Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Player drops below $100

[allargon]

Do any of these do 1080i over component? What about the PS3 Blu-Ray player?

Yes, they will play HD-DVD movies at 1080i over componenent. However, they will not upconvert standard definition DVD's to 1080i over component. Playback of SD DVD's is limited to 480p.

[Shane]

I swung by my local Wal-mart this morning to check it out. I got there about 7:45 and there were about 25 people in line. I hung around until they started wheeling out the skids and asked one of the blue-shirts there how many they had. They had a whole pallet, which from what I can tell is 30-50 players. I didn't stick around to buy one, or to see how many in the line were buying one.

Shane, I'm sure you're hoping to go neutral and are hoping one of the Blu-ray players will drop to $200 soon.

Since you asked, I am pro HD DVD. I've had the Xbox 360 add-on drive since it came out. I'm not planning on buying a Blu-ray player until they have a unit that is up to par with what the HD DVD players can do in terms of features, functions and upgradability. Right now, the PS3 is the closest to that ... but there's nothing too compelling out there on the content side (movies or games) to make me want to spend $400-$500 dollars on one.

Why do I like HD DVD? Stay tuned to find out ;-)

- Shane

[moviejs]

Saw the ad on the Wal-Mart homepage about 7am this morning, got there by 7:50. There were a dozen people in a quiet line back in electronics - half waiting for an Acer laptop for about $340, and the rest wanting a Toshiba HD DVD player for a bit less than $99. No limit on quantity - a couple people bought two units. HD DVD discs were also on sale (a small selection of titles) for less than $15. They also had 50" Plasma HDTVs for $999.

Had my Toshiba home and hooked up within 30 minutes to my Sony 55" LCD 1080i hdtv. Absolutely fabulous picture and great sound!

I would never have bought one of these except for the low price. The selection of movies available that can really show off the player is quite limited. But...for less that $99 - WOW!

[film11]

The selection of movies available that can really show off the player is quite limited. But...for less that $99 - WOW!

Limited? Maybe at Wal-Mart, but here are some of the available titles:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=692850

[lickness2002yahoo]

Our local walmart is selling brand new toshiba hd a2 dvd players for 99.95. they are limiting one per customer.

[jwatt]

FYI We just released a new HD DVD title, "Discoveries...
America Music, Sunrise/Sunset"...52 minutes of spectacular sunrises & sunsets around the USA accompanied by the musical wizardry of composer & Steinway artist Gary Jess.

We included a printed list of music titles, plus there's a complete list of the locations so you can have a little quiz with friends on where a specific sunrise or sunset was filmed.

We'll also have the entire 51 hour collection of "Discoveries...America" out on HD DVD in another few weeks as soon as Create Space gets them encoded. We encoded the Sunrise/Sunset title ourselves. Also available in HD DVD is "Discoveries...Argentina, Patagonia".

We don't have them on our website yet, but drop me an email, [email protected]. They're $29.95 each plus shipping & handling.

[kweimer]

The HDTV magazine announcement that Wal-Mart would 'have Toshiba HD A2
HD DVD players for less than $100"....(I think $98 was the quoted price) "Friday" was a myth. I was in the store both Friday and Saturday. No Toshiba HD players of any model or any price. What did I miss in this announcement?

[Shane]

It was not a myth. Aside from being posted on Wal-mart's own website, I went to my local Wal-mart the morning of and saw them myself, along with a line of 25 or so waiting to get one.

This was a Friday-only special, and went from 8am to 8pm, or until sold out. Chances are that if you weren't there by 8am standing in line, there were probably none left.

- Shane

[Baldone]

The HDTV magazine announcement that Wal-Mart would 'have Toshiba HD A2
HD DVD players for less than $100"....(I think $98 was the quoted price) "Friday" was a myth. I was in the store both Friday and Saturday. No Toshiba HD players of any model or any price. What did I miss in this announcement?

Definitely not a myth--I picked one of 'em up Friday. My local store only had about a dozen. Although they don't do 1080P, still a great deal.

[rjyuma]

I went to our local wal-mart at 7am on friday to wait, but the clerk let me buy it for the price the scanner recorded $98.87. Our wal-mart had none of the 3 hd disks on sale. They were not delivered to the store I was told.

Black Friday web site has the Toshiba Form to send in for 5 free hd disks.

Bob