Buying a Blu-Ray player

RyanRedd

I'm a moderately hardcorde gamer (modcore?) and a huge film buff. I have a lot, but not an extreme number, of DVD's and was thinking about buying a Blu-Ray player.

My question is: should I buy the cheapest, but still brand-name, Blu-Ray player, or get a PS3?

Things I'm wondering:
--Will the PS3 be around that much longer?
--Is a pricedrop coming?
--Quality difference?

Thanks!

eternalbl

I've always read the ps3 is one of the best blu ray players out and even as recent as May it stacks up well.

Will the ps3 be around much longer? The real question is why wouldn't it be? Sony didn't start making game consoles to back out of the race after 3 just because their system got a slow start.

My software BC 80Gb is louder than I'd like it to be, but newer models are supposed to be better.

PolloDiablo

There are rumblings of the new slim PS3, but I'd bet it's still a ways off anyway. I recently went through the same decision-making process. It's a fine player, and it has all the extra perks like playing video games if I want.

Basically, the better Blu-Ray players aren't any cheaper than the PS3, for pretty much no increase in quality. You can get cheaper players, but there's a hit in quality. I think the PS3's a good choice.

Sanders

As far as stand-alone blu-ray players go, you are best off going with the PS3. A few bucks more and you get a system that can play games too.

The cheapest route is gettinga blu-ray drive for a computer and hooking it up to your TV, as you can get a Blu-ray/HD-DVD drive for a round $100.

Though you may want to reconsider buying one just yet. According to a recent poll, more stand-alone HD-DVD players have been sold compared to Blu-ray players (This does not include console/drive/computer sales for either format). The PS3 is the only thing keeping the format alive. I would wait until prices go down for both the hardware and the discs themselves or pick up a PS3 if you plan to play games also.

Hlubocky

There is a rumor that they will drop the price around the time Madden comes out in August. Not sure how much truth there is to that.

EggyToast

Sanders, I'd argue that the poll is quite flawed, as many people bought HD DVD players when they were liquidating the format. And many more people have purchased PS3s to watch blu-ray movies exclusively, which aren't included in those numbers (and players have only been cheaper than the PS3 for about 6-7 months, since last xmas).

I don't think BluRay is meant to completely supplant DVD in the short term -- it's meant to be a high quality format. If you just wanna watch a movie for fun, you probably don't care about it looking its best.

In other words, I don't think the discs are going to get cheaper anytime soon, BUT that's what Netflix is for. Or renting at a local store. But I sincerely doubt the format is going anywhere.

illig

if you're a huge movie buff 1st and gamer 2nd, research the PS3s compatibility with your TV 1st... the PS3 is famous for problems with losing HDMI connection, random pops/flashes when decoding, etc.

i have that issue and get pops every few minutes during a movie and in games.... Sony blames Westinghouse, and Westinghouse blames Sony, so i'm SOL

EggyToast

I've not heard anyone else complain of those HDMI problems on blu-ray.com; it might actually be just a westinghouse thing. Still, it's valid -- double-check your TV to make sure that *any* blu-ray player will work as you expect. The last thing you want to do is invest in new playback equipment only to come across some oddity with your television that you didn't know about before.

illig

EggyToast wrote: »

I've not heard anyone else complain of those HDMI problems on blu-ray.com; it might actually be just a westinghouse thing. Still, it's valid -- double-check your TV to make sure that *any* blu-ray player will work as you expect. The last thing you want to do is invest in new playback equipment only to come across some oddity with your television that you didn't know about before.

check AVSforum.com or even youtube... there's lots out there, and it's with Panasonic, and other big brands, not just Westinghouse

supabeast

I love my PS3. It’s a super-duper blu-ray player AND it plays Fallout 3 and a bunch of lame-assed sequels to games I enjoyed more the first ten times.