AfterDawn: News

Microsoft drops price of Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on

Microsoft has announced that it has cut the price of its Xbox 360 HD DVD addon by $50 USD. The price cut follows recent decisions by Toshiba to drop prices on their HD DVD players.

The new price cut brings the price of the add-on in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to $129.99 USD. A few months ago Microsoft dropped the price of its add-on and promptly saw a surge in sales.



Earlier today, the huge e-tailer Amazon began selling the add-on for $79.99 USD and sold out within hours.

It is also important to note that every purchase of the add-on includes a free copy of "King Kong" on HD DVD in the box as well as an offer to get five free discs in the mail.



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 6 Feb 2008 17:45

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• 36 comments

• hm577

  I've read that this thing, although works, is a P.O.S.!!!
  
  Poor quality and lowered resolution (slightly but noticeably) as well as kinda loud and shaky. For Under 2 bills, whadyaexpect............especially seeing that this has been out a long time now, well before the significant price drops on standalone players. I guess you get what you pay for generally speaking.

  6.2.2008 18:21 #1

• adamryer

  Im buyin one

  6.2.2008 18:22 #2

• themind

  it works great on my 40" lcd

  6.2.2008 18:25 #3

• ZeusAV

  Guess they'd better firesale them while they still can.

  6.2.2008 18:33 #4

• silk42

  You can also use this with your computer if you don't own an Xbox 360. Here's a link with the steps.

  6.2.2008 18:36 #5

• ripxrush

  finally you guys posted this article a few months ago! & no one xcept toys r us had it for 129 now it seems everyone is going this time! even M$

  6.2.2008 20:53 #6

• atomicxl

  $80 is a great deal. You can connect this to your computer. Plus Netflix gives you HD-DVD for no extra cost. When I got Netflix, my DVD/MP4 collection grew to epic numbers. Now my HD collection will too. Plus, $80 is a drop in the bucket. Thats 1/5 the price of a Blu-Ray player. Spending it won't really slow down anyone from saving up.

  6.2.2008 20:54 #7

• Pop_Smith

  Sure its not the greatest player around but for an entry-level player you can't beat it. I will pick one up if they sell it at $80 again. :-)

  6.2.2008 21:00 #8

• c1c

  Well it would be nice if there was a way to hook it up to a tv without a 360. Also I can't see getting one until an hd dvd burner is a reasonable cost so I can backup the movies I buy. But I have a feeling all these price drops are a way to deplete their stock and get rid of an obsolete media. This in turn would leave a lot of people stranded with a player that is done for. I hope not, I like the competition.

  6.2.2008 21:54 #9

• elfman12

  This thing works great, both on the 360 and on my PC. Great, great value, and might come in handy if HD-DVD makes it's mark as a recordable format, allowing for a cheap reader. You can even remove it from it's housing and mount it in a 5.25" bay in your pc.
  
  Plus 6 movies all for $80 street? Nice.

  6.2.2008 22:57 #10

• elfman12

  Originally posted by hm577: Poor quality and lowered resolution (slightly but noticeably)
  What exactly are you referring to? Lower resolution?

  6.2.2008 23:01 #11

• ZimHosein

  Originally posted by elfman12: You can even remove it from it's housing and mount it in a 5.25" bay in your pc.That is some interesting info elfman12! Am I wrong in guessing that once installed in my rig, all I have to do is download the Win driver? Thanks in advance.

  6.2.2008 23:01 #12

• elfman12

  Quote:That is some interesting info elfman12! Am I wrong in guessing that once installed in my rig, all I have to do is download the Win driver? Thanks in advance.
  Yeah, basically it will install a driver automatically. Now if you want to play HD movies, you WILL need PowerDVD or another playback program, but it'll access as a ROM drive just fine. Combine that with AnyDVD and you can rip to any format you'd like to view it in, like x264 and watch it from Media Center or something.
  
  Anyway, very versatile drive... love it. I just got a BluRay internal drive (LiteOne, about $200) and it's be giving me fits trying to do the same thing... it's a sloooowww drive. I'll keep tweaking and get it running better, hopefully.

  7.2.2008 03:02 #13

• Gradical

  Firesale hahaha, thats hilarious, i mean, if sony has been able to holf some dead formats in the past like the MD or the UMD, why couldnt microsoft hold HD-DVD, i think a lot of people is going to be pissed with what they paid when microsoft releases the console with the hd-dvd integrated

  7.2.2008 10:43 #14

• psplvanub

  i dont see the point to be honest.
  hd-dvd is going obselete and will be completely by the end of 08.
  blu-ray is owning and will probably win the format war seen as sony is behind it. Like c1c saidQuote:But I have a feeling all these price drops are a way to deplete their stock and get rid of an obsolete media. This in turn would leave a lot of people stranded with a player that is done for. I hope not, I like the competition.

  7.2.2008 12:10 #15

• engage16

  and this is why i WILL NOT buy xbox... why should i have to pay $80 nevermind $130 to play a movie on my console when it has that type of drive built in. why do you have to buy a seperate addon... let's see it microsoft... the most money hungry corporation on earth, and they do it cause they know they can get away with it... LONG LIVE PLAYSTATION!!!

