Give HD-DVD players for Free?

Farout777 · 02-06-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomes

Attach rates will plummet. As everyone is harping on, while the PS3 certainly helped Sony get in a great position, they threw a lot of BD capable hardware out there that is not being used for BD at all (or very little).

+10 Very good point!

Bunter · 02-06-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshulman

Giving it away would be pointless. How many existing HD DVD owners would just pick up another player?

Only way I could see doing it is if they did an in store rebate, such as buy 15 movies and get a free player or something along those lines.

I think it's got a perfect price now - would be nice if it was $99 everywhere though.

I do agree they need to do more, but selling players is a good start. If they can keep it up and get big titles to have a big impact, then other studios might consider going neutral or switching.

I agree.

(oh, and condolences; I was rooting for The Brady Bunch, too.)

anythingwt · 02-06-2008, 12:16 PM

This is ridiculous. There needs to be a price on these players for them to be used as HD players. If they are just given away, most people won't even know what they are getting, and will only use them to play SD DVDs hooked up with s-video. When someone buys a player, they know that they are buying an HD DVD player and are going to use it as such.

mshulman · 02-06-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomes

+1

Yes, the problem with free players (and to some degree very cheap ones) seems to be a few things:
1. People who already own one picks one up (won't help software sales at all)
2. People will pick it up as an upconverter, or even worse, regular dvd player. They may not even own a HDTV.

Attach rates will plummet. As everyone is harping on, while the PS3 certainly helped Sony get in a great position, they threw a lot of BD capable hardware out there that is not being used for BD at all (or very little).

Exactly!

Existing HD DVD owners are already taking advantage of low prices and buying 2nd and 3rd players. I'd be willing to be that on average, more HD DVD owners own more than 1 player vs blu-ray owners.

anythingwt · 02-06-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshulman

I'd be willing to be that on average, more HD DVD owners own more than 1 player vs blu-ray owners.

I'd bet the same. Must be because you can almost have 4 HD DVD players for the price of 1 BD player.

hatt · 02-06-2008, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshulman

Exactly!

Existing HD DVD owners are already taking advantage of low prices and buying 2nd and 3rd players. I'd be willing to be that on average, more HD DVD owners own more than 1 player vs blu-ray owners.

I'd say you're right about that. Hell if you liked more movies than the 5 you already had on the free list it would make sense to buy another player just to get them. Duplicates like the Bourne or 300 could always be sold on craigslist or ebay. This would also be a case where selling that extra player is going to do little in helping HD DVD in the war.

Deja Vu · 02-06-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshulman

Exactly!

Existing HD DVD owners are already taking advantage of low prices and buying 2nd and 3rd players. I'd be willing to be that on average, more HD DVD owners own more than 1 player vs blu-ray owners.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. There was a thread on AVS awhile back that asked this question of BD owners and I was stunned how many players these guys had. One guy had 3 PS3s and wanted to buy a forth. but wasn't sure how his wife would take it! Probably 90% of all BD and HD DVD players are owned by the same 50 people.

Instead of giving free movies with an HD DVD player just give a free player with the purchase of any five HD DVDs - probably the same cost, but looks like a better deal.

Cheers,

Grant

HarD-DVD · 02-06-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deja Vu

Instead of giving free movies with an HD DVD player just give a free player with the purchase of any five HD DVDs - probably the same cost, but looks like a better deal.

Cheers,

Grant

That is a great idea, basically the same as what I am trying to say. But put it in a different spin and people think that they are getting a free machine.

Probably the best marketing idea at this point.

hatt · 02-06-2008, 01:00 PM

Keeping with the flow of this thread I would suggest that HD DVD take the mp3 angle. All HD DVD content should be made available for free downloads on the web. Toshiba needs to market a moderate cost burner/player to take advantage of the downloads. This would insure that HD DVD format would become very common.

HarD-DVD · 02-06-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

OP, but please keep it to yourself, as it looks bad on the rest of us (well, maybe that's your intent, but that's another subject I'd rather not get into right now...)

reported...

hatt · 02-06-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarD-DVD

reported...

I guess Hard-DVD is a BD.com plant. Who was the first to say that, kamspy?

tomes · 02-06-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarD-DVD

reported...

If you are indeed a hddvd supporter, picking on Bruce isn't exactly the best move....

HarD-DVD · 02-06-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomes

If you are indeed a hddvd supporter, picking on Bruce isn't exactly the best move....

Only because this was the fourth time he spewed this BS. I was going to wait for a fifth but then I was like...nahhhh.

tomes · 02-06-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarD-DVD

Only because this was the fourth time he spewed this BS. I was going to wait for a fifth but then I was like...nahhhh.

Ok, I don't read every post here (though it may seem like it

) Maybe you guys can PM and get to some agreement?

Chris Gerhard · 02-06-2008, 01:45 PM

You guys want HD DVD to hang around with about 10% of the worldwide market? That is all that is possible after Warner is gone. Why would anybody want that? Disney/Buena Vista, Sony, Fox, Warner, MGM, LionsGate, and the rest of the Blu-ray studios control too much. Matsushita, Sony, Philips, Pioneer, Denon, Samsung, LG, Sharp and Funai control too much of the hardware business for Toshiba to do anything but continue to fall further behind in that regard. Why would having that continue be good? Consumers will just be driven away or forced to buy two players or one expensive dual format player. I think more will just say screw this and sit out forever.

Beats me why this forum has so many that find the various ways Toshiba can stay around and crap on the market attractive. I hope every retailer of any significance refuses to take any more HD DVD hardware and software to sell and tries to promote a single format and get things rolling. Thankfully that is what I think is coming and whether or not Toshiba lowers prices further or gives players away, it won't change the outcome at this point.

Chris

02-06-2008, 12:16 PM	#18
anythingwt one love Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 4,417	This is ridiculous. There needs to be a price on these players for them to be used as HD players. If they are just given away, most people won't even know what they are getting, and will only use them to play SD DVDs hooked up with s-video. When someone buys a player, they know that they are buying an HD DVD player and are going to use it as such. __________________ "your dreams, minus your doubts, equal your reality"

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02-06-2008, 01:00 PM	#24
hatt HD Elitist Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: FL Age: 37 Posts: 6,294	Keeping with the flow of this thread I would suggest that HD DVD take the mp3 angle. All HD DVD content should be made available for free downloads on the web. Toshiba needs to market a moderate cost burner/player to take advantage of the downloads. This would insure that HD DVD format would become very common.

02-06-2008, 01:45 PM	#30
Chris Gerhard High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 10,789	You guys want HD DVD to hang around with about 10% of the worldwide market? That is all that is possible after Warner is gone. Why would anybody want that? Disney/Buena Vista, Sony, Fox, Warner, MGM, LionsGate, and the rest of the Blu-ray studios control too much. Matsushita, Sony, Philips, Pioneer, Denon, Samsung, LG, Sharp and Funai control too much of the hardware business for Toshiba to do anything but continue to fall further behind in that regard. Why would having that continue be good? Consumers will just be driven away or forced to buy two players or one expensive dual format player. I think more will just say screw this and sit out forever. Beats me why this forum has so many that find the various ways Toshiba can stay around and crap on the market attractive. I hope every retailer of any significance refuses to take any more HD DVD hardware and software to sell and tries to promote a single format and get things rolling. Thankfully that is what I think is coming and whether or not Toshiba lowers prices further or gives players away, it won't change the outcome at this point. Chris