Samsung’s new line of BluRay players make the PS3 look like more and more of a bargain
Ask anyone who hasn’t bought a BluRay player yet why not and you’ll likely get the same response: They’re too expensive. And they’re right. With the cheapest player at Best Buy, the Samsung BDP1500, currently weighing in at $262.98, it seems the industry still has a while to go before they hit the $199 mark (the price point that many believe is the turning point for the global infiltration of a new media format). They’ve been popping up here and there, but they’re usually by brands like Vizio or Insignia or other Magnetbox and Sorny-like no-name brands.
Sadly it seems Samsung is content to continue the “you want it but you can’t afford it” trend with the release of its new line of players, the $399 BD-P3600 and the budget-model BD-P1600, costing $299. For those of you who like lighting your Cohibas with $20 bills, there’s also the über-stylish BD-P4600, which tries to justify its $499 (USD) pricetag with built-in WiFi and the ability to stream Netflix and Pandora purchases directly to your living room. A nice feature, to be sure, but considering your XBOX 360 can do that already, and is rumoured to be PS3 bound one day (which seems inevitable to me), is this a feature you really need? And considering a PS3 still costs $100 LESS (CAD) than Samsung’s new player and is inarguably much more feature-rich and media capable, I have to wonder what Samsung’s strategy is, beyond, of course, “milk the suckers”.
Style is important, of course, and this thing IS sexy, but $499? Come on.
Samsung’s new lineup will be hitting stores in the US as early as April 19.
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who the hell would buy this thing?
If I know you and your sarcasm as well as I think I do, then your comment means you’ve already pre-ordered yours…
LOL im not THAT BAD (i dont think…)
no no im waiting for the $199 mark…
hehe, well *PHEW* to that 🙂
Srsly it didn’t take DVD this long to get to a decent price point did it?!?
Granted, they weren’t universally regardedas “the last hard medium” like I think BD is. After this, I think it’s all gonna be flash-based or OTA/Direct Download.
downloads have to get the audio right
from what ive seen they skimp on the PCM
however, agreed
Considering most people hide their players in an entertainment unit, having something that looks this cool is kinda pointless unless you WANT to colour coordinate your home around it.
true say…although this thing is designed to be wall-mounted too, so I think they’re trying to sell it as Home Theatre Art
That’s just what I want, make EVERY piece of electronics thin enough to hang, so that instead of an entertainment cabinet or shelf, you just have a whole bunch of pretty squares hanging from your wall.
Seems SO much more practical.
🙂
Go the whole 9…get rid of furniture altogether and just have padded alcoves in the walls.
It’s new minimalist age. If only you can figure out a way to get from the wall-couch to the wall-toilet without ever touching the floor, you’ll have attained absolute perfection XD
Just cut out a hole in the wall couch seat, and you’re golden… 🙂