Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive lowered to $179 starting Aug 1 |
Loading ...As of next Wednesday, August 1, Microsoft is sweetening the HD-DVD pot by lowering the price of the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive by $20 and for a limited time offering a coupon for five free HD-DVD movies from a list of 15 by mail-in offer.
Via the official Xbox News:
Perhaps a defensive move in light of news like this story (thanks DVD Dossier) which points out that thieves broke in and stole a store’s entire inventory of Blu-Ray movies, totalling some 7,000 bones, leaving the HD-DVD movies untouched.
Although, I haven’t been that excited by either of the next generation formats over DVDs (selection issues, mainly) I might move on this deal. If you figure an average of $23 per HD-DVD with five free that makes the math for the price of the player with the movies (assuming they aren’t terrible movies) as follows:
$179 HD DVD player
- 115 ($23 x 5 HD-DVD free)
= $64
Not a bad deal even if the format ultimately tanks (which I believe both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are in trouble). I’ve bought plenty of bad video games over the years for around $65 and there are a few HD-DVDs I’m interested in like the new Heroes first season.
Why is it that more TV seasons aren’t available on HD-DVD or Blu-Ray? To me, that’s the biggest weakness in selection because paying $23-40 for the highest quality movie you can buy for home viewing isn’t remotely as attractive as paying $20-40 for an entire TV season. There are very, very few movies I’d want to buy on Blu-Ray or HD-DVD format.
In fact, to date, have only bought two Blu-Ray movies over the last eight months of owning a PS3: the Mission Impossible box set and most recently Ghost Rider because it was on sale at Wal-Mart and the kids enjoyed that movie. I could take or leave the Ghost Rider movie itself (see Hmm Ghost Rider review) but I’ll admit the flaming skele on a cycle shots are cool cinematically.
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I got one for my son for Christmas through Amazon. One of the benefits was 10% off HD DVD (and Blu-Ray) titles for 1 year after purchasing the drive. Another way to save a little on those pricey discs.
The Planet Earth discs under Blu-Ray (with 720p) are pretty amazing, I imagine you’ll see more in 1080p.
Comment by Fred Beiderbecke — July 26, 2007 @ 11:12 am PST
I check into the Planet Earth next time I’m at the store. What good HD-DVD titles have you purchased for your son since, Fred?
Comment by TDavid — July 26, 2007 @ 11:53 am PST
We haven’t been buying that many titles. We picked up Superman Returns, Batman Begins in HD. For Blu-Ray Planet Earth, Pirates 1 & 2, and Bridge to Tarabithia (sp?). I’m looking forward to the Harry Potter stuff later this year, would love to see Lord of the Rings in HD/Blu-Ray. Blade Runner seems to be a big deal, I watched it years ago and may need to check it out again.
Comment by Fred Beiderbecke — July 27, 2007 @ 12:07 pm PST