  7.2.2008 12:55 #16

• Bigperm88

  Originally posted by engage16: and this is why i WILL NOT buy xbox... why should i have to pay $80 nevermind $130 to play a movie on my console when it has that type of drive built in. why do you have to buy a seperate addon... let's see it microsoft... the most money hungry corporation on earth, and they do it cause they know they can get away with it... LONG LIVE PLAYSTATION!!!I take it you have not loaded a game on your PS3. The load times are outrageous, even with a lot of the content dumped onto the HD (To increase loading speeds).
  
  
  

  HD DVD is the consumer friendly choice. Dont let gamers decide your HDM. HD DVD is here to stay.
  
  PS3, The Blu-ray Trogen Horse that forgot to include the horse.

  7.2.2008 14:41 #17

• engage16

  actually i don't own a PS3 i would if i had the hdtv but right now that's not happening... but going back on topic, have you forgotten about all the isssues with the xbox 360 so far? power supply catching on fire, red ring of death, general overheating, their premiere game "Halo 3" cause numorous console failures... xbox is another faulty microsoft product...
  

  Custom built AMD XP 2200+, 80gb HDD, 200gb HDD, 764mb RAM, SONY CD-RW 52x CRX230E, SONY DVD-RW 16x DL DRU-800A, ATI Raedon 9600 128mb
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  7.2.2008 15:39 #18

• sharks06

  Originally posted by hm577: I've read that this thing, although works, is a P.O.S.!!!
  
  Poor quality and lowered resolution (slightly but noticeably) as well as kinda loud and shaky. For Under 2 bills, whadyaexpect............especially seeing that this has been out a long time now, well before the significant price drops on standalone players. I guess you get what you pay for generally speaking.Whatever PS3 Fanboy! I have had this for over a year and the quality is solid. I also have a PS3 and both are very comparable!

  7.2.2008 15:53 #19

• vinny13

  It's a great price, but I wouldn't buy one... M$ doesn't have sales without reason behind them... There's always a catch.
  
  Next week or so they'll probably anounce that they're stopping production... They always do somethin' to screw the customer over... Multiple times for some.

  7.2.2008 16:13 #20

• emugamer

  I'm buying one ASAP, probably with my PS3. Taxes are coming in and I have some $$$ for toys. Can't beat the price and there are a number of good HD movies that I want to own. Plus I just bought a 22" LCD monitor with HDMI in, and can change the source input with the push of a button. The quality woud look great on my new monitor. pwnage!

  8.2.2008 12:15 #21

• Viperz_7

  Originally posted by engage16: and this is why i WILL NOT buy xbox... why should i have to pay $80 nevermind $130 to play a movie on my console when it has that type of drive built in. why do you have to buy a seperate addon... let's see it microsoft... the most money hungry corporation on earth, and they do it cause they know they can get away with it... LONG LIVE PLAYSTATION!!!
  YEA.. so instead of paying $350 for the system and $130 to add MOVIE watching, you'd much rather pay $600 out the door to watch movies ~ all the time wearing your $600 paperweight out faster becasue we all KNOW that PSUX3's will NEVER use the added space to enhance the games, by the time the developers figure out how to use that much space the PSUX5's will be out, so go ahead and waste your money, Japan needs all the help they can get.
  
  Personaly I would much rather have the OPTION of purchasing an additional movie viewing device later in time when and if I have the desire and funds to back it up. Which, I have alreay done and this player works perfectly, and at this price I'll probably grab a second to have on my PC for viewing on my 22" LCD. How would you do that on your P'machine??..

  8.2.2008 22:48 #22

• ZimHosein

  Quote:Quote:That is some interesting info elfman12! Am I wrong in guessing that once installed in my rig, all I have to do is download the Win driver? Thanks in advance.
  Yeah, basically it will install a driver automatically. Now if you want to play HD movies, you WILL need PowerDVD or another playback program, but it'll access as a ROM drive just fine. Combine that with AnyDVD and you can rip to any format you'd like to view it in, like x264 and watch it from Media Center or something.Quote:Thank you for the detailed response elfman12, I appreciate it and look forward to adding am Xbox 360 HD drive to my rig! :)

  8.2.2008 23:51 #23

• tripplite

  yes just got mine today, totally worth it!!
  

  (+[__]%)-u happy leadbaron?
  simple batch creation guide- http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/597652

  8.2.2008 23:53 #24

• watermark

  Now I'm totally confused. I have been burning and backing up DVD's for several years with no complaints. So now what's all this format changes? Is there an HD or Blueray reader/burner that we can backup our movies with but will also be able to play on a stand alone player? I wish they would come out with one burner/writer and player that does it all. Do you guys think that's possible in the future?

  9.2.2008 00:36 #25

• ChiefBrdy

  HD burners for the computer are $700 plus. The disks are not cheap either.
  
