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Throwing caution to the wind, Sharp is making the move to sell us their TVs combined with a Blu-ray player - meet the AQUOS BD series.  Their thinking is with fewer dollars in our pockets, we’ll want one simple combo, just like at your favorite fast food joint.  Any problems with this approach?

Ball and Chain

Yes.  Despite Sharp’s insistence that Blu-ray is making inroads in leaps and bounds, I don’t see it.  Consumers like me are having trouble justifying the added benefit of a finite amount of clarity.  And even when they are, there is the specter of another format that we’ll just have to have over the horizon.  For comparison, who wants to be driving around with an 8 track player in their car not trying to look ironic?

Low dollar wins

Using their logic, if I am strapped for cash making the purchase amount higher doesn’t help.  One step at a time big guys.  Will consumers see value in buying both an LCD and Blu-ray together at the same time or will most consumers make a one stop, two step purchase: first the TV then the player?  My money is on the purchase in parts.

The AQUOS BD series will come in 32, 37, 42, 46, and 52 inch versions.  Pricing and availability will be released in February, so we should know soon enough.

Company site: [Sharp]