I just bought the Venturer SHD7000 at WALMART - Page 2

That's becasue it is based on the Toshiba reference design. Anything that follows the reference design will look similar.
So it's not an A3, it is a Venturer made player that uses the Toshiba Reference design.

Looks identical to the A3 aside from different front panel.

Good point but I would still not be shocked to find out that the A3 and the Vent are one in the same .

--- Jason

Why would anyone buy one of these when you can get an HD-D3 from Costco for 159.99?

Sorry Damed, I was reffering to those of us that live in the US.

Except that's often not how it works for consumer electronics. For example, Toshiba TVs are still priced higher in Canada.


Last I checked Costco in Ontario (which is a few weeks ago), the only HD DVD player they had was the RCA, for $399.

I don't think we've seen the final design of the player "in-the-flesh" yet.

Thanks in advance!

It is my understanding that all the HDM players (red and blu) cost more in Canada, and that it is a good guess that if this one is $199 there, it could be $149 in the US? Does that sound right?

Also, I mentioned earlier that I think Toshiba was selling and clearing out as much as it could before this went on sale in the US. Once the Venturer does go on sale, Toshiba will let them have the $99 -$149 price range for a while.

If these sell well in Wal-Mart Canada, I'm sure Wal-Mart USA will take notice. Speaking of Wal-mart, I noticed the US website has a store locator back on Toshiba A2 page. My zip code shows all local Wal-marts are out of stock though.

Anyway, thanks for posting and sharing the pics. The box looks cool!

I think it's a fairly safe bet that it'll be cheaper in the US.

You ARE paying for that through your high taxes.

Agreed, let's stick with the player discussion.

Hmm, one of my walmats has the A2 in stock according to the stock checker. Wonder if the price is the same in stores. $247 is not a hot deal. I would try taking in a printout from the $98 sale, but they are complete jerks at that walmart.

Nice!

Costco near me sells them for $249.

Ours was a $20 co-pay so my kid is worth more than your kid

Good to see another brand hit the streets.

According to the Venturer website, they will be available at Walmart in the US:

"To purchase this unit, visit either Wal-Mart USA, Wal-Mart Canada or Target."

If you can, please include load up times on your review. Thanks.

its interesting that it says two free movies inside without saying which ones. makes me think that they just throw random movies in every box-kinda like cracker jack, but a much better prize. Great find, I bet those things will sell like mad. Can't wait to hear more on it.

So you equate not honoring a sale price from 3 weeks ago with them being jerks? This is the second post in the past few days where someone got upset at Walmart for not honoring a sale price weeks after the fact.

And to keep this post slightly on topic, get that review of the machine posted!

At $198.00 with two "free" movies this is a really positive thing for HD DVD in Canada. The cheapest Toshiba here is $299.00. If one of the retailers offers a promotion I would expect to see them for $149 or maybe $169.00. Who would have believed that sub $200.00 players could be purchased in the fall of 2007 - and that's in Canada!!! Eighteen months ago the A1 sold here for around $700.00.

Cheers,

Grant

Well I guess Chinese built HD DVD players did finally hit Wal-Mart at the sub $200 price point. At least in Canada.

Why did you pick this up instead of a HD A3? Price? (edit: I see that was the reason)

Two free HD DVD s in the box.

Its not eligible for the 5 free mail in rebate right?

At the store you got it in, did they have the HD A3 for sale and what was the price? (edit: did that store have the HDA3 side by side?)

i couldnt help but notice that also, whew!

Doesn't Walmart have a 90 day return policy? At the very least it's 30 days on electronics.

What does the return policy have to do with going into a store and expecting them to honor a sale price from a sale that ended a few weeks prior? It's like people are expecting them to do a reverse price-match ("but you had it at a lower price a few weeks ago").