DailyTech - Walmart Offers Magnavox Blu-ray Player for $128

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Blog: Gadgets Walmart Offers Magnavox Blu-ray Player for $128
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - November 24, 2008 2:38 PM

29 comment(s) - last by tallcool1.. on Dec 1 at 12:39 PM

Walmart may have the lowest priced Blu-ray player of the season

Earlier in November, a report came from ABI Research that said Blu-ray prices were going to drop this holiday season to woo more consumers to the format. The report suggested that the Blu-ray players would hit prices around $150 to $200.

With Thanksgiving this Thursday, shoppers will be lining up at the doors to stores on Friday for Black Friday deals. One of the best Black Friday deals I have seen so far comes from Walmart. Walmart is offering a full 1080p Blu-ray player from Magnavox for only $128.

You aren’t getting high-end features at that price so forget about DTS HD Master or Dolby TruHD sound like you would get from the PS3 or a higher-end dedicated Blu-ray player. Honestly though, the average consumer doesn't have the hardware needed to decode these HD sound formats, so it's not that big a deal that the player doesn't support it.

What you do get for the budget priced player is HDMI out and the ability to upscale standard DVDs to 1080p resolution. The catch with any Walmart Black Friday deal is that there will be a very limited number of these players offered. If you can't get one of these, Walmart is also offering a Samsung Blu-ray player with the same features for $198.

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w00t

By InvertMe on 11/24/2008 3:39:18 PM , Rating: 2

W00T had this player for $135(I think) plus $5.00 shipping and I saw it on Amazon for $150 shipped. Not really a spectacular deal.

RE: w00t

By Spuke on 11/24/2008 4:14:53 PM , Rating: 2

It's a great deal. Almost as cheap as the HD DVD players last year.

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RE: w00t

By Bender 123 on 11/24/2008 5:47:17 PM , Rating: 2

But at least HD-DVD had the good sense to shut it down after Christmas. As the article stated, most people dont have equipment that can handle the main advantages a Blu-Ray has to offer.

If I squint, I can kinda see a difference in a 37-42 inch screen (My mother and my wife cant tell at all), but not enough to really care. If I had a 60+ inch screen, probably, but those are in the vast minority.

Blu Ray is a great storage medium, but its advantages dont warrant the cost over a $35 upconverting DVD player to most of the Wal Mart crowd.

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RE: w00t

By xphile on 11/24/2008 6:22:09 PM , Rating: 2

Exactly - it isnt the fact the average consumer doesnt have the hardware to decode most of the HD Audio codecs, they dont have the hardware to make use of the HD VIDEO codecs either.

And if you cant afford a 50 inch + screen to be able to get the benefit, then $128 is as good as still $100 overpriced in usefulness terms. So many many people can see no real difference between upscaled dvds and Bluray on monitors under 50 inches.

Id love to see all the manufacturers run consumer tests on 1000 customers each, publish the results and then try and come up with valid arguments why the price difference is worth it. It will be in time sure - when its essentially just replaced the legacy stuff at the legacy pricing. But like the media itself - it is all just overpriced comparative to the benefits returned in true usability terms.

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RE: w00t

By Spuke on 11/24/2008 7:01:03 PM , Rating: 2

I'm not really speaking for the masses, just myself and $130 is cheap for a Bluray player.

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RE: w00t

By InvertMe on 11/25/2008 11:03:25 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
I'm not really speaking for the masses, just myself and $130 is cheap for a Bluray player.

Concidering you can buy this player for only a few dollars more without the chaos of black Friday - it's not a good deal. At least IMO.

I would rather sit back in my chair and after a few clicks of the keyboard/mouse have this on it's way to my house rather than wake up at 4am and fight hordes of people for the chance to buy one at the retail store on BF.

