Camp Blu-ray is apparently ready to take a big step toward luring potential HD DVD buyers in the battle of high-definition DVD formats.

On Monday, Sony announced it will debut a Blu-ray disc player this summer that features the same capabilities of its current player but cost $400 less. At $599, Sony’s new BDP-S300 will put Blu-ray much closer to the perceived affordability HD DVD is being offered at through companies such as Toshiba, which makes a $499 player.

Sony’s BDP-S1 Blu-ray player on shelves now costs $999—a turn-off to some who say that you can save a few hundred dollars and still watch Blu-ray by purchasing another Sony product, the PlayStation 3 (in models at $499 and $599).

The BDP-S300 will be smaller than the BDP-S1, closer to the size of standard DVD players, and will be able to play back CDs, which the BDP-S1 doesn’t. Like the BDP-S1, the new model will output high-definition at 1080p.

Sony president Stan Glasgow added on Monday that he thinks prices for Blu-ray players will dip below $500 by Christmas. We’ll see what HD DVD prices are like by then.

Via: USA Today (AP)

Arlen Schweiger - Editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen writes about home technology installations and product news and reviews for electronichouse.com and Electronic House magazine.