Rumors are running rampant that a sub-$500 player will be announced soon. No, I'm not talking about the PS3.

I'm talking about a REAL player.

I chose "no." It would have to be under $200 for me to even contemplate it.

Maybe if the quality goes way up.

I head that too. Sounded like a really cheap player. Given the bugs in the good players, I can't imagine buying a player from a company like LG, etc. right now. Hell, I was too tight to pay $499 for the HD-DVD player and only pulled the trigger through the Continental deal for $363. It would probably take something along those lines before I would ever consider it, and then only after the PQ issues etc. are a thing of the past.

All votes are for "maybe depending on quality." Obviously we are just a bunch of Sony haters and HD-DVD fanboys who just care about bad things happening to Sony.

I would definitely consider it, but not yet. I'd rather wait and see how things pan out over the next year or so. I can resist whatever BR only titles are released, for now. It's extremely easy to not care now, with all the players being over $1000 and the quality on 99% of the titles to be lacking.

Here's one more "Sony-hating HD DVD fanboy" who voted "maybe."

Not interested. I can live with the regular DVD's for Sony movies, meanwhile holding out hope that Fox, etc will see the light and release for both.

Would I? Only if

A. BD25 software ever matches Hd-dvd, with the same extras
and/or
B. a majority of titles are released using BD50 with PQ,SQ and extras that exceed Hd-dvd.

The 1K player price is not what has kept me away from Blu-Ray. I have D-VHS, HD-dvd and OTA and Sat HD. The BDA needs to recollect themselves and get their shit in order.

I accidently voted for hell no, but it should have been the middle one.


They have a lot of work before they can even think about getting any of my coin.

I voted no. Since I am happy with HD DVD for now, despite support from only three studios, my criteria for buying a BD player are:

• Decent software with PQ, AQ and features that match HD DVD.
• A price of ~$200 for a player that is well reviewed, from a reputable company (preferably Panasonic, I've been very pleased with SD DVD machines from them in that price range).
• Some titles I actually want to buy from Disney, Fox and Sony/Columbia. (There is nothing so far.)

When all those conditions are met I almost certainly WILL buy a BD player.

Sub $500 can mean $499 or it can mean $299 or it can mean $99. I don't think I would buy a player for more than $500 unless it was a combo. If they announce it, I take it as good news. That can only make HD-DVD more competitive which will leave more money in my pocket if I get one as a gift for someone.

Choice #2 for me also.

Depends. If the quality of discs go up, there are movies that I can only get there, and it starts to take off, probably. I may buy a PS3 anyway eventually, so it might be a moot point.

If BD is still alive around this time-next year...... then I may pick one up if:

1. Quality of the discs improves.
2. Manufacturers stand by and support the product (firmware releases).

...but this is probably wishful thinking on my part.

Yep, I probably would if it was by a reputable company with good reviews. It would have to be reviewed at least as well as the Toshiba which is saying something. I would also need positive reviews of the new Fox and Disney titles as weel. I voted maybe.

If by sub-$500 you mean anything under $500, then I would have to say maybe, but it's dependent upon many factors.

1. A majority of discs use advanced video and audio codecs. This would mean A/V quality on par with HD DVD.
2. Players under $200 (that's sub-$500, right? )
3. Fox and Disney remain exclusive to BD.

And those are in order of importance. So, if we see really good players under $200, but the majority of discs still look like shit that's been left in the sun to bake for 8 days, then it wouldn't make a damn bit of difference. Also, if Fox and Disney end up releasing for HD DVD, then I'll have very little reason to buy a BD player.

Nothing wrong with that. Justified.

only if the quality matches HD DVD.

I picked option 2, but even if they dropped to $500 tomorrow I'm giving HD DVD a year or so of exclusive purchases before I decide on BD. HD DVD has earned that much loyalty.

I voted maybe, but thats a big maybe...But I havent bought an HD-DVD player yet (although Ive had it in the checkout line). For me its a bit to early for both at this point, but again maybe they want to make an add on for the 360 as well ...

I love my HD DVD player, but if Blu delivered on even half their promises and priced it reasonably, I'd have to jump in.

I did option 2, but two things:

1) player has to be as good as the Tosh v2.0, out of the box
2) BD titles have to step up to avdanced codecs (no MPEG2/LPCM)
3) Fox and Disney stay BD-only AND start releasing a lot of good titles (talking AFI top 100 titles, so far only HD-DVD has released any)

There ya go!

Ditto on all your points...I would possibly buy one (even for $1000)....but I would add that BD needs to start giving us AT LEAST the same special features as the standard dvd counterparts. I wish NO ONE would support a format that consistently snubs us on special features like BD is doing right now.

For me, the player price is not as big of a deal as the quality of the media for it.