Home Gaming Blu-Ray stand alone players are now cheaper than the PS3

Blu-Ray stand alone players are now cheaper than the PS3

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Blu-Ray standalone The Blu-Ray player in the PS3 has always been one of it’s most important features and the fact that it has been the cheapest Blu-Ray player on the market has allowed it to grab quite a few sales even from non-gamers.

However that is now changing with the latest round of Amazon price cuts putting some stand alone players at a cost far below the PS3.

The Sony BDP-S350 is now $105 cheaper at $295 which is also $105 cheaper than the PS3.

I find it quite surprising that it is Sony leading the charge on this front as they must be expecting this to cannibalise sales from their PS3.

In completely unrelated news, I was chatting to someone at my daughters party on the weekend and they were asking about the gaming consoles and Blu-Ray players. He isn’t much of a gamer so I was saying that he should then go for the PS3 as it’s the best buy if you want a Blu-Ray player. However he said that he was at some electronics shop and saw a Blu-Ray player and full surround sound system for just over the price of a PS3… So he is going for that instead.

Source: PunchJump & my daughters party

Last Updated: September 22, 2008

24 Comments

  1. kab123

    September 22, 2008 at 11:04

    “I find it quite surprising that it is Sony leading the charge on this front as they must be expecting this to cannibalise sales from their PS3.”

    Are you sure you hane thought through what yu just said?

    Reply

  2. SlippyMadFrog

    September 22, 2008 at 11:11

    Read the last paragraph

    Reply

  3. kab123

    September 22, 2008 at 11:48

    😕 please explain?

    Reply

  4. baba

    September 22, 2008 at 12:05

    Early 2000’s – Source: Lazygamer

    BREAKING NEWS!!!!

    DVD PLAYERS ARE CHEAPER THAN PS2’s – That is going to hurt the PS2’s sales!

    Reply

  5. kab123

    September 22, 2008 at 12:18

    All and all, I don’t find it surprising at all that Sony is leading the price drop charge. I’m fairly sure high up, it’s one of their most important agendas. Not a petty console war. I remember stubbing upon a dvd royalty article a while back. After market acceptance the dvd forum was quoted as say: It’s time to make some money.

    Also, the success of BD (I.e. mass market acceptance) can only play into the PS3’s favour. It really doesn’t matter if the ratio for stand alones : ps3 is 90:10. It’s a mindset thing. When dvd got accepted and when it became affordable and you had to buy a new PC for gaming, what did you buy? Did you rather buy a CD-Rom because you already had a DVD player or did you buy I PC with a DVD player?

    All and all I think you entirely misunderstood me. I’m not arguing with the article here. I whole heartly believe that when BD becomes successful, other markets like standalones, PCs and other BD devices will by far lead sales of the PS3. It’s just such big markets. What I am arguing about is that this will be bad for PS3 sales. Like I’ve said, it will be pretty awesome for PS3 sales actually…

    Reply

  6. SlippyMadFrog

    September 22, 2008 at 12:28

    The last paragraph is a shining example of a cheap BD player canabalising a PS3 sale.
    Lots of people by the PS3 for it’s BD playback. Now there are other options. How can this be good for PS3 sales?

    Reply

  7. SlippyMadFrog

    September 22, 2008 at 12:30

    Maybe it did in 2000 😉

    Reply

  8. SlippyMadFrog

    September 22, 2008 at 12:35

    “When dvd got accepted and when it became affordable and you had to buy a new PC for gaming, what did you buy? Did you rather buy a CD-Rom because you already had a DVD player or did you buy I PC with a DVD player?”
    If you are only interested in playing DVD’s you would not be buying a PC in the first place since you don’t want to play games.

    The PS3 has two goals, play games and watch Blu-Ray. If you don’t play games, you only use it to watch Blu-Rays right? If you already have a blu-ray player, what do you want with the PS3?

    Reply

  9. LazySAGamer

    September 22, 2008 at 12:42

    http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5599/is_200003/ai_n23585519

    Closest I could find.. PS2 sales figures on a DVD site from 2000 😉

    Reply

  10. Lupus

    September 22, 2008 at 12:54

    Actually that is being rather silly, as the PS2 had better games, better market impact and it’s competition at the time 2000 was the Dreamcast?

