Toshiba pitches HD DVD players as... DVD machines

[lars]

Toshiba should work towards manufacturing the world's best dual format hd player.

[Boduho]

It really is hard to believe that some people are seeing Toshiba's move as a positive for HD-DVD and something that might turn the tide in the format war. It is clearly a way for Toshiba to liquidate stock and nothing more. The fact that they're distancing their product from HDM would only further alienate Paramount and Universal. I don't blame Toshiba for doing it, but let's not pretend it's an attempt to swing momentum from BD

[pynner]

Originally Posted by adit

Guys, once again:

1. Toshiba has build and has in stores a large number of players.They try to sell them out fast before Universal and Paramount anounce they switch the sides.Promoting them as DVD upconverters with HD capabilities eliminates customers "anger" later ( you know what you are getting in...).

2. Paramount and Universal have also a number of HD DVD disks already released on the shelves. They want to clear out as much as possible before they make the anouncement ( so give them away with the latest batches of players Toshiba is selling , at least. They can not do anything anyway with the disks if the stores clean the shelves later). They may delay their anouncement for a few weeks to give time for selling the existing stock.

The HD war is over, Blu-ray wins get over it.What you see is the clearance.

Oh.. so you have inside info and can back up all your claims? cool... nice to have someone around here that knows everything about everything..

"The HD war is over, Blu-ray wins get over it.What you see is the clearance."

That last one makes me laugh everytime I read it... the HD war isn't even close to over... ok even if sony has one a battle over which format will be dominant (and not the better format), it's not even close to being "over"... fact is, it still can die a slow and painful death as well. HDM still doesn't have a great foothold and is a niche market.... still.
so BR fanboys, just calm your self.

ok.. on topic now.

Hey.. what ever toshiba is doing is fine with me.. im actually gonna take my player in, get my money back and buy a top of the line (hd dvd) model... and still save some money! hehehe..
someone mentioned a good point... get people to buy them as dvd players, plus they have the 7 free hd flicks... suddenly, j6p says hey, these hd dvds look pretty sweet... what else can I buy?

[jvillain]

If their HD DVD players now have a lower MSRP than the Microsoft HD DVD add on, how long term do you think this business plan is? Of course they only have to worry about loosing money in North America because is was completely still born every where else in the world.

[darrylr]

I'm still wondering what Venturer thinks of all this. Their players are A3 clones but now cost more than real A3's.

[hoodlum]

Venturer is also the sole supplier of the A3 HD-DVD player for Toshiba. I wonder what kind of contract they have with Toshiba and if they will scale back production.

[hoodlum]

Originally Posted by jvillain

If their HD DVD players now have a lower MSRP than the Microsoft HD DVD add on, how long term do you think this business plan is? Of course they only have to worry about loosing money in North America because is was completely still born every where else in the world.

I think many people still only think in NA terms. Imagaine the software ratios outside of NA.

[jvillain]

I'm still wondering what Venturer thinks of all this.

I actually went to their site earlier this morning because I was curious that every one seemed to have forgotten about them. I guess it all depends on what the contract with Toshiba looks like. It could be they have a contract to build X number of widgets at Y price for them. If that is the case they are probably very happy. If there is an escape clause then they are probably wondering how they are going to choke down the cost of getting the production line in place.

IF Toshiba does decide to try to be all that they can be, then Venturer is probably going to be real happy as Toshiba can not build any of this in house at these prices. All of the manufacturing will have to move to China which probably means Venturer will end up building all of Toshiba players.

[I_Want_My_HDTV]

I think Toshiba is trying to play out the VHS/Betamax scenario again. The idea is to get as many HD DVD players in consumers hands as possible. That way, consumer market forces will force the adoption of HD DVD over BD. The only problem with this tactic is that the market is much different than when VHS and Betamax battled it out. To start with, VHS and Betamax technology virtually created the home video market. There is much more concentration in the movie industry now and home video is a mature market controlled by a few major studios. DVD is already well established and there are viable competitors, such as VOD and PPV. The studios have killed more than one video format, such as videodisc. I predict they will kill off either HD DVD or BD for reasons other than consumer demand. Nice try Toshiba but it won't make a lot of difference in the final outcome. I'm not predicting the death of HD DVD just yet, but BD is a 2:1 favourite.

[stump14]

Hey.. what ever toshiba is doing is fine with me.. im actually gonna take my player in, get my money back and buy a top of the line (hd dvd) model... and still save some money! hehehe..
someone mentioned a good point... get people to buy them as dvd players, plus they have the 7 free hd flicks... suddenly, j6p says hey, these hd dvds look pretty sweet... what else can I buy?

Not much when they see only 2 studios making movies for that specific format.

[scrooloose]

Just looking at the Toronto Star online front page and I see FS advertising the Toshiba HD A3 with 1080P upconversion.. They haven't given up! Mind you they haven't dropped the price either!

-Mike

[pynner]

Originally Posted by stump14

Not much when they see only 2 studios making movies for that specific format.

so.. there are STILL two studios.. plus a collection of about 500 disks.. think that will be enough for some to go out and pick up some flics... even if not alot more are being made.

[adit]

Have fun. http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=78644

[Helmut Hoffer]

Yeah, it is still the same price at FS. Canadian retailers never learn. Just order it from Amazon.com.

[shabbs]

Originally Posted by Helmut Hoffer

Just order it from Amazon.com.

They won't send electronics to a Canadian address as far as I know.