Comments on: Wal-Mart serves up $98 Blu-ray player

Wal-Mart has temporarily rolled back the price on the Magnavox NB530MGX Blu-ray player from $168 to $98. How long will it be before most Blu-ray players cost less than $100?

[make_or_break]

Before BD I had done a few cheap DVD players with durability results generally mixed, though mostly weighted down on the 'What did you expect? You get what you pay for' side. There's reasons why these things are so cheap; generally they don't last worth a damn because what's inside is the electronics parts' equivalent of pond scum.

That said, I would hope that this particular BD deck might be more durable, since it was originally competing against machines closer to $200 than $100, not that a $200 BD machine today is any great shakes. Then again, I do remember buying a $180 Toshiba DVD player (back when $180 was considered CHEAP for a DVD player) that crapped out just over a year's time, so longevity for this Magnavox is probably akin to a crap shoot with the house odds definitely not in one's favor.

[Geromino]

The best way to own HD video is to store it digitally on a hard drive, blu-ray discs are serious waste of space. People should buy all their content digitally (eg. iTunes), and keep it on their computer/media player or external HDD.

Bottomline: Plastic discs such as DVDs, Blu-ray etc. are now obsolete.

[icase81]

Let me know how your ISP treats you after you download a more than 150-200gb in a month from watching movies. Or how you feel when one of those hard drives dies and a terrabyte of movies is lost. Whats that? You backed them up on to discs? Waste of space right?

[genebean66]

You know that is a hell of a deal! But I already one from fathers day sale at wally world for $128! As other comments I see, I'm in the same page! I don't care about fancy shmancy features I don't care about Blu-Ray Live! I just rather pop the disc in player and watch the movie! Right now i'm getting a 22 in LCD TV thats on sale my friend is going to pick up at Navy Base! then I will hook up my blu-ray player! I already got 6ft. HDMI cable! once I get my LCD TV i'm good to go! As for my trusty Toshiba DVD player I have for 9 years mint condition dust free because I put the big plastic (that came with dvd player while still new in box) I cover my dvd player when not in use to keep dust away! Even the battery in remote still works after 9 years?!! lol!!

[jim stone]

Until the price of the blue Ray rip off disks are same as reg Disks.... they could give away the player and I wouldn't buy the damn thing.
Sort of like the cheap 98.00 iPhone 3gs's and the incredible rip off of AT&T for a min of 80. Per month includes tax....ouch AT&T is without shame .... And the service!!! Where the he'll is congress!!!
R blue Ray sales down? Gee I wonder why?...rip off!!!!

[fathernebro]

If you just care about watching blu-ray movies this sounds like a great deal. However the thing that puts blu ray above dvds besides the Hi-res is its online capability. I would buy this but unfortunately I don't buy Philips products and even if I did, I'd rather hold out with my hopes for a slim ps3 soon.

[kdmmsl]

I bought the Magnavox NB500MGX (not the NB530MGX) at my local Wally-World 2 weeks ago at $128 and switched out yesterday for the same model at $98. For me, $30 is nothing to sneeze at. At the time I first bought the unit they had both the 500 and the 530 on sale, with the 530 at $168. No one then, nor any forums that I've checked recently, have been able to clarify the difference between the two models, if any. Does anyone at this site know the difference? BTW, the picture is awesome - I'm a convert from the Toshiba HD-DVD camp - and the upconversion of standard DVD's is also as good or better than the highly regarded HD-A2. Cheers!

[bluraymaven]

Is this deal still available? Can anyone verify this?

[icase81]

I got one on Monday the 20th! Last one they had in stock as well.

[truwarrior22]

I check yesterday and the price is back up to $168. No roll back for me, just wasted gas..lol

[parasiterain]

Its still only $98 here.

[jumpkutz]

Anybody know if this is still going on? Finally got some $$$$$$$!!!!!!!

[sartor1]

I'd buy one for $98.. ;-)
I'd get my Blue Ray discs from the library..

[bnkts]

Just went to wal-mart looking for this bluray and they are now selling it for $148.00. What happen to the old price. I thought wal-mart was know for rolling back prices not raising them. I am very disaapointed in wal mart and may not shop there anymore.