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HD DVD Player to Break $100 Mark on Friday
Friday, 02 November 2007 06:11

Wal-Mart's Secret In-Store Specials ad
Wal-Mart to sell HD DVD player for $98 this Friday

Just as the market was getting used to the idea of a sub-$200 HD DVD player, the looming promise of crazy sales for this holiday season has driven high-definition movie hardware at levels never thought possible.

Believe it or not Wal-Mart is advertising that it will sell the Toshiba HD-A2 this Friday for $98.87. The holiday-themed ad calls the sale this Friday the “Secret In-Store Specials.” The Toshiba HD-A2 is asterisked with the notes saying that the product may not be available in all stores and that it will be while quantities last – suggesting that there could be a limited number set aside as a “doorcrasher” item.

The third-generation Toshiba HD-A3 will also be soon selling at $169.99 at Sears during its Black Friday sale, according to blackfriday.info. The player currently sells for $299.99.

Although Blu-ray Disc software is outselling that of HD DVD, the hardware entry price point is clearly in HD DVD’s favor. Retailers sensitive to the pricing of its electronics products appear to be siding with the lower cost of HD DVD machinery.

Wal-Mart was one of the first retailers to reveal its plans to carry Toshiba’s entry-level HD DVD player at $198. Just days after Wal-Mart’s reveal, Circuit City and Amazon.com priced the HD-A2 on their respective websites for $197.99.

Also notable in Wal-Mart's Friday ad is the Sanyo 50-inch plasma HDTV, which will fit nicely as this holiday's most wanted gift. Those looking to jump straight into high-definition content will find quite the bargain with Wal-Mart's TV and HD DVD player combo at the end of this week.