We had a sinking feeling those
promotional prices over the holidays wouldn't stick once Santa had done his duties, but rather than ratcheting price tags back up entirely, it has decided to permanently reduce the retail price on its standard
VUDU movie set-top-box by half. As of now, prospective buyers can snag a box for $149 (down from $299), while the more capacious
VUDU XL is dropping from $999 to $499 (and that'll include a gratis home theater connectivity software package). Also of note, the rack-mountable
VUDU XL2 is stooping from $1,299 to $799 for those who prefer that form factor. So, these stickers low enough for you? Or are you really planning to wait 'til Christmas 2009 to score an even more special deal?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rob78 @ Feb 9th 2009 11:27PM
About time! I know a lot of people who have been waiting for the 'sale prices' to kick in again after missing out on the holiday prices. With the volume they are selling now they should be able to source the HDD and other components cheaper so It was only a matter of time.
Vudu is still the best Home Theater STB out there by a long, long way. I feel sorry for anyone still stuck with dial up connections!
DEEZNUTZ @ Feb 10th 2009 9:58AM
I'm waiting to see if they're still in business by Christmas 2009. I smell smoke, and where there's smoke, there's a fire-sale... or Michael Phelps!!! Hey-yooooo!
Gunnar @ Feb 10th 2009 6:51PM
I smell smoke too. A 150 dollar proprietary box with no company left to supply the movies could quickly become a really expensive doorstop. At least its a pretty glossy black.
Vudu needs to prove to me they are prospering before I'd take a leap of faith like this.
mitchelljd @ Feb 10th 2009 2:58PM
i just don't know if this company will be able to stick around. neat idea and product, but ill stick with Apple TV.
Jonas @ Feb 10th 2009 2:06PM
It's not the price of the box, but the movies. They really need a subscription model. I'd gladly pay more for the box if the films were priced better afterwards in a box that can only display content from their ecosystem AFAIK.
meatyb0y @ Feb 10th 2009 4:18PM
Luv the VUDU box...the HRX movies really do rival Blu-Ray for video quality (definitely NOT for audio though...). At $149, seems to be a no-brainer for the gainfully employed movie lover, especially when you consider the depth of their catalog (unlike streaming Netflix), and the fact that you can watch instantly (unlike AppleTV).
I hope they do survive - I have loved it ever since I got it. They are also very responsive to customer requests, and active on the forums. Man, I'm starting to sound like a fanboi. Need to shower!
Nick @ Feb 12th 2009 6:49PM
They're dying a slow, painful death. A subscription model is the only way people will want that crap, and even then they will never quite get rid of the feeling of having a movie in your bookshelf and saying "I own that." Especially with lossless audio. I loves me some lossless audio.
Does this look like final proof to the "downloads will replace blu ray in a year" crowd that all is not right in download town? When I am an old man, downloads will replace physical media. By the time the kids I don't have yet are old enough to drive, they might be a connoisseur only product, but I plan on using my blu ray player for a long, long time, and after that some other, higher capacity physical media.