Mart's TV and HD DVD player combo at the end of this week.


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wouldn't you...
By Gul Westfale on 11/1/2007 8:57:05 AM , Rating: 2
... be pissed if you bought your player 3 months ago for the low low price of 400+ bucks?




RE: wouldn't you...
By Griswold on 11/1/2007 9:08:04 AM , Rating: 2
Can you say "History is repeating itself over and over and over again"?

I learned my lesson way back in the day when DVD was the hottest and most expensive thing on the block. :]


RE: wouldn't you...
By theapparition on 11/2/2007 8:39:11 AM , Rating: 2
There will always be something better around the corner for less money. When do you want to stop waiting?

For me, I stopped waiting last year and bought a HD-XA2 and Pioneer BR-player.
I also bought a HD-A30 last week, for the "low" price of 300. Also went ahead and bought the HD-A2 today for the bedroom. $98, can't go wrong!


RE: wouldn't you...
By MADAOO7 on 11/3/2007 8:03:35 PM , Rating: 2
My god man, what do you need four HD players for? Regardless of how much expendable income you may have, I can't imagine you have four tv's, four surround sound systems, and four sets of sofas to enjoy these purchases.....


RE: wouldn't you...
By theapparition on 11/3/2007 9:10:23 PM , Rating: 2
If you really must know, I have a home theater media room with over 100" screen from a 1080p projector. Both the HD-XA2 and the Pioneer Elite are in that room. The family room TV is a Samsung 71" 1080p DLP, which also gets the most viewing. I opted a week ago to purchase a HD-A30. With the walmart deal, I added one to our bedroom HDTV. In total, we have 6 HDTVs in the house, with DVD players attached to all. I don't think it a stretch in the future for them all to be combo units.


RE: wouldn't you...
By ebakke on 11/4/2007 5:29:29 PM , Rating: 2
sick


RE: wouldn't you...
By Spuke on 11/6/2007 2:23:14 PM , Rating: 2
Nice setup!


RE: wouldn't you...
By tigen on 11/6/2007 6:10:26 PM , Rating: 2
You must really love sitting around watching TVs.


RE: wouldn't you...
By 3kliksphilip on 11/10/2007 3:02:00 PM , Rating: 2
...Well I have a 15" LCD screen with 16 ms response and tinny built in speakers which my parents managed to find for £200. Beat that.


RE: wouldn't you...
By Locutus465 on 11/1/2007 10:10:44 AM , Rating: 5
Perhaps HD-DVD customers are smarter than iPhone customers and understand the consequences of being an "early adopter"? ;)


RE: wouldn't you...
By Kanti on 11/1/2007 1:31:07 PM , Rating: 5
Not likely.


RE: wouldn't you...
By therealnickdanger on 11/2/2007 8:50:03 AM , Rating: 2
Without early adopters, there would be nothing for the mass market to purchase.


RE: wouldn't you...
By Locutus465 on 11/2/2007 5:32:50 PM , Rating: 2
True, but if you want the best value for the dollar then you should not consider being an early adopter should you?


RE: wouldn't you...
By Anh Huynh on 11/1/2007 10:30:04 AM , Rating: 5
I paid $400 back in May for my HD-A2. I also received a $50 Best Buy gift card, 5 free movies instantly in store ($125) and 5 free movies by mail.

Considering the amount of movies I've purchased and able to enjoy since May, the difference doesn't bother me. You can keep waiting, prices will keep dropping, doesn't mean I get any less enjoyment out of it.

No regrets here, since I have like 70 movies.


RE: wouldn't you...
By Gul Westfale on 11/1/2007 11:06:54 AM , Rating: 3
i will keep waiting, for a combo drive for my PC.


RE: wouldn't you...
By mikefarinha on 11/1/2007 12:27:40 PM , Rating: 3
Why wait?
4MB Cache SATA Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner
$299.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...


RE: wouldn't you...
By Gul Westfale on 11/1/2007 3:36:56 PM , Rating: 2
nice find man, i'll definitely look into it! last time i checked at my local store they still had blu-only drives for 600 bucks.


RE: wouldn't you...
By mikefarinha on 11/1/2007 3:58:07 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah I was surprised when I saw this too.... I think it was just released a day or two ago.


RE: wouldn't you...
By Samus on 11/1/2007 6:33:30 PM , Rating: 2
The LG MultiCombo has been out for a few months. You can find it for $260-$270, look in the AT Forums, people seem to like it.


RE: wouldn't you...
By Anonymous Freak on 11/1/2007 11:43:04 PM , Rating: 2
Those are likely Blu-Ray [i]burners[/i].

This is a Blu-Ray and HD DVD [i]reader[/i] with [i]DVD/CD[/i] burner. It's the new "Combo" drive.

Yeah, Blu-Ray burners are still expensive, and HD DVD burners are vaporware. (Apparently there are a few out there, but I have yet to see one.)


RE: wouldn't you...
By Alexstarfire on 11/1/2007 6:26:14 PM , Rating: 1
Too bad it can't burn. I don't see the point of getting one for my computer if it can't burn. It's not like my computer monitor is bigger than my TV.