  I see no real benefit in buying the XBox DVD player. For around the same money, you can get a stand alone Toshiba that has more features and better quality. Although, $79 + 5 movies for the 360 is not a bad deal at all. I wouldn't pay any more though.

  9.2.2008 10:48 #26

• kubapolak

  I love when the prices are going down. Too bad I didn't make in time for the amazon sale, but I hope other stores will give us a break from time to time, I'll be on the look-out.

  11.2.2008 21:05 #27

• ZimHosein

  Originally posted by kubapolak: I love when the prices are going down. Too bad I didn't make in time for the amazon sale, but I hope other stores will give us a break from time to time, I'll be on the look-out.As will I kubapolak! :)

  11.2.2008 22:57 #28

• psplvanub

  Originally posted by Viperz_7: Originally posted by engage16: and this is why i WILL NOT buy xbox... why should i have to pay $80 nevermind $130 to play a movie on my console when it has that type of drive built in. why do you have to buy a seperate addon... let's see it microsoft... the most money hungry corporation on earth, and they do it cause they know they can get away with it... LONG LIVE PLAYSTATION!!!
  YEA.. so instead of paying $350 for the system and $130 to add MOVIE watching, you'd much rather pay $600 out the door to watch movies ~ all the time wearing your $600 paperweight out faster becasue we all KNOW that PSUX3's will NEVER use the added space to enhance the games, by the time the developers figure out how to use that much space the PSUX5's will be out, so go ahead and waste your money, Japan needs all the help they can get.
  
  Personaly I would much rather have the OPTION of purchasing an additional movie viewing device later in time when and if I have the desire and funds to back it up. Which, I have alreay done and this player works perfectly, and at this price I'll probably grab a second to have on my PC for viewing on my 22" LCD. How would you do that on your P'machine??..#
  yea thats ok, EXCEPT HD-DVD WILL BE DEAD BY THE END OF 08!!!!
  

  (+[_]%)> 1.50> 3.02> 3.51> 3.71 > 3.73> 3.71 m33> 3.71m33-2> 3.71m33-3
  You're Not Exactly a Hippie...
  While you're not a hippie, you've got the spirit of one.Like most hippies, you have deep beliefs and unusual interests.You may not do hippie fashions, music, or heavy drug use.But at heart, you are a free spirit and wary of the status quo.
  

  14.2.2008 03:52 #29

• varnull

  ^^ so you keep bashing on.. It won't be dead at all, just running in it's niche market.
  
  As an open format I can see a lot more people adopting it when they realise sony's offering has many many drm drawbacks.
  
  now if M$ had any real bravery they would also throw hundreds of millions at the film studios just like sony have.
  

  
  
  Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work.... Commercial "pay for" software = made by software developers who want paying... see where I'm going with this?

  14.2.2008 05:25 #30

• vinny13

  Originally posted by varnull: ^^ so you keep bashing on.. It won't be dead at all, just running in it's niche market.
  
  As an open format I can see a lot more people adopting it when they realise sony's offering has many many drm drawbacks.
  
  now if M$ had any real bravery they would also throw hundreds of millions at the film studios just like sony have.Most people have no clue what DRM is period :P
  

  (+[PSP]%) = 3.52M33-4
  
  "I get no respect, I tell ya!"

  14.2.2008 16:56 #31

• Ress

  Originally posted by engage16: and this is why i WILL NOT buy xbox... why should i have to pay $80 nevermind $130 to play a movie on my console when it has that type of drive built in. why do you have to buy a seperate addon... let's see it microsoft... the most money hungry corporation on earth, and they do it cause they know they can get away with it... LONG LIVE PLAYSTATION!!!
  And ironically the nintendo Wii pwns both in sales and has neither HD-DVD OR Blu-ray or even HD at all for that matter........... could it be its the cheapest of all 3?? When are they gonna learn this country revolves around money.......it don't matter if the thing can cook you breakfast in the morning if console A is cheaper then B or C thats what people are gonna buy

  15.2.2008 16:33 #32

• borhan9

  the loss of hd dvd is going to hurt microsofts xbox sales but however the only silver lining for microsoft is going to be the massive sales of halo.

  2.3.2008 07:26 #33

• tripplite

  my hd-dvd player came in the mail 3 weeks ago.....i regret ever buying it!! now that the format war is over i feel like such and idiot.....
  

  
  

  2.3.2008 17:26 #34

• beeper1

  noone has said that this thing is like $49.99 now. I still see movies comming out in HD. at 50 bucks it worth it for another years worth of viewing HD-DVD movies. and with the Netflix rentals why not. its just 50 bucks

  4.3.2008 13:37 #35

• goodswipe

  Originally posted by tripplite: my hd-dvd player came in the mail 3 weeks ago.....i regret ever buying it!! now that the format war is over i feel like such and idiot.....Why? There's still well over 500 HD DVD's to choose from, not to mention all the imports you can buy. ;)
  
  Cheer up trippy, It will be ok!
  

  "look honey, it said goodswipe! oh wow, that's amazing."

  4.3.2008 13:49 #36