CES: Panasonic Bows 4 New Blu-ray Players Including VHS Combo Deck, Portable Player

[MrBoylan]

Panasonic expands their Blu-ray line from two models to four with the DMP-BD60 (replaces BD35), DMP-BD80 (replaces BD55), DMP-BD70V (dual VHS/Blu-ray player) and their first portable BD player, the DMP-BD15.

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[djslim10]

Been wondering why I cant find any panasonic bd35k players at my local stores, let alone an online retailer. Now I know why....Do you happen to know when any of these players will be released to the public?

I understand that if you had the info, you'd post it. However, I havent been following the market long enough to know any pattern. Do companies typically release new product lines the same time each year? If so, when were the bd35/55 models released. Lastly, where do you think their price point will begin at.

Obviously, I'm not holding you to any of this info. I'm just hoping for professional advice!!! THX - Happy Friday!!!

[MrBoylan]

Been wondering why I cant find any panasonic bd35k players at my local stores, let alone an online retailer. Now I know why....Do you happen to know when any of these players will be released to the public?

Panasonic has not been any more specific than "Spring" unfortunately. I will see if I can get more updated information.

I understand that if you had the info, you'd post it. However, I havent been following the market long enough to know any pattern. Do companies typically release new product lines the same time each year? If so, when were the bd35/55 models released.

There has been no method to the madness lately, at least as far as Blu-ray players go. Yes, normally line shows are done once a year with the new models introduced. Sometimes companies will stagger things so that (for example), new TVs might be announced at CES (winter), but new projectors are announced at CEDIA (fall). And some manufacturers do their own line shows in winter or Spring or even in Summer with special press-only shows where they give details on the new models.

But with the Blu-ray player market, and the rush to release new players with competitive advantages, we've seen a flurry of activity with multiple new models released within a single year. Panasonic released their BD30 player "early" (fall 2007) instead of waiting to release it in January 2008 as originally planned. That got them the first BonusView player on the market (other than the PS3). Then the BD50 came out in the Spring of 2008 - first with BD-Live (again, other than PS3). But then the new models, the BD35 and BD55 were on the market already by the fall of 2008. Demand for these new players was higher than supply so few stores still have them in stock (last I checked, Sears.com still had the BD35 player, but not at any special discount). And so the stock depleted on those players after a phenomenal holiday shopping season.

I think Panasonic (and the retailers) were bent on eliminating inventory, considering the current economic climate and they did their job perhaps a little too well. And now these new Panasonic players were announced at CES, and they are expected to be out in the Spring (hopefully early spring) which means that this "model year" only lasted 5 or 6 months. Once the core feature set has been attained by all vendors (BonusView, BD-Live, and perhaps some form of networked content delivery), I think the new model introductions will slow down again.

Lastly, where do you think their price point will begin at.

Obviously, I'm not holding you to any of this info. I'm just hoping for professional advice!!! THX - Happy Friday!!!

I'd expect the DMP-BD60 wil come in well below $300 (maybe $249?) and the DMP-BD80 below $400 (maybe $349?), but this is pure speculation at this point. It's unlikely they'll be higher than the current models ($299 and $399 respectively).

I wouldn't even hazard a guess on pricing of the combo VHS/Blu-ray deck (DMP-BD70V), nor of the portable Blu-ray player (DMP-B15). When a unit is the first of its kind, it generally will command a bit of a premium, but how much of a premium the market will bear remains to be seen.

If I get any additional details on the pricing/avaiability of the new players, I will surely post something.

[djslim10]

I appreciate you taking the time to answer my initial post....

Is there a way for me to be emailed when you post another reply??

THX for your time and help!! Looking forward to the BD60

[MrBoylan]

I appreciate you taking the time to answer my initial post....

Is there a way for me to be emailed when you post another reply??

THX for your time and help!! Looking forward to the BD60

Sure, click "Thread Tools" in the toolbar above this thread and then "subscribe to this thread" and "instant e-mail notification."

Regards,

-Chris

[Daylightdon]

OK it's March. That is when Panasonic told me they would be out.
My toes are tapping in anticipation!!!

[Daylightdon]

My Home theater is HUNGRY for some new HD Blood!

[MrBoylan]

OK it's March. That is when Panasonic told me they would be out.
My toes are tapping in anticipation!!!

I don't know about March. We heard Spring but not much more specific than that. We have a briefing with them on March 11th so I hope to get some more details on the new players and the new plasmas at that time.

-CB

[Daylightdon]

I had an on-line chat with someone from Panasonic on their site about 2 weeks ago and was told at that time "Early March".
I guess I'll just have to hang in there!!!

[MrBoylan]

I appreciate you taking the time to answer my initial post....

Is there a way for me to be emailed when you post another reply??

THX for your time and help!! Looking forward to the BD60

I saw the whole line again yesterday in NY (60, 80, 70 and the new portable and the new HTiB systems). Expected ship dates are April.

MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) is as follows:

• DMP-BD60: $299
• DMP-BD80: $399
• DMP-BD70V: $399
• SC-BT200: $599
• SC-BT300: $699
• DMP-B15: $799

Keep in mind that "MAP" is just the lowest price they can be advertised for. IF stock is plentiful enough, expect discounts, particularly after they've been out for a little while.

What impressed me most was actually the combo VHS/Blu-ray player - the UniPhier chip upconverting tapes to 1080p makes old VHS tapes look pretty damn good! Will we see a resurgence in VHS, like vinyl albums? Probably not. But if you have a big library of VHS tapes and want them to look as good as possible on a big screen HDTV, this is a very interesting product.

-CB