[The News Bot]

For a time it was the talk of the internet, now the world’s cheapest HD DVD player is coming to the UK. Looking not unlike Toshiba’s new HD-EP30, the Venturer SHD7001 (pictured above) will make its debut via shopping channel QVC on December 29, when it will be the featured product of the day (aka [...]
More...

[steve500]

Why oh why would you want this HD DVD player when you can get the Tosh EP30 for the same price with 7 HD DVDs instead of 2 and have a more up to date machine as well?????? Bizarre

[Max Payne]

Agree with steve500

£200 sterling for a unknown brand, when there is a proven brand with a better offering at the same price.

Now, if it was €200, maybe it would make sense.

[Siamese Cat]

Originally Posted by steve500

Why oh why would you want this HD DVD player when you can get the Tosh EP30 for the same price with 7 HD DVDs instead of 2 and have a more up to date machine as well?????? Bizarre

The Toshiba is not the same price. It's cheaper. Just had a quick look at the today's offers on the high def player forum and the best price for the EP30 is £189. (Plus 7 hd dvd etc)

I don't think €200 is realistic either. In the US HD DVD players have broken the $200 mark. If they want to claim being the 'world's cheapest player' I think they need to break the £100 mark.

[pwood]

Shopping channels waste of bandwidth.

Bear in mind these products are usually dearer on the shopping channels it will be interesting to see how much it will be once it hits the high street.

[chrissyman]

Its not the price of the hardware though is it, its the price of the software that
will hold the format back in my view.

[av addict]

as its going to be 'The todays special value' i can see this going for around 150 pounds

[Tomathy]

Shopping channels waste of bandwidth

[Jon_C]

Is the Venturer model likely to be multi-region hackable for SD discs, as many cheaper players are?

If so that would be one thing in its favour.

[Dav1dF]

Buy the cheapest of anything and you really do get what you pay for........

[SeanT]

Originally Posted by Dav1dF

Buy the cheapest of anything and you really do get what you pay for........

Like website designers.....

[pixelpixel]

Originally Posted by SeanT

Like website designers.....

now, now !

Should the answer be how will QVC handle HD and how do they sell HD on a SD show/format ? Will they get a so called experts in ? Will they also talk about all the formats ?

[SeanT]

I was merely commenting that I preferred the Frank Harvey website to the hifix one

[johnelf]

Ohh I can see it now.

All QVC shoppers buying them, pluging them in via the RF lead, and commenting to Auntie what a great picture it is!

John

[Dav1dF]

Originally Posted by SeanT

I was merely commenting that I preferred the Frank Harvey website to the hifix one

We do get a lot of customers coming in and commenting on how good our site is compared to many other competitors. It may not be perfect to a web site buff, what site is, but as far as the average person's concerned, it does it's job and very well.

[SeanT]

Actually, just took another look at hifix, and it looks quite good in 1280x800, but terrible in 2048x1536 - guessing most people will view it in XGA or WXGA rather than UXGA though!

[unique]

i think a lot of viewers of the shopping channels aren't regular internet users, or at least aren't internet savvy to be aware of the value of the products they sell, and therefore fall for the marketing speak

my parents only got a pc and internet recently, but used to order all sorts of overpriced crap from those channels, most of it is stuck in a cupboard.

the shows tell viewers that items are worth a RRP price whilst is usually way over the current price you could easily order it from online, or even buy from a store if you bothered to leave the house, so when the item is "special offer half price" it's still usually more than you can get online, but the viewers think they are getting a bargain, but instead get unbranded crap that doesn't sell elsewhere for good reason

the viewers of the show will probably be told that this player at £200 is less than half the price of £500 models lining the stores, and snap them up in droves as they won't know about the toshiba models

as to demonstrating HD on poor quality low bandwidth SD on freeview, they manage adequately to demonstrate the better sound quality of hifi products, and 5.1 sound, so thats not going to be a problem for them

now if the venturer player was about £120 online i'm sure they could shift a good few units, but breaking the £100 barrier is probably the real sweet spot for consumers

[steve500]

Regarding this suposadly cheap HD player, said Venturer HD DVD player is at Walmart US at $189 which is roughly the £100 mark. If it was this price in the UK it would make it an interesting machine.

[naim]

other forums say its a rebadged tosh a3, 2 dvds in box also 5 dvds free when u fill in form thats in the box