Price Barrier to Blu-ray Falling Away?

There are several arguments put forward as to why Blu-ray has been slow to reach mainstream adoption - but price can surely no longer be a major factor.

Best Buy in the US is now offering the Insignia NS-2BRDVD Blu-ray player for US $129.99 shipped.

While that is still more expensive than your bargain basement DVD player, it is a vast improvement compared to where Blu-ray player prices were even just a short while ago.

Figures released in May from NPD showed the average price of Blu-ray players was USD $261 in Q1 2009.

Granted that's the average price, but the next set of quarterly data should show that has dropped significantly if the Insignia deal is anything to go by.

Featuring, among other things, 1080p output and upconversion, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD audio, the Best Buy own-label Insignia also comes with a one-year warranty.

It supports Blu-ray Profile 1.1 but requires a software update, which can be downloaded and installed on the player using a disc.