I just got off the phone with Sony

[nycomet]

Originally Posted by monkyman

V2.0 firmware upgrade is available for the BDS-S300. It is for the Java application. It is not listed on the website yet, but if you call 1-866-909-7669, they will mail you the disc. You may want to check your version first, mine has 2.0, but they are sending it out any way. Not sure what that is about.

I just called Sony to request firmware update v2.0 for my BDP-S300. A friendly and seemingly knowledgeable Sony rep advised me that there is no 2.0 firmware update the BDP-S300. My unit has firmware update 3.70. Can anyone confirm that there is a 2.0 firmware update for the BDP-S300? Sony says 3.70 is the current firmware update.

While on the phone with Sony, the rep asked me if I was experiencing any issues with my BDP-S300. I advised the rep that since purchasing and installing the BDP-S300 (it was a holiday gift), two standard DVDs and three Blu-ray disc movies have frozen during playback. I advised that the only way to unfreeze the player is to do a power reboot.

The Sony rep asked the condition of my DVDs and Blu-rays (as well as whether the Blu-rays were newer releases or older ones - she was checking if some of the movies that froze up were Java-heavy). My discs are all clean in near-mint condition. The blu-rays that froze-up range from older to newer releases (Kingdom of Heaven - 3:10 to Yuma)

The Sony rep concluded that since standard DVDs have frozen up on the player, the unit must be defective. The rep asked me to ship the unit to the Sony Service Center in Mount Pleasant, PA. I would pay for shipping the player to Sony. There will be no other fees.

Sony will run diagnostics on the unit and make any repairs if needed. In the even the unit cannot be repaired, Sony will replace it.

What hurls is that the entire process can take between two and three weeks - plus shipping transit time. That is a long time to be without my blu-ray player. I am hooked on Blur-ay movies. It will be very unpleasant to go back to watching standard DVDs (even on a Sony upconvert DVD player).

I have no choice but to send my unit off for repair.

Hmmmm. Maybe I should buy another blu-ray player (or a Playstation 3).

-----

[JJ]

Would be my feelings.

[MasterXeus]

Originally Posted by nycomet

I just called Sony to request firmware update v2.0 for my BDP-S300. A friendly and seemingly knowledgeable Sony rep advised me that there is no 2.0 firmware update the BDP-S300. My unit has firmware update 3.70. Can anyone confirm that there is a 2.0 firmware update for the BDP-S300? Sony says 3.70 is the current firmware update.

While on the phone with Sony, the rep asked me if I was experiencing any issues with my BDP-S300. I advised the rep that since purchasing and installing the BDP-S300 (it was a holiday gift), two standard DVDs and three Blu-ray disc movies have frozen during playback. I advised that the only way to unfreeze the player is to do a power reboot.

The Sony rep asked the condition of my DVDs and Blu-rays (as well as whether the Blu-rays were newer releases or older ones - she was checking if some of the movies that froze up were Java-heavy). My discs are all clean in near-mint condition. The blu-rays that froze-up range from older to newer releases (Kingdom of Heaven - 3:10 to Yuma)

The Sony rep concluded that since standard DVDs have frozen up on the player, the unit must be defective. The rep asked me to ship the unit to the Sony Service Center in Mount Pleasant, PA. I would pay for shipping the player to Sony. There will be no other fees.

Sony will run diagnostics on the unit and make any repairs if needed. In the even the unit cannot be repaired, Sony will replace it.

What hurls is that the entire process can take between two and three weeks - plus shipping transit time. That is a long time to be without my blu-ray player. I am hooked on Blur-ay movies. It will be very unpleasant to go back to watching standard DVDs (even on a Sony upconvert DVD player).

I have no choice but to send my unit off for repair.

Hmmmm. Maybe I should buy another blu-ray player (or a Playstation 3).

-----

I have the PS3 60GB and never had a problem watching Blu-rays or DVDs.

Three weeks without watching a blu-ray movie, don't know if I could handle it.

[kjacobs03]

You could always go "borrow" a new player form Best Buy while your player is in the shop. I had to do that when my TV broke. It's unethicle, but I make it up to them by buying all my Blu-rays and games from them.

[Sylin]

Originally Posted by kjacobs03

You could always go "borrow" a new player form Best Buy while your player is in the shop. I had to do that when my TV broke. It's unethicle, but I make it up to them by buying all my Blu-rays and games from them.

Sounds fair!

To the OP, my S300 has done that a few times, too. Are you sure it's just not getting too hot? Is there plenty of ventilation around and above the player?

I just get the feeling that if it was a defect, it would happen ALL the time, or at least VERY frequently.

[davidPS3]

Pay for shipping on a defective unit that you have less than 90 days. Sounds like you should still be under warrenty and you should not have to pay anything for shipping or repairs!