    Reply

  11. baba

    September 22, 2008 at 13:15

    Cool it guys! I was trying to be sarcastic!

    Reply

  12. kab123

    September 22, 2008 at 13:21

    “If you already have a blu-ray player, what do you want with the PS3?” Games maybe?

    If you already have a DVD player, what would you want with the PS2? Games maybe?

    If you already have a DVD player, what would you want with a 360? Games maybe?

    Your short sightedness in this matter is staggering. Stop thinking about what will happen this year. Start thinking what will happen over the lifespan of the consoles.

    You’re assuming a PS3 is only good for playing BDs and that’s the single reason it has sold 15million. You’re not considering the fact that mass market adoption of stand alones would in itself lead to further price reductions in BD hardware and further reductions it the price of the PS3. In two years time and assuming BD is mass market the PS3 will sit well with the exact same multi platform titles as the 360, it will sit with it’s own library of exclusives, and it will have a BD-ROM. If the price becomes reasonable, from a gamers perspective, which one would you buy? Doesn’t matter if you already have a BD stand alone. Would you buy the PC with the CD-ROM or would you buy the PC with the DVD-ROM?

    Meh I’m not it the mood for this. My opinion, the succes of BD (Stand Alone’s included) is good for the success of the PS3 and visa versa. Sony would be driving for mass adoption in the stand alone arena for sure. I can promise you, Sony will be all smiles if Samsung announces a $100 BD player tomorrow.

    Reply

  13. BHW

    September 22, 2008 at 13:23

    I don’t think DVD was a determining factor in the PS2’s success – DVD released to the public about 3 years before the PS2 was widely available and was cheaper than the PS2 at launch so nobody bought a PS2 because it was a cheap DVD player. In the current generation BD support is a widely touted advantage of the PS3 , so cheap BluRay players could have an impact on sales.

    Reply

  14. SlippyMadFrog

    September 22, 2008 at 13:40

    🙄
    *sigh

    ““If you already have a blu-ray player, what do you want with the PS3?” Games maybe?”

    THE WHOLE ARGUMENT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON’T PLAY GAMES!!!! Jeez!

    As I said before, READ THE LAST PARAGRAPH

    Reply

  15. kab123

    September 22, 2008 at 14:28

    Are you forcing me to argue on your terms?

    “THE WHOLE ARGUMENT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON’T PLAY GAMES!!!! Jeez!”

    Oh….capital letter wars

    In case you haven’t picked it up yet I think the argument you’re trying to force into this thread is COMPLETE BULLSHIT.

    I have read the last paragraph and yes, it is a lekker biased single example of how a person who has NO INTERESTS in gaming will rather buy a stand alone vs a PS3. All good and well. But I ask you, DO YOU REALLY THINK SONY WILL GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THIS OKES DISICION??!??!?

    And have you considered the flip side that a GAMER might rather buy a PS3 in future because it has a market accepted next gen optical disc player over a 360 which has last gen optical tech?

    And please, don’t tell what the argument is about. Like it or not the PS3 is bought for gaming and BDs. Some use is exclusively for BD, some for gaming, others for both. And unfortunately NEITHER OF US has the numbers of this split. With BD becoming cheaper and cheaper people will start buying more and more stand alones yes… but on the flip side the PS3 will have the advantage of being the only games console with the market accepted format which could potentially lure GAMERS to rather buy a PS3 over a 360.

    And slightly off topic, for once, stop separating BD from Gaming and STOP LOOKING AT IT FROM ONE SIDE ONLY. THIS IS THE MAJOR FLAW IN YOUR ARGUMENT YOU’RE TRYING TO PUT FORWARD. Do you really think Sony dropped 3billion thinking they’ll recoup all that with the PS3? No, they have multiple businesses (TVs, camera’s, PS3’s, Stand alones) that will all benefit from BD being successful. Each in its own right. HENCE SONY WOULDN’T GIVE A SHIT WHETHER OTHER BD HARDWARE BECOMES CHEAPER THAN THE PS3.

    My original point which you have completely missed. The article said:

    “I find it quite surprising that it is Sony leading the charge on this front as they must be expecting this to cannibalise sales from their PS3.”

