HD DVD Players Dive to $99

Savvy consumers can pick up a Toshiba HD-A2 player for $99, if they act quickly.

If you’re sick of the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray format wars and really just want one to win out so you can invest in it, just remember that the constant battles between the two do occasionally result in some superb deals. Case and point: today’s Friday-only sale on the Toshiba HD-A2, available for $98.87 at Wal-Mart.

It was only a week ago that the same player made waves in the home theater world by reaching the sub-$200 point at $198. Now that price has been halved for one day only, most likely so Wal-Mart can clear its existing stock of the HD-A2 and make room for the HD-A3.

Wal-Mart’s “Secret Sale” – which will only last through Friday – also includes a $348 Acer laptop and $998 Sanyo 50-inch plasma TV. The event will supplement, not replace, the retailer’s traditional Black Friday sale.

Reports also have U.S. retailer Best Buy liquidating its stock of Toshiba HD-A2 units at prices matching Wal-Mart’s, but only through retail outlets with stock on hand.