If you’re looking for a good price, this could be the time to jump in. “The prices of Blu-ray players were forced down by the war with HD DVD,” said Richard Doherty, research director of Envisioneering Group. That price, which headed downward during the holiday buying season, is now about $400 for a mainstream Blu-ray player. “Don’t be surprised if they start to go up this summer,” Doherty said.

Manufacturers of the players, such as Sony Corp. and Panasonic, will justify the higher prices with added features, he said. Basic models might become hard to find.

“I would not rule out Sony coming out with a model that has network video,” Doherty said. “You could take your vacation videos and send them right to someone’s HDTV.” Another possible enhancement — a jukebox-type player that could be loaded with multiple Blu-ray discs. By the end of the year, upgraded Blu-ray 2.0 players are expected to hit stores with online connectivity as a standard feature.If you don’t care about having the latest and greatest, this might be the time to buy.

Still, no matter what enhancements come along, prices on consumer electronic goods always seem to head down eventually.Take, for example, DVD players that sold for $1,000 and more when introduced in the United States in 1997. Now they’re commonly available for less than $50.But Doherty thinks prices for Blu-ray machines will not plunge quickly.“This is a really advanced laser system.”

Read the rest @: kansascity.com

Of course, actual HDTV sales weren’t as spectacular as retailers had hoped…a taste of tapped-out consumers perhaps?

Hope springs eternal. According to some reports, analysts at Pacific Media Associates say we can expect a 15.6% drop on flat panel display prices this year. According to the research company, last year saw a 14.7% price drop on HDTVs, which increased sales by 41%. Sales will continue to skyrocket in the period leading up to the switch to Digital TV next year.

We all know that HDTV’s are about the only thing going down in price these days. Will the recession we’re in or about to enter (depending on who you’re reading) have any affect on this symbol of American consumerism?

Source: tech.yahoo.com