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RE: w00t

By geddarkstorm on 11/25/2008 2:00:16 AM , Rating: 2

Whhhaaatt? What is this crazy talk I hear? Have you gotten the luck to compared upscaled DVDs and blu-ray back to back on the same TV? I own a 32-inch 1080i specter LCD TV, and there is no comparison, blu-ray blows DVDs out of the water like no tomorrow. I used to use a dedicated LG upconverter, but now use a PS3 (which is a /way/ better upconverter than the LG was), and still, the difference is light and day, no squinting required at all.

Seriously, where do you guys come up with these ideas that there is no difference? I don't even have that good of eyes either and it's a "wow, amazing" of a difference. I don't say this because I like Blu-Ray, HD-DVD is the exact same deal. There is no contest between HD media and DVDs, I'm sorry to break it to ya, even on small TVs.

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RE: w00t

By Bender 123 on 11/25/2008 12:26:29 PM , Rating: 2

I use an Oppo w/Fujiroda upscaling and the thing is fantastic. I can tell the difference between the two, just not enough to warrant the extra cash.

The problem with adoption between VHS to DVD and DVD to BD is that the average consumer doesnt know/doesnt care. The difference between VHS going to DVD was much more obvious and offered other benefits, like smaller, wont rip, much better quality, etc...

The average person that does not read DT or other tech sites wont be able to tell the difference and thus, not care. The 128 price is good, but Joe six pack still thinks it is overpriced compared to the Magnetbox or Sorny (Sorry...Simpsons reference) knock sitting under the DVD that does a good enough job.

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RE: w00t

By whiskerwill on 11/28/2008 10:10:55 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
I can tell the difference between the two, just not enough to warrant the extra cash.

Same here. I buy Blu for the occasional action movie that really warrants it, but otherwise upscaled DVD is just fine by me.

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RE: w00t

By someguy123 on 11/24/2008 7:05:38 PM , Rating: 2

it depends on the quality of the tv. on my 42" bravia, upscaled compared to 1080p is a pretty substantial difference. upscaled video looks smudged, and isn't nearly as smooth as bluray videos. I can notice the difference with one look, and I'm not really a videophile.

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RE: w00t

By Screwballl on 11/25/2008 3:44:41 PM , Rating: 2

That is a Bravia problem... my parents have one as well and they have the same problem.
Yet the Vizio and a few others I have seen have zero problems.

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RE: w00t

By kkwst2 on 11/27/2008 12:46:13 PM , Rating: 2

What? That makes no sense. I'm pretty sure they're talking about the upscaling being done by the DVD player, so how would this be a Bravia problem?

Anyway, I have a 42" 480p plasma and I can tell a significant difference between a DVD and an HD-DVD, which is what I have. The notion that there is not a significant difference is just silly.

Whether you care or not is of course subjective. Maybe DVD is good enough for most people. I can absolutely tell the difference, and it's not only on larger or even 1080p TV's. High resolution content downscaled to 480p will look significantly better than most regular DVD's. I'm not sure if it has to do with the difference in compression tech used or what, but the difference is not that subtle.

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RE: w00t

By SoylentG on 11/28/2008 1:07:30 AM , Rating: 2

The difference between Blu ray and DVD is noticable on a 1080p TV 40 inches or higher, if you've got the appropriate tv for your viewing distance. Sure, if you've got a 37" tv and you're sitting 12 feet away, you're not going to notice the difference in quality.

That's not to say that everyone should get Blu-Ray, but it just pains me to see people blather on about how much Blu-Ray is unneccesary because they can't tell a difference on their crappy tv, or because their friends neighbors cousin's dog said they can't tell the difference. Personally, I find that most people under the age of 20 can tell the difference between Blu Ray and DVD even on EDTVs 32" or smaller. Sight naturally deteriorates with age, and you can look at it one of two ways. Either you can't see all the details, so you want the things you can see to look their best, or you can't see much, and you want to save money.

TLDR: Save the anti-blu propaganda, just say you don't like it. Lots of us can tell the difference, and $128 is a steal (although if you're buying a tv 40 inches or bigger, you can get a samsung at sears for $150 as a combo...) for Blu.

