Amazon offers two free HD DVDs when you buy... a BD-UP5000?
By Darren Murph 
posted Mar 20th 2008 2:19PM
posted Mar 20th 2008 2:19PM
[Thanks, John]
posted Mar 20th 2008 2:19PM
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Woohoo! All part of the plan to have HD DVD surge and renew calls to open the factories back up!
Hey, man, like, why ain't you passin' that stuff around? That must be some really great sh*t you're smokin'. :)
I don't see what the problem is. The BD-UP5000 plays back both HD DVD and Blu Ray so the free movies will be viewable on this player for as long as the player works. Sure, after the player dies the movies may effectively die with it, but for now, it's perfectly good content.
I got the e-mail from Amazon and forwarded it to EHD. Amazon's pushing it as a way to get two free HD DVDs. That's the stupid part about it.
E-mail subject:
"Receive Two Free HD DVDs from Amazon.com for a Limited Time Only"
E-mail text:
"Dear Amazon.com Customer,
Expand your high-def library with this amazing deal exclusively offered to our valued HD DVD customers. Receive two HD DVDs for free when you purchase any two Blu-ray discs sold by Amazon.com and the Samsung BD-UP5000 1080p HD-DVD Blu-Ray Disc Combo Player. Hurry--this offer is only good through April 2, or while supplies last.
Discount will automatically be applied at check out."
Considering that clearance HD DVD players are less than $100 (NEW!) *and* this is a BD player that's being discontinued, this is a really goofy - and expensive - way to cater to HD DVD owners. And when you take into consideration that HD DVD players will be available through eBay or other sites for years, possibly decades (look at Betamax), trying to push a discontinued player and discontinued format for what will end up being close to $500 is most definitely a ridiculous "offer", at least in the eyes of this HD DVD owner.
What do you want them to do , throw them away ?
I hear there's some room left in that landfill with all of the E.T. Atari cartridges in it.
Whats the big deal? Its a COMBO PLAYER, meaning it doesn't just play Blu-ray discs.
Next thing you know it will be join Amazon prime and get 2 free HD-Dvds
Why is this weird? Because it might appeal to someone other than you? It isn't all about you, you know.
There are lots of folks with HD DVD who are looking for ONE player to play everything. Adding blu-ray to an existing HD DVD setup is rather difficult, as either HDMI ports or their AVR or even their rack is out of space. Not to mention having to train the wife and children which player takes which discs and yet another permutation of setup actions.
Having one player that takes your 100 HD DVDs and all your future blu-ray discs AND upscales better than nearly anything on the market, all for $450? What's not to like? It even has ethernet updating for firmware, which beats the heck out of CD burning.
Oh, OK, the advanced audio modes are buggered. Fine. That was a problem for me, but not for most people who have $12 speakers or use the TV speakers even.
Sure. Ha ha, HD DVD is dead. Doesn't mean that all those folks with HD DVD discs want to toss them away.
What's not to like? A deck that (A) has supposedly seen more than its share of problems and (B) is already earmarked for discontinuation is being marketed to owners of HD DVD players, most of which are less than a year old, for $450 plus the cost of two Blu-ray discs -- in order to get two, free HD DVDs?
And you're asking in all seriousness what's not to like?
The deal itself isn't too bad, I suppose, but as a way to get two free HD DVDs? The article isn't so much about the deal itself but in the way they're marketing it which, as far as I'm concerned, is just plain silly. If their purpose is to clear out HD DVDs, then give us a BOGO and be done with it.
When I first glanced at the picture, I figured it'd be a Blu-Ray player with an offer for some free HD-DVDs. Har har. Not even close.
If I had an HD-DVD player and a sweet home theater set-up (which I don't), I'd probably jump on this deal as a way to continue playing my existing library of HD-DVDs as well as future Blu-Ray discs. Plus, I get two free movies.
What's not to like?