Best Buy Replaces Backordered $99 Toshiba HD-A2s with HD-A3s

Given that the HD-A2 is now discontinued, one would have expected that Best Buy would just cancel all of the orders and be done with it -- but they would be wrong. Best Buy instead is replacing all backordered HD-A2 players with the new third-generation HD-A3 which retails for $299.99.

[Bigmac573]

Selling their players for $99? Smells like desperation.

[IdontTakeSides]

I agree 100% Toshiba is desperate...they had to bribe a company to support there format..nothing else spells desperation like that tatic..!!

[TheMART]

well if it takes that to have the mass to prefer HD-DVD over BluRay and become market leader, who cares?

The more expensive format mostly fails. *thinks back to Betamax from... Sony..*

[Salvadore]

If they can attract the massmarket, then I dont see any problem with that.

[Bibto]

Yes, the mass market will buy this, but what will it actually achieve? Blu-ray still has the most studio support. There will be a lot of people with HD-DVD players, but no movies to watch. I don't understand why people are still buying HD-DVD. Sure, the players are cheap now, but what's the point?

[CyberSentinel]

They should of done it sooner.

Take Note M$:

199.99 Arcade
299.99 Premium
399.99 Elite

[ngg12345]

But the discs cost more. There is no reason, logically why some companies will choose a more expensive disc cost (hd-dvd costs around 5 cents more per a disc), and a smaller amount of owners compared to blu-ray owners is the reason why blu-ray wins. Regardless of the cost for a 'blu ray player'. Betamax was worse for having more expensive discs.

[sonarus]

TOSHIBA IS DESPERATE. Disagree as much as you want it wnt change that fact. This 99 dollars is essentially a clearance sale. They are getting pummeled by blu ray and they are loosing support. This move will help them but considering how much they will lose selling at this price and in the long run after prices fall back there goes their sales spike. Toshiba is doing a good job selling their player at 200 is ultimately the right move but this 99 dollars is nothing but desperation in a couple of months when it is clear hd-dvd is winning i wonder how much those 99 dollar players will go for on ebay.

[kewlkat007]

to Mass market the product...

I can easily take your Paragraph and insert "Sony" and get the same argument. CLEARENCE/DESPERATION SALE whatever you wanna call it, when sh^t is not selling.

Whats important here is word of the mouth and knowing how Walmart and other top retailers are, if people start buying like hot Muffins, you might get Studios forced into changing their strategy.

Thats what competition and Low prices and top retailers do.

[lawman1108]

You can't go and order the A2 now, they are gone. IF you were able to order the A2 on line AFTER they sold out THEN they replace the A2 with an A3. Also, Best Buy and Circuit City are selling the A3 for $199 @ Best Buy you get 9 HD dvds free(2 in box 5 mail in and 2 more in store) and @ Circuit City you get the 2 in box and 5 mail in.

[Ju]

Well, I just got the A2 on Friday from Walmart. But so far I am less then impressed if at all. In all fairness I have to add, that I have a PS3 and usually watch what I can on BD. So my main reason to buy it was to get the rest on HD-DVD what I can't get on BD. I was hoping, instead of the need to watch upconverted DVDs on the PS3 I might get them on HD-DVD and watch it there. But, the first sobering hit me when I wanted to change all my DVD rentals to HD DVDs. Well, I only could change one. Nothing else was available (which I hadn't had on BD before). OK, so I went out today looking for movies I could get somewhere. First, there's not much out there I am interested in. I have "Next" on my abo (so I didn't get that) but they cost $30. Well, nah, I better rent them. So went over to Blockbuster. Well, sure, we know they moved to BD, but my Blockbuster still has a small shelf with HD-DVDs. Yeah, right. Small. Not much available. But I got Transformers (and another one, just to make me believe I have a "library"). That's all fine, I think Transformers will be great (haven't watched it yet, just snooped in). But then, that thing (the player) is so dog slow. What's wrong with that ? It looks exactly like all my BD movies on the PS3, just 5 times slower. The menu takes forever to appear. That thing needs to boot, scanning a disk takes forever. All menu action behaves like it has breaks on. Well, I got the feeling to regret my purchase. Well, I'm telling myself it was just $98, so not a big loss. But the impression I get when I am trying to get a movie is, thats a clearance sale, not a new exciting product. Sorry, just my impression. HD-DVD only owner might paint a different picture, but for me it was pretty disapointing. And I really didn't expect that. Sorry to say (I know, you'll declare me as a PS3 fanboy. Go ahead, won't take that feeling away from me, though).

