Panasonic DMP-BD1 upgradeable to DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD

Michael Osadciw · 09-11-2006, 01:37 PM

http://reviews.cnet.com/Panasonic_DM...2.html?tag=nav

Check it out! Free firmware updates are nice. I'm very interested in this machine.

Mike

Ronald Epstein · 09-11-2006, 03:21 PM

Interesting. Very pricey!

I have been planning to purchase a Blu-Ray player. I'd consider the
Panasonic, but not until the studios start releasing better titles
to Blu-Ray (and I don't mean the stuff due out in Q4).

Thanks for the link!

dpippel · 09-11-2006, 03:36 PM

Too rich for my blood. Until a Blu-ray player that's at or below the $500 price point with no compromise on features hits the market, I'm out. I'm also out if the software being released continues to be so hit or miss as far as quality is concerned.

Ron-P · 09-11-2006, 03:48 PM

Blu-ray machines need to get down into the $500 price range before I will even consider buying one. Plus, with all the software issues it's just way too risky at this point, even with the Panny and Sony models coming.

Kevin. W · 09-11-2006, 06:03 PM

$1300 to $1500. You got too be kidding. Count me out.

**HTF Ads**

Harminder · 09-11-2006, 07:23 PM

I'll pay $1000 for a dual format player, but not a single format player.

RobertR · 09-12-2006, 09:45 AM

Quote:

A bigger deal--and potential justification of the DMP-BD10's price premium--is the fact that Panasonic is promising a free firmware upgrade that will enable the player to decode the latest and greatest high-fidelity Blu-ray soundtracks, DTS-HD, and Dolby TrueHD.

Why is the article trumpeting one free firmware upgrade as a big deal that justifies the price tag? Toshiba routinely makes firmware upgrades available, at 1/3 the price.

Paul Arnette · 09-12-2006, 12:43 PM

No way I'm paying that much for a Panasonic. Nor would I pay what they are asking for the Samsung because its a... Samsung.

I almost won't buy a Sony on principle alone, and the fact their player sounds like it won't support the new audio codes just reinforces that. I might pay that much for a Pioneer, but it had better be an Elite.

I guess the expansion shelf I bought for my A/V rack with a BD player in mind is going to sit empty for awhile. No big deal, I can be patient especially with the [sarcasm]fantastic[/sarcasm] exclusive Blu-Ray titles they've got lined up.

Michael Osadciw · 09-12-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin. W

$1300 to $1500. You got too be kidding. Count me out.

Wow...did you guys say the same thing when DVD first hit the shelves almost 10 years ago?

Blu-ray are at early adopter prices. As I see it, the reason why there seems to be so much rejection of these units because of the price is because Toshiba, at their $500 price point, skipped a generation of adopters and went right to consumer #3 (a bigger population)...since #3 found a product at their price point you tend to be more vocal against BD pricing.

Imagine if Toshiba had retailed the HD-A1 at $1000 too instead of subsidizing it. The tables would be a lot different right now.

I'm not saying this to look arrogant, but after spending only 10 years in sales that's just how it is...that's how people are.

I see it all in this well-known business point of view (much like a pyramid in # of people). Manufacturers rely on this for their new products. Here is the breakdown:

1. The first-time buyer. This guy has some money to spend. He will pay full price for a new item and is most interested in the newest gadgets, regardless of price. The are a small number of early adopters.

2. This guy can wait longer for the newest technology. He doesn't want to wait too long to feel left behind so will probably buy the second or third generation product. He won't pay full price as customer #1 but he also won't wait for basement prices. He will never pay full price, he can afford to wait.

3. If you think cutomer #2 is tough on price, you’ve never met #3. They aren’t even remotely interested in paying full (early adopter) price. They will wait for the technology to drop and there are many more people in this group than in the first two. They want to get into new technology (some know about it - some don't) but can wait it out.

4. The uneducated mass market. They don't know about the technology, but when shown the benefits and with a cheap price they will buy.

Mike

dpippel · 09-12-2006, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Osadciw

Blu-ray are at early adopter prices. As I see it, the reason why there seems to be so much rejection of these units because of the price is because Toshiba, at their $500 price point, skipped a generation of adopters and went right to consumer #3 (a bigger population)...since #3 found a product at their price point you tend to be more vocal against BD pricing.

You can stop with the condescending attitude anytime, really.