As companies struggled to sell their standalone Blu-ray players in 2008, it seems 2009 might be the year we see low-priced players — but not from the companies you may be thinking about.
The Chinese Economic Daily News indicates "white-box vendors" — little known brands based in China — will begin to offer $150 Blu-ray players sometime this year. Sony, Samsung, Pioneer and higher-end companies will keep their prices slightly higher, but must also drop prices if they expect sales to continue.
Also mentioned in the article, Lite-On announced it will offer a Blu-ray player at the $150 price point as well.
Assuming Economic Daily News is accurately predicting Lite-On and unknown Chinese vendors will offer $150 Blu-ray players, then it is very possible that we will see players available for the 2009 holiday shopping season dipping below $100.
Most standalone players sold in the United States have a suggested retail of $299, but stores and web sites offer sales and discounts that can see prices drop to $249 or less.
Analysts predicted that the cost of Blu-ray players must decrease further before consumers will be convinced to replace their DVD players. As many as five million Blu-ray players were sold in 2008, and the number is estimated to jump up to 11 million units in 2009, but only if prices drop, Topology Research Institute said.
9 Comments
- guest
- Posts: 15288
- Posted on: 04 Feb 09 16:48
The price of blu ray movies is what needs to drop significantly, current prices are absurd.
For a PS3, you need to add $25 to the cost because it doesn't come with a remote, and I find a game controller is totally lame as a movie remote (based on multiple experiences).
Now, concerning the PS3's price, if it was $299, I think that is a fair price for it, also considering the rumors that it will drop to that by April.
@ivid In dealing with firmware updates, I understand your concern with having to do one to watch newer movies. I consider there are two categories of firmware updates.
One is the updates you refer to, which are for the AACS copy-protection, which is required on ALL Blu-ray players.
The other category is for the PS3. The PS3 not only does the same firmware updates as the other category, but also does firmware updates to add new features. A while back, it added support for the latest DTS Surround Sound (Can't remember the exact official name). This is party why the PS3 is the Best Blu-ray player around. The main reason being price value, but if stand-alones drop to $99, then the price value is dimished.
) it just needs bluray media to come down to sensible prices, then watch it take off! i'm looking forward to shoving a few of my DVD's onto a bluray, then put my original discs away for safe keeping!!
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