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RE: w00t

By troublesome08 on 11/24/2008 10:26:24 PM , Rating: 2

Maybe there are a lot of people who can't tell, but most people I show Blu-Ray to are blown away by the picture quality. It could also be the particular video you're watching as well because I HAVE seen some bad transfers that really didn't look that good at all, but for the most part, Blu-Ray>Upscaled DVD any day, especially if you're watching something like Planet Earth or even some of those new computer animated films.

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RE: w00t

By Chaser on 11/25/2008 10:31:53 AM , Rating: 2

Wow. They've been quieter but they never fade away.

I find it amusing how one person's view represents the purchasing habits of all other Walmart shoppers in the world.

In case you haven't noticed Blue Ray is beginning to become a household word in particular on the TV screens from DVD movie release trailers, more advertising, shelf space at B/M video shops etc.

Blockbuster videos, Netflix selections are growing with Blue Ray choices. Just about every movie being released today is available on conventional DVD and "high def".

In 2009 the U.S. is going digital. which also helps to push along the "high def" age. Walmarts today are advertising heavily on their HDTV selections and pricing advantages compared to the traditional outlets.

Obviously Walmart made a business decision. How about we see how well they do before we predict that everyone will shop like you do? Give some shoppers the benefit of the doubt. They can get high def its not all that hard anymore. Walmart seems to think so. I don't think Walmart Blue Ray, cable TV companies and HDTV manfacturers in other words this market is going to sing songs of praise of the incredible advantages of upconverting. Sorry.

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RE: w00t

By Spyvie on 12/1/2008 1:56:06 AM , Rating: 2

The Woot! player was actually a Memorex.

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Ironic

By rudy on 11/25/2008 1:29:50 AM , Rating: 2

I stopped caring a long time ago but I find it ironic that the best they can do now is $128? Proof that we would be in much better position today if HD DVD was still in the market. Once sony got the monopoly you knew that price breaks would end.

RE: Ironic

By djc208 on 11/25/2008 7:05:21 AM , Rating: 2

$128 is a good price. I was in the HD-DVD camp and got one of the $100 players and the $50 XBox drive. But even those were last gasp efforts to save themselves or unload product before they gave up.

The problem is that this price is a much more limited promotion on a low end item. If this is the same one I've seen at Sam's club it's only profile 1.1 capable. So you're missing out on more than just some HD audio most can't use, but for $128 bucks I could live with it too. It's the crowds that will keep me away.

This was my problem with BD to begin with. They weren't competitive out of the gate. Naturally they don't say much about the profiles. I had to search all over the box to find which profile it supported. But hundreds of people are going to pop in some new BD disk one day and wonder why their player won't do some of the nifty features on their $50 super-ultra-mega version of the movie.

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RE: Ironic

By bighairycamel on 11/25/2008 10:20:22 AM , Rating: 1

I shouldn't even dignify this with a response but I'll bite...

For about the 1,343,653rd time... SONY != BLURAY for the love of god.

http://www.blu-ray.com/info/

The format was a developed by an association of more than 15 companies... only 1 of which was sony. Since when goes 1/15 = monopoly???

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RE: Ironic

By djc208 on 11/25/2008 11:59:59 AM , Rating: 2

True, but I do find it strange that the $300 PS3 (which is supposed to be profitable now) is still one of the cheapest 2.0 capable BD players out there. Sony may not be alone but they were definitaly the biggest winner in the deal.

You know something is off when a powerful multi-functional videogame system/computer is cheaper than a dedicated device. Most of the newer Version 2.0 capable BD players hitting the market are within spitting distance of the PS3.

While I don't need a PS3 and prefer the better integration the stand-alone will provide, even I wouldn't bother with a $299 Samsung over a more capable $300 PS3.

