HD-DVD Player Prices Plummet After CES

Interested in something that could turn into a high-tech doorstop - but at a bargain price? Have we got a deal for you! Or rather, some retailers apparently do. Prices aren't quite as good as the November Toshiba HD-A2 sales ($98), but prices have dropped precipitously.

For example, the Toshiba HD-A3 720p/1080i HD DVD Player is selling for $133.58 at Amazon.com at the time of this writing. Want 1080 instead? The Toshiba HD-A30 1080p HD DVD Player is $172.98 at Amazon.com.

While not quite as low as Amazon.com, Buy.com has the HD-A30 at $181.72 and TigerDirect.com has it for $179.99.

Despite the price drop, don't forget that you still get that promotion offer with Toshiba players: five free movies via mail-in rebate in addition to the 300 and The Bourne Identity, which come in the box.

Are these discounts coming from retailers wanting to unload stock or from Toshiba trying to boost adoption? Hard to say. Still, will consumers take a chance on buying something that could end up being a brick very soon? I certainly would not, but that's just me.