Xbox 360 HD DVD price rumors: £199?
By Richard Lawler 
posted Sep 8th 2006 2:01PM
posted Sep 8th 2006 2:01PM
Gamesindustry.biz is reporting that is the price expected for the UK version of the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on coming this holiday season. £199 GBP converts to 293 euros, and $376 (US). The Xbox 360 Core System recently dropped to £199 in the UK, while still retailing in the US for $299. The same source indicated there would be a bundle available for £375-£400 GBP, which would be slightly less than the £425 GBP 60GB HDMI-equipped Playstation 3 now delayed until next year in Europe. That £375 figure converts to 553 euros, and $708 US. However given the fact that UK prices have tended to be slightly higher than a straight-to-euro conversion, and the current $399 US/399€ pricing of the Xbox 360 Premium, if these rumors are accurate such a bundle would probably run $500-$550 US. The separate add-on drive carrying a price equivalent to an Xbox 360 Core System however would likely be a bitter pill to swallow for many Xbox 360 early adopters, even with two movies included in the package. Microsoft has not yet commented on these rumors, all we've managed to get out of them up to this point is that it "will be the cheapest HD DVD player on the market for consumers who already own an Xbox 360 console". We're hoping the $200 rumor is the right one, being an early adopter is bad enough without getting charged extra.
If the $200 rumor was accurate, the "who already own an Xbox 360 console" bit of the quote would be unnecessary - it would simply be the cheapest HD-DVD player period. Regardless, the lack of lossless
audio, 1080p, upconversion of DVD, and HDMI cabling renders the device useless in my book, irrespective of price.
JET
The price makes sense if they want a 360 + HDDVD bundle to price match the PS3. How much is a HD-DVD drive for a PC, anyway? If it's above $200, I can see a price crash once this thing comes out.
I smell Sega CD. Like all the console add-ons that have come before it, this thing is doomed. Toshiba stand-alone players will be discounted to $300 by Christmas. By next spring this drive will be in the clearance bin at ToysRus.
I am not surprised at this £200 price for the UK market. We tend to get a raw deal even after you take into account our taxes over here.
I will be buying a PS3 (eventually) so it makes no difference to me, but I was speaking to a friend a couple of days ago about the drive. I told him I thought it would retail for around £200 and he said...
"F**k that then".
And this is coming from a guy who has a history splashing the cash around.
Personally, I don't think this is going to sell well. The Xbox 360 sells as a games machine (as will the PS3) to people who more than likely do not own an HDTV (in the UK that is...).
£200 is just too much. Afterall, most people I know are happy with what they have with DVD. They have no reference point to see how good HD-DVD movies can be...why would they pay £200 for an add-on drive?
"I will be buying a PS3 (eventually) so it makes no difference to me, but I was speaking to a friend a couple of days ago about the drive. I told him I thought it would retail for around £200 and he said...
"F**k that then"."
Buying a PS3. haha good one.
Even when it comes out, it'll still take another year before it's up to Sony's dreams of being a badass machine. At which point, MS and Nintendo will already be at work on the next console.
I'm saving for my PS3 too, so thanks to some insider info at Sony, I should have enough saved up by the time it's released... you know, just shy of a year from now ?
Now here it is the end of the cheap HD DVD addon :)
Blu-Ray FOREVER! :)))
How many people have 1080p tv's? I'm guessing less than 1 percent of consumers.
Have you watched movie trailers in 720p over component? They look great!
IMO upconversion is a joke anyway.
Mick,
Upconversion is anything but a joke. It makes the picture look excellent. In fact, there are several companies (DVDO, for example) that make their living producing upscalers.
The HD-DVD player has a great upscaler, right on par with the highly rated Oppo and Panny S77/S97 players. Not sure how well the BD player upconverts (if at all?).