[GunPants]

Selling their ps3 for $399? Smells like desperation. ^^at bigmac

[cooke15]

Nintendo must be desparate for having the lowest priced console too /sarcasm

[Omegasyde]

because clearly the Wii can produce the same caliber of graphics and sound of the 360 and the PS3. I can't wait for the GTA, RE5, SKATE,Unreal tournament, devil may cry 4 on the wii!!!!!!

*wait a second, O I forgot the Wii can't compare in that graphical aspect can't run those games.

-Get out of here douche.

[lawman1108]

A.ss

[Ju]

Why do you even bring Nintendo in here ? They don't even play DVDs.

[Salvadore]

Once they have attracted the mass market, HD-DVD will still survive for a bit longer and movie studios might see an opportunity to roll in some more profit (i.e to go neutral and support both formats).

[Bibto]

But I don't see Fox or Disney going neutral any time soon. They seem to be putting their bets on Blu-ray. Sony wil definitely not go neutral. So that leaves Warner. I don't really mind which format wins. The only reason I care is because I will own a PS3 (soon), so I'm set for Blu-ray. HD-DVD wil require me to spend more money.

I could even see them co-exist if they both had the same studio support, but that won't happen. This war was good while it lasted, but you feel it has to come to an end sooner or later if we want to have high-def at all. This move by Toshiba is just prolonging the inevitable.

[LoydX-mas]

(other than Sony studios)The studios will eventually support whichever format the masses adopt. And sorry to say but there are far more people that watch just movies than play games. Meaning, the PS3 is keeping Blu-ray in the lead right now, but at $399 vs. $99-$169 for a new player, which one will J6P choose?

Besides, Disney may be Blu right now, but they are on the DVD forum and they have ALWAYS abstained from voting on HD-DVD related votes.
However, in Sept. they weren't silent and voted FOR the new 51gig HD discs AND the new triple-layer twin format HD-DVD.....hmmmmmm:)

[ArmrdChaos]

Fox and/or Disney will do what the consumers dictate. They both make their money from us and if this hardware sells enough they will have no choice but to support it.

As far as the usual "Toshiba is prolonging the inevitable"...should Apple and Linux just role over and quit? I mean Microsoft pretty much owns the majority of operating systems so should we just give it all to them? Welcome to the business world.

And then we have the usual "they are desperate" statement. This what most say when they have nothing else they can say. Right now they are both trying to get people to upgrade. A lower price creates less risk and increases the chance of people making some kind of choice. Do you think that if Blu-ray was actually able to get their price levels that low they wouldn't do it? They are just using two different approaches...Sony is attacking via media and Toshiba is attacking via hardware.

And then there is the final rally cry "it's not 1080P". I guess we will have to wait and see after the holiday season how much that really matters to the MAJORITY of consumers that have not bought yet. For those that either do not have the equipment yet or money to get the best then it won't matter for them.

EDIT: Thanks much Doja...back at you.

[sticky doja]

Bubble to you for such an intelligent post.

[Bibto]

Don't get me wrong. I support both formats. I simply prefer Blu-ray at the moment because the PS3 can play them. My concern is that I don't see the two formats living together in harmony. It seems to be an all or nothing situation. Therefore, a lot of people are going to be very angry when one format finally wins, since they would have to re-buy their movies. I think it would be best for the consumer if this ends sooner rather than later.

And no, I don't expect Toshiba to just roll over and quit. They have fought an honorable battle and deserve a death equally so. I'm thinking more along the lines of seppuku.

[OOG FunK]

cooooooooooooooooooooo

[demolitionX]

yes who don't even own an HD TV!!!! let u know, HD DVD will fail big time as those masses you're talking about will still watch DVDs on that $99 piece of hardware.
see u after Christmas when HDDVD campaign get crushed...

[cooke15]

From a consumer standpoint they can buy a good upconverter dvd player for 99 dollars or a hd player that upconverts for the same price.. hmm i wonder what people will pick.. lol

[Omegasyde]

Upconverted DVD's don't even run at 720p let alone they are poorly done.

HD DVD & Blu ray disc > "upconverted" disc in any player.

[jackdoe]

So, wait, you order an HD-A2, it runs out, then best buy adds $200 to your order for the HD-A3?

[specialmag]

No, Bestbuy sells the A3 for 99$ even though it usually retails for 299$.

