blue-ray players in EUROPE? (1 Viewer)

[MarekM]

I am sorry if such info was posted, please show me thread and remove this thread...

When we can expect first blue-ray players in europe, and wich brand ? pioner ? samsung ? sony ? and exact dates when we will be able to order ?

thank you in advance,
Marek

 

[Cees Alons]

Hello Marek,

Welcome to the forum!

About your question: we don't have the slightest idea. I guess they haven't even decided yet.

Of course Sony et al. want to know first if it will succeed in the US at all. The HD DVD launch seems a success at the moment, but the Blu-ray format still has to prove something.

After the holiday season, they probably decide about the next steps on the market.


Cees

 

[Hartwig Hanser]

The first week of September is IFA in Berlin, where some announcement are expected for HDDVD and Blu-ray in Europe. Some Titles (HDDVD by Studio Canal and Blu-ray by Columbia France) have already been announced for autumn.

 

[Lee-c]

After Christmas I think more and more Blu-Ray players will start to show up in Europe. So you don't have long to wait before you have several models to choose from.

 

[MarekM]

Well I hope it will be sooner
I read somewhere, I am sorry I don't have a link, that player will start to show up from september.... hmm

The lack of information is killing me

Marek

 

[MarekM]

THANX
I was just reading several weeks too lazy to write something........
We I have to wait but it's interesting that I can buy several BR PC burners immediately hmm

Marek

 

[Pall F]

Any chance we will see multi-region players in a few years? Here´s hoping.

Also one noob question. Will US Blu-ray players or HD-DVD players work on a European HD television? I´m thinking about importing a player

 

[Cees Alons]

In 1997 my imported Toshiba played fine on my TV set.

I'm about to import a HD-A1 myself (the Samsung seems a bit too pricy for that at the moment, and there are other considerations), so I expect it to play fine too.

If your TV has HDMI, it should work and I'm also contemplating using a big PC monitor with DVI, for a transitional period.

Personally, I'm confident enough to go ahead, but I can only tell you for certain after the machine arrived here.


Cees

 

[MarekM]

I think it should work,... I can ask friend, he did some test with toshiba and samsung on projector........ so I will ask him if he tested also on some HD TV.... but I think he had european version of samsung to test... I remember he was not able to play US blue ray disk with movies due regions.... hmm

Marek

 

[MarekM]

Where are you going to order ? and how much is shipping ?
Thanx for info..
Marek

 

[Cees Alons]

Shipping costs are terrible. If you want any "safe" method (and not wait too long) it's between $210 and $270 for a package like that (and they say that includes the customs and VAT, but I doubt it). That's why I think importing a $1000 item isn't feasible at the moment - or wise.

There aren't many e-tailers ready to ship equipment like that to Europe, so I have a problem there. Currently, I'm talking to TVA (advertiser on this forum), who are not in the habit of shipping overseas either.

Here are two sites I found as well, but it's still very uncertain if they will ship outside the US continent:
Bright&Sleek
PC Connection.

If I know more, I will post about it (BTW, most retailers don't have the player in stock at the moment, but a new batch seems to be around the corner).


Cees

 

[MarekM]

I was just trying now from Amazon, and they are not shipping here :frowning:
thanx for links will check them.......

I wonder when we will se EU players....... hopefully soon enough, so we don't have to find the way how to get them from US hmm

Marek

 

[Cees Alons]

Marek,

Yet, I guess it will be at least almost a year from now. But I bet the initial price will be > €500 as well - and the $ rate isn't too bad at the moment. That's the good news.


Cees

 

[MarekM]

Hmm, I think it will be sooner, I know I read it somewhere that europe will start THIS september, if anyone know any official news, please share.......
If my friend tested european model od Samsung.... I am sure it will be this year hopefully

Marek

 

[Cees Alons]

Marek,

Europe will certainly not start before the US, so a Blu-ray player this September is out of the question. HD DVD could be, but I doubt it.


Cees

 

[Manus]

Cees,
Check out ebay for players.Its not ideal but there are 1 or 2 shipping units from the uk to europe on there .

May the force be with you

~M~

 

[Pall F]

Some guy at the the digitalbits forums said http://www.dtvcity.com/ shipped players to customers worldwide. I have no idea if this is correct but you could try.

 

[MarekM]

yes Cees, it could be exactly as you said...., but the true is that player wich my friend tested was european version of Samsung blue-ray player...

I will do my best to find out more info... so there is still a HOPE

Marek

 

[Cees Alons]

Marek,

Please let us know!


Cees

 

[Cees Alons]

Marek,

In an (rather critical) article in the local monthly Consumer's Magazine about the format, Toshiba was quoted saying a European HD-A1 will be out at the end of this year.
Unfortunately it's a written article, so I cannot link to it (and it's in Dutch ).

Price quoted was "around €700". I don't know what that would mean street-price wise.

Nothing about a BR-player, though.


Cees