Just a year-and-a-half since they launched, high-definition players are breaching the $200 barrier. If reports on the Web are correct, HD DVD is poised to break the $200 mark before the holidays. Toshiba has told me there's no official pricing moves with regard to their MSRP; however, reports on the Web indicate Wal-Mart may be prepping to sell a $198 HD DVD player.

If so, this is a significant and aggressive move in favor of Toshiba and the HD DVD format: They would be delivering what--up until now--only a no-name manufacturer based in Hong Kong has promised. And even then, Venturer Electronics has yet to release its $199 HD DVD player to market.

If that is true, you can pretty well figure on them only being 1080i players.  They have already reduced the HD-DVD players to 299.99, but they are 1080i max, where as the 399.99 and up players are 1080p.

The XB360 External player is still 180.00, but you need the $300+ to use it. Too bad Sony doesn't add support for it with PS3, that would be cool...