[Ju]

Hm, I cannot read in their offer, where they clearly (!) state, that the "upgraded order" is still available at the original $99. There is no reference to the price what so ever. I wouldn't be surprised, if they'll charge the full price later for the A3. Statements like "There is no need for you to do anything to receive this upgraded model." and "If you are not interested in receiving the Toshiba HD-A3 as a replacement for the discontinued HD-A2, you may return the unopened item to your nearest Best Buy store" are suspicious to me. We'll see how that ends.

[cow moolester]

Sony and the BDA bought 25% of MGM just to have enough power to make their Movie Library Blu-Ray exclusive...both sides have resorted to shady tactics to win this war

[Cherchez La Ghost]

It's kinda funny calling this an act of desperation of a "Dead Format". Yet you fanboys saying 1080i is not "TRUE HD", but all HD broadcast (HBO, Showtime, Fox, NBC, CBS, etc.) are in 1080i. But these 1080i players are sold out everywhere. Another thing is funny that Hollywood dosen't care for a "Video Game Console" numbers for a Hi-Def player. So the PS3 & 360 are worth "Jack Sh1t" as a number. They are game consoles first, then a (optional) movie player second. Despite the fact of the 2-to-1 ratio of software sales, the move to "kill" HD-DVD has not taken place yet. Also, there are more 480p/720p/1080i HDTv's over 1080p HDTV's in people's homes.

[DJ]

The reason broadcast companies don't send 1080p signals over the air is because it is twice the resolution per frame of 720p and 1080i, and thus requires twice the amount of bandwidth (and thus licensing fee).

720p and 1080i still count as HD (though lower HD) and every HDTV supports these resolutions so it makes sense for them to do so. The majority of HDTVs being sold on the market are 1080p though, and consumers are demanding 1080p because of the superior visual quality (and the fact that HD movies are 1080p as well).

[Martini]

Do some research Dj before you say "majority of TV's sold are 1080P". That is not the case as most people buys cheaper to mid range 1080i TV's.
Wonder why ? walk into a store and look at a Sceptre 42" komodo for $900 next to a $2300 42" Sharp aquos that are side by side and after starring at the TV's for 5 min tell me if you can justify paying $1400 more for picture difference so small you are not even sure if it is different or you want it to be different because it is sooo much more expensive.

[Omegasyde]

MArtiniO i could tell the difference since 1080i has a blurry effect when the frames are running. 1080p does not do that.

1080i and 1080p would be the same if it was a STILL IMAGE. In motion it is a different story. So in reality you are the one who needs to do your homework.

[Omegasyde]

Double post :)

[DJ]

and set my PS3 on 720p because I can't stand the screen-tearing effect of 1080i. Progressive is far more superior to interlaced, and it's pretty obvious why. Full frame of visual data versus half a frame at any given moment.

Kind of jealous since my stepdad's 1080p looks amazing, and he knows it.

[sticky doja]

"The majority of HDTVs being sold on the market are 1080p though, and consumers are demanding 1080p"

No, its 720p/1080i that are selling the most by far. You wanna know why? Because their are no 1080p tv's even close to $1,000, and broadcast tv won't be 1080p for at least another 2 years (probably closer to 5 years) so why spend at a minimum $1500 on a 1080p tv today when in 5 years it will be $700 or less?

Oh and not every hdtv supports 1080i.

[Martini]

@OMEGASIDE
What you are talking about is ghosting and that depends on a lot of other things too, not just interlaced/progressive. At the end you have to decide for yourself - I tried to see a difference between 720 progressive and 1080 interlaced and failed to see or notice the ghosting / blur some people talk about when in motion in 1080i. It has been stated before by professionals that the difference between 1080i and 1080p to a human eye is negligible.

[Ju]

I'd ask you guys, how many of you do have HD channels and/or an HD disk player ? I do have about 15 HD Channels and a BD and a HD-DVD player. I have a 720p TV, which can handle a 1080i and p signal. I run my equipment at 1080i (setop box, PS3 and HD-DVD player). While there might be a slight tearing effect, I cannot really see a big difference between 720p or 1080p for that matter (well, as I said, it downconverts to 720p anyway). My 1080i signal is sharper then my 1080p signal, that's the main reason I am running 1080i. I was playing Ratchet at 1080i and could see any screen tearing, it actually looks sharper then the game in 720p (which is amazing and surprising at the same time).

