New format?

[Acctingman]

Hello all!

Well, I've done some looking around, poking my head in the forums here and there and some overall all net browsing about Blu-Ray players.

I'm in the market for one, but a buddy at work commented on how the format is going to change...meaning, I think, the discs.

First, is this true and second, via fireware updates will most "current" Blue-Ray players be able to support this new format?

I'm not in a rush to buy, so is it better if I wait? My budget is about $400 for a player.

As of now, I've been eyeballing the Samsung BD-P1500. Is this unit going to be able to handle new Blue-Ray discs coming down the road?

Thanks!

Acctingman

[Moefiz]

Hey Acctingman man...welcome to world of Blu...

I personally prefer the Sony units.I have the S300 and its been working great ever since i got it as long as you keep the players updated with the latest firmware you are good to go.
The S350 is going for 299.00 right now and I am just waiting to upgrade it.

But anyway good luck on your choice and welcome to the world Blu

[Pelican170]

Id go with ps3...

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Acctingman

Hello all!

Well, I've done some looking around, poking my head in the forums here and there and some overall all net browsing about Blu-Ray players.

I'm in the market for one, but a buddy at work commented on how the format is going to change...meaning, I think, the discs.

First, is this true and second, via fireware updates will most "current" Blue-Ray players be able to support this new format?

I'm not in a rush to buy, so is it better if I wait? My budget is about $400 for a player.

As of now, I've been eyeballing the Samsung BD-P1500. Is this unit going to be able to handle new Blue-Ray discs coming down the road?

Thanks!

Acctingman

The Samsung finished second to the Panasonic BD-50, the Samsung is a fine choice at that price point.

[plee]

Originally Posted by Acctingman

I'm in the market for one, but a buddy at work commented on how the format is going to change...meaning, I think, the discs.

No format change in the foreseeable future...

[owa]

Originally Posted by Acctingman

As of now, I've been eyeballing the Samsung BD-P1500. Is this unit going to be able to handle new Blue-Ray discs coming down the road?

Acctingman

Move-wise I don't think you need to worry. Just looking at the product page for the Samsung though, it's a profile 1.1 player and that means it can't make use of BD-Live content. BD-Live allows for potentially, a more interactive web-enabled special feature(s). So far, we haven't seen all that much from it but who knows what they'll come up with in the future. The Sleeping Beauty release today is supposed to have a lot of BD-Live content so I guess I'll see how some of that goes.
Anyway, the Samsung you're looking at cost $233 at Amazon and the new Sony player mentioned earlier is listed for $279 (it's BD-Live capable). I use PS3s and really like that solution but it'll probably be a little more expensive than that (around $399 most likely).

If you don't care about special features at all, then pretty much any of the blu-ray players will do since they all should play the movie properly. Although, they sometimes require firmware updates to do so. That's another reason I'd go with a BD-Live capable player. Depending on your setup at home (network connection in the general area?), it could be more convenient for downloading firmware updates.

Edit: That particular Samsung model may be upgradeable to BD-Live if it hasn't been already. Looks like Amazon anyway, says it has an ethernet port so even if it didn't support BD-Live, you'd still have the convenience for firmware updates.

[arush5268d]

Welcome to the forum - glad to see you are doing research on what would work out well for you.

As said, Panasonic makes a great player.

I'm skeptical about the Samsungs - I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about them. Some love 'em, some hate 'em.

Not sure about this new format that you've heard about..can you elaborate some?

[theprophecy247]

welcome to da world of blu and id go with a ps3

[SkillzthatKillz]

ps3 is sweet...not to mention future proof...plus it plays ps3 games

[Acctingman]

Sorry, all my co-worker told me was that there was a new disc format coming out sometime down the road, but that most newer Blu-Ray players would be able to play the new discs via Fireware updates.

Again, not sure if he even knows what he's talking about

Thanks to all that have replied. I'm getting pretty damned gitty thinking of the purchase.

I've got a nice 42" panasonic waiting for the new player

[Valore]

Originally Posted by SkillzthatKillz

ps3 is sweet...not to mention future proof...plus it plays ps3 games

Skillz said it in a nut shell

[kefrank]

Panasonic and Sony are the two best hardware companies at the $400 price point.

Your best bets are:
Sony Playstation 3
Sony BDP-S350
Panasonic DMP-BD35

[arush5268d]

Ah jeez. Here we go with the herd of "PS3! PS3!"

[maygit]

Originally Posted by prerich

The Samsung finished second to the Panasonic BD-50, the Samsung is a fine choice at that price point.

Actually Cnet rates the PS3 first, Panasonic BD55 second, Sony S350 Third, and the Samsung 1500 fourth. I havent checked but i think the BD55 is $399, other than that the Sony and Sammy are both $299.

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-blu-ray...ent;contentNav

[mr.hidef]

Originally Posted by arush5268d

Ah jeez. Here we go with the herd of "PS3! PS3!"

+1.......Besides....NOTHING is futureproof....

[dv8pdx]

Originally Posted by arush5268d

Ah jeez. Here we go with the herd of "PS3! PS3!"

Originally Posted by mr.hidef

+1.......Besides....NOTHING is futureproof....

Sure it is! My parents VCR (c1978) was able to play the first VHS tapes released up to the last VHS tapes out there (and it still runs with its push down play buttons)! hehe... bet the PS3 will too! just kidding on the comparison, but heck, the PS3 is a mini upgradeable computer!! It will weather the storms of advancement very well. It’s the only blu-ray player that was ready for advancement on day one! Well worth the higher price "investment". Trust me PS3 fans wont let anyone not consider it as an excellent option when the subject comes up.

[SkullPhyre]

PS3 is the most futureproof player out there. Us PS3 owners get all the upgrades first. Short of something that has better AQ/PQ , bitstreams. The PS3 is hands down the best.
Even the 1000k and over players can't load as fast. I was going to buy a standalone but why bother.
I will spend 600 dollars on Blu's instead. So while the rest of you are making sandwiches and going to the bathroom while your BD loads I will be drinking a beer watching the movie.

[Anthony P]

I'm in the market for one, but a buddy at work commented on how the format is going to change...meaning, I think, the discs.

the disks stay the same, I am not sure what your buddy meant, but every BD disk should work in every player. But if we look at the past some players might not be able to support all the features. So if you don't have a player that supports bonus view you won't see the PiP, and if you don't have one that does BD-live then you won't have the internet DL content, but you will still get the movie, great Picture and great sound. It is true, the way BD is created they lesft the ability to add features in the future and make it better. But BD disks are BD disks and the movie will play in your player.

Now if an existing player will be upgradeable to new future features, no one can say. In the end we don’t know what those features might be and might require. For example bonus-view required much more processing power, so if your player did not have it then FW could not help, BD-live requires an internet connection so if a did not have a way to connect to the internet then how could they add it with FW? On the other hand (for example) the PS3 had a lot more processing power and had an Ethernet connection so as BD added feature so did the PS3 do it eventually, on the other hand it does not mean that in the future if the BDA adds more features to BD that the PS3 will be able to handle them or that you will even be interested in them.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by SkullPhyre

Even the 1000k and over players can't load as fast. I was going to buy a standalone but why bother.

The new chip from Sigma equals the PS3 in boot up times and load times for discs.

The next one, will beat it.

[Acctingman]

I'm not even considering a PS3. I don't console game so why would I want one? I'd rather save the extra $150-200 and buy movies.

I'm not bashing the PS3 at all (in fact....Madden 09 looks pretty sweet) but console gaming doesn't interest me in the slightest.

But, thank you all for your comments and input. It's been a HUGE help.