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How will Panasonic's $600 impact the format war?

8235 Views 150 Replies 64 Participants Last post by rwestley, May 21, 2007

xboxboi

Discussion Starter · May 16, 2007

i must admit that the news of Panasonic with immediate effect shipping the $600 BD players with with 5 BD titles is an extremely possitive development (consumer wise)

with more than 50% off panasonic's earlier model, one couldnt help but wonder this is a subsidised player. Remember' Pioneer's BARE PC BD drive = $299

Now to the ugly side - how would that impat the format war (non consumer wise

) -

Price factor:

1. the price make LG's universal player look rediculously STOOPID

$500 A20+$600 Panny (inclusive of TEN (10) FREE titles) = $1100. LG's Universal player = $1199 (no free titles NADA) . Will we see LG reducing the Uni player price in the immediate future

2. Samsung's second gen player at $699 though with Reon chip and analogue output, but its still a Samsung. I am predicting preorder cancelation are already being made. Will we see price reduction from Samsung?

3. With the A20 only $100 less than the Panny with similar free disk number, will we see Toshiba reduces its player prices? Will it scraps the free disk offer an drop another hundred on its three models?

4. How would Sony response? announce FIVE free SOni Pic titles - Casino Royale, Spidie 2, Davinci's Code, Ghost Rider and Filth Element to be bundled with the purchase of its $599 player?

One thing for sure, consumers will rejoice upon hearing this 'suprising' news

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1 - 20 of 151 Posts

Maxpower1987

· #2 · May 16, 2007

Another war thread from xboxboi, wow.

To answer the points though:

1. No one takes that player seriously anyway.

2. I doubt it, Samsung see themselves as a tier 1 player along with Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer etc... So I doubt they will feel threatened by this move.

3. Probably, especially since a Sony is coming out with a similar price range as well.

4. They will probably use the new version of T5E and maybe something like Casino Royale, but I doubt they would put more than that.

On a side note, isn't it time to change the sig yet?

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MichaelHDDVD

· #3 · May 16, 2007

This is the cheapest standalone Blu-Ray player. This is a good movie for the BR standalone manufacturers sunce they have to compete heavily against the PS3, a $600 Blu-Ray player/Video game console. Imo this is a good move for Blu-Ray

In response to number 3 the 5 free disc deal with Toshiba ends at the end of August. We might see a price drop on the HD DVD players by the end of August. Probably not buy $100 since people like getting free stuff. But maybe by $50 and HD DVD players will come with 1 free movie packaged in.

Snickering Hound

· #4 · May 16, 2007

Well, it's got HD-DVD 06' pricing at $599.

And coincidentally or not, that's the same as the PS3.

The A2 is under $300 now and the A20 is much less than this player.

It's still much too expensive to have much impact.

blainehamilton

· #5 · May 16, 2007

Might garner a bit more interest than a $1200 player, but not much compared to the $300 ones...

Timothy Ramzyk

· #6 · May 16, 2007

I'm guessing it's still to much for a general break-through on stand-alone. It ought to sell better than $1000 players.

Slim GoodBooty

· #7 · May 16, 2007

I like the fact that they are now trying to beat Sony at their own game. Pioneer is next!

JackBee

· #8 · May 16, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Snickering Hound /forum/post/0

Well, it's got HD-DVD 06' pricing at $599.

And coincidentally or not, that's the same as the PS3.

The A2 is under $300 now and the A20 is much less than this player.

It's still much too expensive to have much impact.

The A2 is still only 1080i. Both the A2 and A20 dont have ANY analog out, let alone the 7.1 Analog out that the panny has. Not to mention 5 really good movies inside the box compared to the not as good (i know its subjective, but i would wager pirates 1+2 inside the box being very popular vs the ones in side the a20) 3 inside the a20. Also, Panasonic is obviously a much more respected name brand then Toshiba could dream to be. The only competition this panny actually has is the XA2. Whats the MSRP on that?

To me, it seems like the CE companys know there are super cheap players on the way, and are now positioning themselves in the "high end" market to compete against the low cost chinese BD player solutions.

Snickering Hound

· #9 · May 16, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by JackBee /forum/post/0

The A2 is still only 1080i. Both the A2 and A20 dont have ANY analog out, let alone the 7.1 Analog out that the panny has. Not to mention 5 really good movies inside the box compared to the not as good (i know its subjective, but i would wager pirates 1+2 inside the box being very popular vs the ones in side the a20) 3 inside the a20. Also, Panasonic is obviously a much more respected name brand then Toshiba could dream to be. The only competition this panny actually has is the XA2. Whats the MSRP on that?

To me, it seems like the CE companys know there are super cheap players on the way, and are now positioning themselves in the "high end" market to compete against the low cost chinese BD player solutions.

The A2 is still only 1080i. And streeting for 1/2 the price of this player.

Both the A2 and A20 dont have ANY analog out, let alone the 7.1 Analog out that the panny has. I use the analog outs on my xa2 but its messy. Most people like that spdif or HDMI for this reason. But the discount Chinese HD-DVD players that use the Broadcom 7440 chipset will have 7.1 outs for people that want to use them.

Not to mention 5 really good movies inside the box compared to the not as good (i know its subjective, but i would wager pirates 1+2 inside the box being very popular vs the ones in side the a20) 3 inside the a20. I liked the 1st Pirates movie. I wish I hadn't bothered with the 2nd, I want those 2 hours of my life back. I won't be seeing the 3rd. I'm not much interested in the other titles in the freebie with this. Of course, its much the same with the 5 free disc offer Toshiba has, I'm not very excited about the titles on that either. Call it a wash for me.

