High-Def Player Prices Plunge

Great news for movie buffs this gift-buying season: Since we published our "High-Def Video Superguide" in March, the prices of high-definition Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD players have fallen dramatically. Our Best Buy, Samsung's BD-P1000, now sells for half its original $800 price. Meanwhile, the new, basic 40GB Sony PlayStation 3--which doubles as a solid Blu-ray Disc player--is just $400. And Toshiba has slashed the cost of its HD DVD players, too, pricing its newly released entry-level HD-A3 model at $299. That's $200 less than what its predecessor, the HD-A2, cost back in May. As for the HD-A2, it's priced under $200...if you can still find it. Expect prices to fall even further next year, as manufacturers ramp up player production.