Shocker! $99 Toshiba HD DVD Players at Best Buy, Wal-Mart

It was only Monday when I reported that name-brand, HD DVD players were dipping below $200. (They're $198 just about everywhere now, including Amazon.) But are you ready for another 50 percent price cut? Best Buy and Wal-Mart are now knocking prices on the Toshiba HD-A2 to sub-$100.

It all looks legit: Best Buy's website shows a $99.99 price already. (They're sold out for online buyers, though you can check for pickup availability near you. Sadly, they're already sold out at all San Francisco-area stores.) Wal-Mart (as noted on a special, "secret" holiday info site; it's really Wal-Mart's, I checked) is offering them for in-store purchase only for $98.87, starting tomorrow (Friday) at 8 a.m.

All offers are "while supplies last," so you better line up early.

Meanwhile, Blu-ray players are still running $400 and up, with no sign of price cuts or, more importantly, an entry-level unit like the HD-A2 on the horizon. (Gizmodo says Wal-Mart has Blu-ray deals coming soon... though I doubt we'll see a $99 player.) Kudos to Toshiba for pulling out the stops in the high-def DVD battle... and good luck, too.

So, fence-sitters who said you were waiting for a $100 player. Now are you going to buy one?