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RE: Ironic

By masher2

(blog) on 11/25/2008 12:57:04 PM , Rating: 2

> "The format was a developed by an association of more than 15 companies... only 1 of which was sony. Since when goes 1/15 = monopoly???..."

Sony heads the Blu Ray consortium, owns the lion's share of the IP, as well as most of the studios which initially spearheaded adoption. And Sony's PS3 was by far the dominant factor in the rise of BD.

Equating Sony to Blu Ray is not 100% correct, no. . . but it's not that far off base.

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RE: Ironic

By bighairycamel on 11/25/2008 2:36:20 PM , Rating: 2

But my statement is still correct. People like to speak in absolutes, and even though Sony played a large part, they aren't the sole patent owners. Just because PS3 made the format popular does not mean that they represent the format. And using the word "monopoly" implies exactly the opposite.

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RE: Ironic

By theflux on 11/25/2008 2:58:38 PM , Rating: 2

Actually I believe Panasonic has a larger stake in the IP pool than Sony.

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RE: Ironic

By Chaser on 11/25/2008 10:54:01 AM , Rating: 2

Oh the travesty. Had HD DVD been alive today this BR player would be going for $70.00 I guess. HD DVD tried the low price war, we see what that got them.

A $128.00 blue Ray player? Thats pretty cheap. And HD DVD had nothing to do with it did it?

You might look around and find a laser disk player for $15.00

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RE: Ironic

By wordsworm on 11/28/2008 8:13:46 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
if HD DVD was still in the market. Once sony got the monopoly you knew that price breaks would end.

What monopoly are you talking about? Sony does not exclusively own Blu-Ray. It is just one of many companies, including Phillips.

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It is still not worth it

By Staples on 11/25/2008 1:36:34 PM , Rating: 2

Even if the player was free.

The important issue here and the one no one seems to care about is the price of the movies. They are still outrageously priced. I want to see Blu Ray sucessed but unitil the prices of the movies come down to $20 max for a new movie, I will stay unintrested.

RE: It is still not worth it

By mmntech on 11/25/2008 1:49:46 PM , Rating: 3

I remember when DVDs were that price. People easily forget that. A Sony DVD player could still run $200+ in 1999, which was when we got our first one. The discs regularly sold for $25-$30. DVD was first made available in 1996.

Still, Blu-ray prices do not match supply and demand. The discs themselves will need a price cut to stimulate sales if the format ever wants to become competitive. People were quick to jump on DVD because it had huge, obvious advantages over VHS. That's not the case with BD over DVD, especially with cheap upconverting players now available.

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RE: It is still not worth it

By SoylentG on 11/28/2008 1:15:20 AM , Rating: 2

Really now?

Wal-E at Wal-mart (yes, funny.) was 19.48 for the new movie on Blu-Ray. The Hulk right now on Blu ray is $26.83 on Deep Discount and there's always a 25% coupon and free shipping. That makes $20.13.

Being ignorant and making posts on the internet is fun.
Care to eat some humble pie or what? Know the facts.

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HD-DVD FTW! (LOL)

By tallcool1 on 12/1/2008 12:39:24 PM , Rating: 2

I just have to laugh about some comments from last year when the whole HD war was heated up...

quote:
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 8/21/2007 8:10:12 AM , Rating: 2
I hope your willing to pay up as Transformers will never be on Blu-Ray, anything to the contrary is wishful thinking.

Available on Blu-Ray.

quote:

By Master Kenobi (blog) on 8/21/2007 7:14:37 AM , Rating: 2
Remember those words when more studio's switch to HD DVD exclusive.

Studios have switched to Blu-Ray instead.

quote:

By Master Kenobi (blog) on 8/20/2007 6:29:34 PM , Rating: 1
Transformers will be absolutely sexy in high def. I just bought an HD-A20 last week... and now this... haha theres a gamble that paid off quite well.
Side note... HD DVD FTW!

Gamble did not pay off... LOL

Just got to love the irony...