Toshiba grits its teeth, releases Blu-ray player

Seeing Toshiba and the Blu-ray logo on the same player makes us think 'Photoshop,' but the BDX2000 is a real product.

Toshiba officially conceded the format war in February 2008, but plenty of people thought it wasn't really over until Toshiba put out a Blu-ray player. A year and a half later, that day has finally come. This morning, Toshiba announced the BDX2000, an entry-level Blu-ray player ($250 list price) to be released in November.

While we're always glad to see more competition in the Blu-ray space, the BDX2000 doesn't bring anything special to the table. It supports all the basic features, like Profile 2.0 compatibility and onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio, but there are currently no premium features, such as integrated Wi-Fi or streaming media services like Netflix. There's also no onboard memory, so you'll need to add storage using the player's SD card slot to use BD-Live features.

Considering its midrange price, the BDX2000 will have a tough time competing against players like the Panasonic DMP-BD60, Samsung BD-P1600, and LG BD370, all of which offer streaming content in addition to Blu-ray playback.

[peterwhite]

What an odd product release, it's almost as if they're trying to convince everyone that the delay in releasing a blu-ray was due to development and innovation. Even though we all can be sure they most likely reverse engineered and/or hired existing blu-ray factory managers. The price point is horrible for a non feature rich blu-ray - for nearly the same money I could purchase a PS3 (though a remote control could range from $50 to $75 more). For their sake I hope they're simply blowing out on-hand component stock and materials with a feature rich, dramatically less expensive model just around the corner. Tsk Tsk ... come on Panasonic, if you're going to try and cheat ... at least copy an A student, not the exchange student who barely speaks English.

[aragorn888]

"I could purchase a PS3 (though a remote control could range from $50 to $75 more). "

Really? The PS3 remote is exactly $19.95 at Amazon. You would pay $50-75 if you buy the Harmony module but, as a Harmony user who bought the PS3 remote, I'd rather keep them separate.

[kryzchek]

February of 2008 is "over two years" past September 2009? Someone owes me some missed birthday presents.

[MoskovciakM]

My mistake. I updated the story.

[kryzchek]

Looks like I made a similar mistake. Muphry's Law strikes again. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law

[azadam24]

I agree with the previous poster - the PS3 (slim or fat) has gotten stellar reviews for its Blu-Ray player, and the remote control is only $20 or so. It would definitely seem a no-brainer to have a higher-quality BD player with the added bonus of a killer gaming console (not choosing any sides on that front, I have a 360, Wii and PS3). At any rate, given the choice I'd always shell out a bit more to get the gaming capabilities plus web-browsing capability, albeit somewhat mediocre on the PS3.

[celticbrewer]

While I'm a fan of the PS3, the slim apparently isn't as quick at reading BR discs as the "fat" which wasn't too speedy itself. Quality and capability, yeah it's great. And all the other features (media, games) make it a better value. But for people just interested in viewing movies, there's cheaper and better options. My friend just picked up a decent BR player for $100 (on sale from $150) with BDLive and all the usual functions.

[lil-yankee]

Celticbrewer
You are absolutely right, the fat was 1 second faster than the slim, go figure....

[douggdangger]

Still not jumping on the bluray bandwagon.

When movies are $30 - $35 a pop most people are reluctant to buy one.

There are movies in the $20 range but they're titles that even Martians have never even heard of.

[FIREitUP913]

douggdangger, please don't post completely false inaccurate information.

Blu rays do not sell for 30-35, completel BS. I usually pay between 10-20 for my blu rays, there are a select few that I bought at 25-27 because I wanted them at release. But not movies like Crank 2 are releasing for 19.99 brand new. 30-35 bucks a blu ray is completely wrong.

[FIREitUP913]

movies that are 20 no one heard of? Ummm no. The average price i pay for blu rays is 20, maybe less. Actually out of the 200 I have, well over half cost 10-20 bucks, movies like V for Vendetta, Die Hard, Crank, Watchmen, batman begins, spiderman etc etc all cost under 20 for me. I guess you live in a cardboard box and never heard of those movies

[aragorn888]

LOL - he's probably one of those guys who think they are supposed to pay $100 for an HDMI cable or face arrest.

[iowampb39]

>>..the slim apparently isn't as quick at reading BR discs as the "fat" which wasn't too speedy itself.

Both PS3 and PS3 Slim are very fast on BR discs.. there is no speed issues with a PS3 and never was.
This Toshiba player is a joke compared to what is available.. expect the price of this to drop like a rock or never sell.

>>When movies are $30 - $35 a pop most people

I have 120 Blu Movies, Average priced paid about $13-14 each.
Just got Braveheart and Gladiator for $9. after rebates at Best Buy (cheaper than what I paid for the DVD versions). Got Watchmen Blu Ray for $8
Yeah not all movies are this cheap but they are not 30-35 either.

[macksumum]

with blu-ray movies costing an average of $10 to $20, can someone tell me where i can get the movie UP on blu-ray at that price when it comes out?i also want to get THE WIZARD OF OZ on blu-ray at that price when it comes out.

[douggdangger]

"30-35 bucks a blu ray is completely wrong. "

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9015638&st=wally&type=product&id=1852883 Wall-E bluray $35 regular price, on sale for $29.99

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9230496&st=twilight&type=product&id=1948207 Twilight bluray $35 regular price, on sale for $29.99

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9386684&st=watchmen&type=product&id=2000158 Watchmen bluray $30

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9078981&type=product&id=1897123 Ironman bluray $40 regular price, on sale for $29.99


Sorry but you're wrong. Crappy economy is not friendly to movies that are $30 a pop.

[BCF1968]

Maybe if you'd stop buying at Best Buy you'd get them cheaper

Wall-E $19.86 http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10363599

Twilight $23.86 http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10913590

Watchmen $19.86 http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11070113

Iron Man $23.86 http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10598601