Then, do not compare any HD broadcast channels to a disk media, please. Due to the bandwidth limits on the channels, the signal is not just a lower resolution, but the used compression is pure crap compared to BD or HD-DVD. It doesn't really matter if i or p, because in fast movements, the decompressor is produces "decoder artifacts". So, if you really want to enjoy movies, you should go to the max you can get. And that is 1080p. Mine isn't because I bought it last year. But the same, better model is available at the same price as mine, and has a full 1080p resolution this holiday season.

[Monkeynator]

Hollywood cares if it makes them money. So if your game console is used by enough people that buy HD videos then they care. It's all about money.

[WEWdeadeye]

Since clearly some of you do not know what you are talking about, I will let you guys in on a little secret. 1080p makes absolutely NO difference for movies, since they all run at 24fps. 1080p is only good if the media in question is running at 60fps, because then you see all 60fps in a single pass. 1080i renders only 30 frames each pass, but guess what, movies are 24fps, so what does that mean? 1080i.p render the same amount of data on screen at the SAME time. So until movies are recorded in more than 30fps, 1080p makes no difference on the television. If you say you can see the difference, either you have fooled yourself, or you are lying.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

DVD RuLZ

[MrWonderful]

and im sure alot of people will by the same movie on dvd just to save money because they dont want to pay $25-$30 for the same thing. And on top of that they most likely dont own a hdtv

[Martini]

Yeah allright so the peeps that don't care about high - def that don't have a HDTV are all over this $99 deal for HDDVD player - right buddy you are making a lot of sense there. (sarkasm)

[whoelse]

Cheap for a reason because its the failing format. Just like the dreamcast, gamecube, xbox...

[LoydX-mas]

The fact that Blu-ray sells at 1.5:1 ratio to HD-DVD with 6 times the available players I believe shoots your theory down.

Plus,by your standards, shouldn't the PS3 be in your list too. I mean Sony just keeps dropping the price of that thing all the time while also taking OUT alot of its features.

[Stormflood]

I own a PS3, but would love a HD-DVD player too. Problem is that the cheapest HD-DVD player over here is the HD-E1 selling for £179.99 (374 USD).

Desperation? I don't care, this is why competition is good, and I want Toshiba to get 'desperate' in the UK :)

[rofldings]

Toshiba doesn't even try outside of NA anymore ... HD-DVD is a dead format outside the United States/Canada. Blu-ray has already won in Europe/Japan.

[Naruto]

sony took two thing hdmi ports and PS2 BC on the 40 gb so two features = A LOT?

2) blueray outsells HD-DVD 2-1

3) HD-DVD for $99 is not Pernament

$) HD-DVD players WAS ALWAYS CHEAPER THAN BLUE-RAY

[specialmag]

They removed 2 usb ports and memory cards slots. It still has 1 hdmi connection just like the 80gb PS3.

[ichimaru]

^^^^^^^^^^ actually DVD HAS WON JP. blueray has barely been out for 2 years, its too early to say what format wins global

[ichimaru]

double post

[rofldings]

Ok?

Blu-ray outsells HD-DVD in Japan 9-1

Blu-ray outsells HD-DVD in Europe 4-1

Blu-ray outsells HD-DVD in North America 2-1

Almost over.

[Naruto]

rofldings is talking won japan out of BLUE-RAY and HD-DVD

[pompoms]

The only thing Toshiba has achieved with the mad price drops and the ridiculous $99 sale was to send a clear message to all the other CE companies like Samsung, Panasonic, Hitachi etc that theres no money in HD-DVD.
Though Blu-Ray players are priced higher they will continue to dominate store shelves simply b/c they have more CE support. Its not looking good for HD-DVD who are already getting owned in software sales. Personally I think its time for Tosh to start making HD-DVD players blu-ray compatible.

[Snukadaman]

sounds familiar....thats exactly what the game consoles do...look at ps3...they are hoping too make money on software sales...just like how toshiba makes money off hd-dvds.....im sure once the stock of hd-a2's are gone it goes too 198$. To bad hd-dvds aint having that sale that blu-ray is having..buy one blu-ray and get another one free.

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/20...

talk about desperate...but then again blu-ray has too keep up them software numbers too fake superiority...lets see them do it these next couple of months.

[pompoms]

Toshiba will earn royalties from software sold which is fine and dandy but other manufacturers who might decide to make HD-DVD players wont.
Also hardware manufacturers dont want to get into another sub $50 DVD player-like price war, theres just no money in it for them.