The only competition this panny actually has is the XA2. Whats the MSRP on that?

To me, it seems like the CE companys know there are super cheap players on the way, and are now positioning themselves in the "high end" market to compete against the low cost chinese BD player solutions. But that's blu-ray's problem right now, there is a glut of XA-2 "killers". There is NO $300 entry solution for them to compete with the A2 and the Chinese players looming on the horizon.

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nataraj

· #10 · May 16, 2007

Are there people still waiting to buy a standalone BD player at $600 ?

Yes, but my guess is just a few. No real effect on the format war. Get those below $300 and then we are talking.

xboxboi

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 16, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Snickering Hound /forum/post/0

There is NO $300 entry solution for them to compete with the A2 and the Chinese players looming on the horizon.

Aparrently $599 is the lowest BD players can go currently complete with inferior upconverting cip

still nice to see A20 drop another $100 though !!

come on now toshi $100 drop for A20 and $50 for A2

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plazman

· #12 · May 16, 2007

Hmmm...looks like a price war to kill off dual format players. It's interesting to see how the BDA went from wanting to be a premium non subsidized format to one that is being heavily subsidized from disk replication to players to heavy use of promotions to keep up with HD DVD - a format they are supposed to have beaten comfortably. So, why lose money AFTER you have won the format war. Remember this is the exact product Panny first priced at $1500, then $1200 and now $600....certainly this isn't due to economies of scale.

However, it will be interesting to see how well these players sell.

DavidHir

· #13 · May 16, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Snickering Hound /forum/post/0

Well, it's got HD-DVD 06' pricing at $599.

And coincidentally or not, that's the same as the PS3.

The A2 is under $300 now and the A20 is much less than this player.

It's still much too expensive to have much impact.

The Panasonic will street cheaper than $599 just like the Toshiba streets cheaper than $399 as you alluded. I'm thinking $450-500 for the Panasonic. However, I still think Blu-ray needs something to really compete at the A2 price level. Maybe this will happen in the fall (whether it be Panasonic or another company).

xboxboi

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 16, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by plazman /forum/post/0

Hmmm...looks like a price war to kill off dual format players. It's interesting to see how the BDA went from wanting to be a premium non subsidized format to one that is being heavily subsidized from disk replication to players to heavy use of promotions to keep up with HD DVD - a format they are supposed to have beaten comfortably. So, why lose money AFTER you have won the format war. Remember this is the exact product Panny first priced at $1500, then $1200 and now $600....certainly this isn't due to economies of scale.

come on now plazma - be nice and dont rub that to people's face !!

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eapleitez

· #15 · May 16, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by plazman /forum/post/0

Hmmm...looks like a price war to kill off dual format players. It's interesting to see how the BDA went from wanting to be a premium non subsidized format to one that is being heavily subsidized from disk replication to players to heavy use of promotions to keep up with HD DVD - a format they are supposed to have beaten comfortably. So, why lose money AFTER you have won the format war. Remember this is the exact product Panny first priced at $1500, then $1200 and now $600....certainly this isn't due to economies of scale.

However, it will be interesting to see how well these players sell.

Awesome analysis. The BDA must be getting feelings of panic.

Slim GoodBooty

· #16 · May 16, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by plazman /forum/post/0

Hmmm...looks like a price war to kill off dual format players. It's interesting to see how the BDA went from wanting to be a premium non subsidized format to one that is being heavily subsidized from disk replication to players to heavy use of promotions to keep up with HD DVD - a format they are supposed to have beaten comfortably. So, why lose money AFTER you have won the format war. Remember this is the exact product Panny first priced at $1500, then $1200 and now $600....certainly this isn't due to economies of scale.

However, it will be interesting to see how well these players sell.

Sony killed the premium player thing with the PS3. The other mans had to respond before SOny could release their $600 player. This is a good start. Poor Samsung is still out, though.

kitzi

· #17 · May 16, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by plazman /forum/post/0

Hmmm...looks like a price war to kill off dual format players. It's interesting to see how the BDA went from wanting to be a premium non subsidized format to one that is being heavily subsidized from disk replication to players to heavy use of promotions to keep up with HD DVD - a format they are supposed to have beaten comfortably. So, why lose money AFTER you have won the format war. Remember this is the exact product Panny first priced at $1500, then $1200 and now $600....certainly this isn't due to economies of scale.

However, it will be interesting to see how well these players sell.

HDDVD isn't into heavy promotions (3 then 5 free through the mail...up to 4 free with each player right away from the store...)?

I have no idea if the Panny will be subsidized, but evidently you have evidence that it will be?

Snickering Hound

· #18 · May 16, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by plazman /forum/post/0

Hmmm...looks like a price war to kill off dual format players. It's interesting to see how the BDA went from wanting to be a premium non subsidized format to one that is being heavily subsidized from disk replication to players to heavy use of promotions to keep up with HD DVD - a format they are supposed to have beaten comfortably. So, why lose money AFTER you have won the format war. Remember this is the exact product Panny first priced at $1500, then $1200 and now $600....certainly this isn't due to economies of scale.

However, it will be interesting to see how well these players sell.

Something of a price civil war too, the Sony BDP-S300 is priced the same as this player and last I saw didn't playback Dolby True HD.

I guess the other members of the BDA weren't too happy with the pricing of the new Sony player.

Spektricide

· #19 · May 16, 2007

If your looking for 1080p standalone, it makes it an excellent competitor to the XA2.

gosawx

· #20 · May 16, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Spektricide /forum/post/0

If your looking for 1080p standalone, it makes it an excellent competitor to the XA2.

or a complement to it...

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