HD-DVD for 360 drops to $129

[Groundbeef]

News just rolling in that ToysRUs and Amazon are listing the HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 has now fallen to $129.

This is just a couple of months after prices fell to $179.

Not a bad deal if you have a 360. Keep in mind this unit comes with 1 movie, and you are elgible for 5 free disks via mail in offer.

Heres a link:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/04...stoops-to-129/

[kexodusc]

Yeah, saw this coming. Think MS is going to have to drop the MSRP on this baby with Toshiba giving away the more functional stand-alones these days for less than $199.

Still, $129 for HD-DVD playing ability ain't too shabby...

[Groundbeef]

Yeah, saw this coming. Think MS is going to have to drop the MSRP on this baby with Toshiba giving away the more functional stand-alones these days for less than $199.

Still, $129 for HD-DVD playing ability ain't too shabby...

No, not bad at all. I doubt that there is a loss on the unit either. Its really only a slave drive, as all the decoding and processing is done by the console.

Despite the naysayers here on the board, the 360 does a great job with the HD-DVD. If you have a 360, and want HD-DVD, this is a great way to get into it.

As an added bonus, this drive DOES function with Vista, so its pretty easy to add it to a computer and play it that way also.

[kexodusc]

No, not bad at all. I doubt that there is a loss on the unit either. Its really only a slave drive, as all the decoding and processing is done by the console.

Despite the naysayers here on the board, the 360 does a great job with the HD-DVD. If you have a 360, and want HD-DVD, this is a great way to get into it.

As an added bonus, this drive DOES function with Vista, so its pretty easy to add it to a computer and play it that way also.

I think for a lot of people this is a good alternative. I don't really care one way or another if MS makes money or loses money on each unit - well, I'd probably like it more if MS was losing a bit

The only downside I can think of is the audio processing, or lack thereof. If I'm not mistaken, these things are limited to good ol Dolby Digital on the audio front, aren't they?

[Groundbeef]

I think for a lot of people this is a good alternative. I don't really care one way or another if MS makes money or loses money on each unit - well, I'd probably like it more if MS was losing a bit

The only downside I can think of is the audio processing, or lack thereof. If I'm not mistaken, these things are limited to good ol Dolby Digital on the audio front, aren't they?

To be honest, I am not sure exactly. I'll look it up. It looks like your correct on that.

If you need those other audio formats, you will need a regular HD-DVD player.

[kexodusc]

To be honest, I am not sure exactly. I'll look it up. It looks like your correct on that.

If you need those other audio formats, you will need a regular HD-DVD player.

Been awhile since I looked it up, but IIRC, the HD-DVD's can be encoded with Dolby Digital at a higher 640 kb/s bit-rate than the standard 448 kb/s which supposedly is a huge improvement. Not sure if it puts up into DTS territory or better? Haven't tested it myself.

Gotta wonder though, the Xbox 360's all have HDMI now, surely they could change that limitation?