I would suggest if that is the case (and I do think it wrong you would have to pay) then buy a PS3, I have two and they work great!!

[nycomet]

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

Sounds fair!

To the OP, my S300 has done that a few times, too. Are you sure it's just not getting too hot? Is there plenty of ventilation around and above the player?

I just get the feeling that if it was a defect, it would happen ALL the time, or at least VERY frequently.

My S300 is not getting too hot. It is in a well ventilated area. If it only happened once or twice, I would not request service. Five frozen movies in about a month is frequent enough for me. No one likes to have their movie disrupted. As much as I do not want to be without the blu-ray player, I will ship the unit to Sony this week.

[monkyman]

OMG, my original post of version 2.0 was back in June of 07, 3.7 is the newest available now.

[un4gvn94538]

i have never paid for a defective product to be shipped to the mfg. so soon. make them send you a prepaid box if you cant exchange it where your gift was purchased. why should you have to pay for anything? you (or your gift purchaser) picked thier product and its defective. why be punished for it?

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by nycomet

I just called Sony to request firmware update v2.0 for my BDP-S300. A friendly and seemingly knowledgeable Sony rep advised me that there is no 2.0 firmware update the BDP-S300. My unit has firmware update 3.70. Can anyone confirm that there is a 2.0 firmware update for the BDP-S300? Sony says 3.70 is the current firmware update.

While on the phone with Sony, the rep asked me if I was experiencing any issues with my BDP-S300. I advised the rep that since purchasing and installing the BDP-S300 (it was a holiday gift), two standard DVDs and three Blu-ray disc movies have frozen during playback. I advised that the only way to unfreeze the player is to do a power reboot.

The Sony rep asked the condition of my DVDs and Blu-rays (as well as whether the Blu-rays were newer releases or older ones - she was checking if some of the movies that froze up were Java-heavy). My discs are all clean in near-mint condition. The blu-rays that froze-up range from older to newer releases (Kingdom of Heaven - 3:10 to Yuma)

The Sony rep concluded that since standard DVDs have frozen up on the player, the unit must be defective. The rep asked me to ship the unit to the Sony Service Center in Mount Pleasant, PA. I would pay for shipping the player to Sony. There will be no other fees.

Sony will run diagnostics on the unit and make any repairs if needed. In the even the unit cannot be repaired, Sony will replace it.

What hurls is that the entire process can take between two and three weeks - plus shipping transit time. That is a long time to be without my blu-ray player. I am hooked on Blur-ay movies. It will be very unpleasant to go back to watching standard DVDs (even on a Sony upconvert DVD player).

I have no choice but to send my unit off for repair.

Hmmmm. Maybe I should buy another blu-ray player (or a Playstation 3).

-----

I would return the unit and exchange it for a PS3 hands down, easy money... Do it before Jan 31, most retailers should offer extended return throught the end of Jan 31, and if you are getting a PS3 which is probably more money anyway I'm sure the retailer would be happy to upgrade you....

[Memnoch71]

Get the PS3, I have had no problems with any Disks, Loading or watching. If you are still within the Return Window go exchange it.

It's funny, I put in Cars to watch with my son over the weekend and it came up with the Screen that says it may take 2-3 minutes to load. Try more like 15-20 seconds. I love that thing.

[cembros]

get the ps3. i had the s300 and returned it and got a ps3 instead, couldnt be happier with it. It is a much much better blu ray player, never freezes and functions much faster than the s300. Also it has dolby true hd which the s300 does not. Dont forget all the awesome games available aswell as online hd content.

[Siejuban]

just curious, both BDP-S300 & PS3 are from SONY, why SONY can't design a stand alone player that can load as fast as PS3?

[GooMan]

Originally Posted by Siejuban

just curious, both BDP-S300 & PS3 are from SONY, why SONY can't design a stand alone player that can load as fast as PS3?

Quick answer: Cost

Long Answer: The PS3 has a lot more processing power than is needed for a standalone, it would not make sense, money wise, to put all that processing power into a standalone device.

[sainraja]

Originally Posted by un4gvn94538

i have never paid for a defective product to be shipped to the mfg. so soon. make them send you a prepaid box if you cant exchange it where your gift was purchased. why should you have to pay for anything? you (or your gift purchaser) picked thier product and its defective. why be punished for it?

It depends on how long you have the product....it's a limited warranty after all and it says that right on the box and in their warranty card, the one that the manufacturer offers.

I had to pay to ship my ipod mini to Apple to get a replacement. No other fees. It was after 6 months which is why I had to pay to ship it. For me, shipping was $32 dollars, it was overnight. I got my replacement back quickly too.