    I say that statement has not been thought through properly. Sony is not just about PS. Sony has been leading the BD charge for the last three years. WTF would you find it surprising that they are slashing prices on a product they WANT TO BE ACCPETED BUY PEOPLE ACCORSS THE ENTERTAINT DEMOGRAPHIC. Understand?

    Reply

  16. janrik

    September 22, 2008 at 15:04

    I’m only using my PS3 as a blu ray player.

    I feel as a gaming device it does not warrant it’s high price tag.

    As a media device it however does.

    As a ‘next gen’ gaming device you cannot beat the 360 Arcade on Price.

    Reply

  17. SlippyMadFrog

    September 22, 2008 at 15:10

    “Like it or not the PS3 is bought for gaming and BDs. Some use is exclusively for BD, some for gaming, others for both.”
    Do you agree that those buying PS3’s “exclusive for BD” will maybe buy a standalone player now instead since it’s cheaper? If so then WTF are we arguing for? I never disputed the fact that Sony as a business will lose money because of this, they will benefit from a BD standard industry BUT the PS3 will lose because of cheaper players.

    is that you kabraal?

    Reply

  18. SlippyMadFrog

    September 22, 2008 at 15:23

    Thank you janrik. My thoughts exactly.

    Reply

  19. kab123

    September 22, 2008 at 15:38

    No this is where I just disagree with you and this I’m trying to tell you. You are quite right that person X wanting to buy into BD solely for movies WILL rather buy a cheaper BD player. I think I’ve made that pretty clear in my previous post and I’m not denying it. Once I can afford a proper BD player I will buy myself one and I will not use my PS3 for watching movies anymore.

    My argument is that you’re only looking at it from one angle. One standalone sold is one less PS3 sold true. But one standalone sold is also one player closer to BD market acceptance. You have no idea, proof or facts what console a GAMER (the okes you conveniently exclude from you’re argument) would buy 2-3 years from know when he walks into look and listen and sees the majority of software (pc games, movies, music and ps3 games) comes in a blue case. I’ll tell you what consoles they’ll buy. They buy PS3’s or Xbox 720’s…

    Let’s not kid ourselves, the market over the console lifespan 99.99999% of sales are for gamers. NOT for movie buffs.

    And I again come back to my first post which was left unanswered and quite misunderstood:

    I don’t find it surprising at all that Sony is pushing for price drops and market acceptance of BD disc. I also 100% do not believe $100 BD players and mass market adoption of BD disc in the form of stand alones and PC BD-ROM will hurt PS3 sales. In fact over the long term I believe it will strengthen it. Stop thinking what will happen this xmas. Start thinking how things will pan out over the lifespan of each console.

    Reply

  20. Fudzy

    September 22, 2008 at 19:34

    Yes, you’ll find cheaper BluRay players out there. In fact it probably wont be long before you can pick up a Diamond Bluray player for sub R500 at HiFi Corp.

    Excluding the gaming aspect I think you’ll find it very difficult to find a Blu Ray player that offers as many media playing features as the PS3 for a long time to come.

    Reply

  21. kab123

    September 22, 2008 at 19:40

    Yup, good thoughts and lets all clap hands and sing a song.

    My thoughts, as a gaming device, the PS3 is 100% up to par with the 360. As a media device, it exceeds the 360. This is why I junk mailed my 360 after buying a PS3.

    Reply

  22. Milesh Bhana

    September 22, 2008 at 23:28

    Maybe i’m getting my facts a little mixed up, but isn’t this really old news. I’m sure that we’ve had a standalone BR player for around R3000 for awhile now. (but i also remember reading that the PS3 was a far superior player to that one, it was a Samsung i think)

    Anyway, i think having cheaper BR players was always part of Sony’s strategy and the timing (almost xmas time) can’t have been better.

    Milesh Bhanas last blog post..Budgetgamer’s Guide to Audio – Part 2

    Reply

  23. LazySAGamer

    September 23, 2008 at 00:01

    To be honest I wasn’t sure which is why I bulked the article up with a little personal information on the possible buying pattern of a non gamer….

    Reply

  24. Wesley

    October 8, 2008 at 14:30

    Well i still think PS3 has the upperhand here, think of it as a blue ray player with a web browser

    Reply

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