If youve wanted a Blu-ray DVD player, theres never been a better time to get one, as retailers are drastically reducing prices on the devices in an attempt to give the format a much-needed boost. The Wall Street Journal reports that prices on Blu-ray players at stores like Target and Best Buy will drop to $230 and possibly as low as $150 after Thanksgiving, down sharply from roughly $400 earlier this year.
While Blu-ray won the high-definition DVD format wars earlier this year, sales have not taken off . Most consumers have been content with the picture provided by standard DVDs, and Blu-ray players and discs are more expensive, not to mention that little economic downturn going on. DVD sales and rentals through the end of this September are download 2.4 percent as compared to last year, and the industry is pinning its hopes on Blu-ray to make up that difference.
Blu-ray manufacturers are in a race against time, as other options like VOD, digital downloads and streaming of movies directly to the TV set become more viable, rendering the need for the purchase of any physical format to watch a movie obsolete.
But while downloads and streaming may not have any physical baggage, Blu-ray DVD ripping has them beat when it comes to true HD. The U.S. just doesnt have the broadband pipes to support full online HD delivery yet. Netflix appears to be hedging its bets as it offers Blu-ray discs for rent, and it has partnered with Samsung and LG to deliver streaming movies to Blu-ray DVD players (though those models retail for $400) but more cheap of the Blu-ray DVD Ripper software.
Given all this, will price reductions get you to buy a Blu-ray player?
