NEW to HD formats and Blu-ray..got a ?

[USMCbreaks]

I've been a gamer for quite sometime and I am finally (thanks to a re-enlistment bonus for the Marine Corps) going to be able to pick up a 1080P LCD HD TV to further my experience!!! My question to you is this: I was planning on getting a PS3 (mainly for blu-ray at this point..but eventually games) and was curious if there are any stand alone players that are relativly cheap that are better at this point in time? I understand it's a pretty new technology so they are expensive but as long as we're not talking $1000's I should be good! Also curious as to how the PS3 bluray is working..not sure on the major difference on regular stand alone blu-ray compared to a (from what I've heard) cheaper blu-ray player in the PS3! Thanks in advance!

*edit* quite a few views no replys! I understand that there are review threads but a lot of it is mumbo jumbo! I mean I AM a Marine guys =P so if someone could help me out by breaking some of this down in simple terms that'd be nice too!