If you have no third party CE support you pretty much buggered at retail. Hence why many major retailers are favouring Blu-Ray, some going exclusive. Basically its easier to attract consumers with shelves stacked with a veriaty of branded higher priced BD players than with just one or two cheap HD Tosh players. Which do you think they will earn the most commissions from? BD of course. Which will have the most shelf space and higher visability, again BD.

BD has the software edge too with the larger software library and better sales/rentals. Stories surface weekly almost about retailers favouring BD movies, with some going exclusive. Again this only re-enforces BD's image in the minds of consumers as the HDM standard.

As long as Blu-Ray keeps the studio suppot as it is now they have already become the HDM standard barring the return of Christ proclaiming otherwise. Toshiba has already condemned itself to a niche market at best through its reckless hardware pricing stratagy.

[ITR]

pompoms:

I'm sorry, but Sony commission is always lower then anything else.
Why do you think commission sales folks push the HD A30? More money then the comparable BDPS300 from Sony..not to mention it costs more.
The only time I sale a Sony BD player is when someone wants Sony.
We sell Samsung too but it's not much better then Sony.

Because of the cheaper price of the A30..I'm more likely to sell warranty on the player and a higher end HDMI cable.

This week alone our store sold 30, A30's, and 13, A3's.(mon-fri sales)
Compare that to BD sales 3, BDPS300's, and 2 Samsungs.
Both BD players come with 5 BD disc rebates. The BDPS300 even comes with Spiderman3 bundled in the box.

[cow moolester]

Well if your saying that a format has failed because it has been outsold 2-1 by a competing format then by that logic the Ps3 is a dead console because the Xbox 360 is outselling it 2-1....

[rofldings]

Really? You just compare hardware to software sales like that?

[ThaGeNeCySt]

Fry's are currently selling the A3's for $98 bucks now... while supplies last of course.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs...

[rofldings]

What's the point? All the good movies I actually want to watch are out on blu-ray and dvd. I'll stick with my PS3.

[pwnsause]

http://www.eproductwars.com...

when you have charts like this being dominated all the time by blu-ray although HD-DVD is selling their players at $98, you can say its almost over.

[Naruto]

you can't compare hardware to software sales

[Guitarded]

The 360 is outselling PS3 5:1 in software. PS3 is dead!

[Guitarded]

till the mass market sings!

[Naruto]

LOL you are so wrong

[Bladestar]

Low budget or people that can't afford to pay thousands for a 1080P tv need love too.

What about all those people that are currently buying visio and other low end HD tvs because they can't afford a 1080P tv?

Your argument against this player is as stupid as telling people that unless they spend thousands to buy 1080P tv they arent cool and should not bother...

So, are you saying that it's ok to pay $800-$1600 for a 720P/1080i HD TV but it's not ok to buy a 720P/1080i HD player for $99?

take DJ for example, "I have a 720p/1080i tv" oohh really... how much did you pay for that TV? DJ! that's unacceptable! how dare you own an non 1080P TV!? how dare you! and you own a PS3? which support 1080P!?
so, now you have a player that supports 1080P and a TV that does not...

So, tell me... why should a person go and spend $300-$500 for a 1080P capable HD player when their own TV does not... when they can get one for $99 that can do what their TV can do?

It's all about budget... there are other HD DVD player out there that support 1080P... you paid lots of money for you 1080P TV? I'm sure you will not mind paying $200 more for a player that does too..

You have 4/5 HD TVs around your home and would like HD players for all of them? here are you options...

buy 4 x PS3($400) = $1,600
or
buy 4 x stand alone blu-ray player($600) = $2,400

or buy 4 HD DVD for only $400

lol... now that's mainstream!

[Bloodmask]

will not be only a clearance sale for the old A-2 units, but will also feature the A-3. This is one of the really big pushes that HD DVD is giving for the holidays.

And for all the people touting 1080P. I good HDTV can deinterlace the signal form to 1080i so it really isn't a big deal. Not to mention it is really hard to spot the difference bw 1080P and 1080i until you start getting into televisions that are 60 inches or larger. On a smaller TV most people couldn't see the difference at all.

[DJ]

see the difference in quality between 720p and 1080p, not 60 inches. Sort of common knowledge, so I'm not sure how you got that wrong...again. It seems you're referencing to a Projector Screen article from a week back that stated people couldn't tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on Projectors...not HDTVs. Hmm.