Looking for first Blu-Ray Player, PS3 Slim or Panasonic BD60?

[Hellhog]

I'm looking to get my first Blu-Ray Player. There is only around 5-10 BDs that I want. I'm also looking to upconvert some of my DVDs as well. (Basically I'm looking for all around picture quality). I use a Toshiba 19" 720p LCD TV (16:10 aspect ratio) [19AV500U] (I use VGA from Xbox 360 to adjust to a 16:9 ratio 1440 x 900 resolution). I'm not that avid of a movie watcher either.

I'm torn between the BD60 and PS3 Slim.

-I know that the PS3 offers gaming (but I have an Xbox 360, more than half my games are exclusives, that and none of the PS3 gaming library has caught my eye yet)

-I know I can use an internet browser with a PS3 but I prefer using my Laptop I'm sitting at right now

-The wifi is a bonus as I need wifi to connect to the internet from my room (or drag out the 50ft ethernet across the floor)

I don't see any other differences, I will be using HDMI to my TV for video, TosLink for my headphones, and analog rca for my stereo system.

The other part is the cost:
The BD60 will cost me $175
The PS3 Slim w/ Remote will cost me $320
(plus if I buy any games, if I game I will may buy the Logitech Cordless Precision controller but definetly a Headset [USB or Bluetooth])


I'm not sure. The PS3 Slim sounds juicy but I don't know if I want another gaming system in my house (always been a single console guy).


What do you recomend and why?

[mr. b]

First off, I'd recommend a bigger tv with 1080p capabilities.

You might want to bother a few friends that have a ps3 first to see if you want to go with a 2nd gaming console (that is of course if they have PS3 exclusive games also). If you find a few games you like on PS3, then that will pretty much answer your question.

[Hellhog]

Ya, my budget, or lack there of doesn't support me moving up to 1080p. Unless there is a cheap TV at 1080p. The only thing I saw was at Best Buy. A 22" Insignia 1080p TV. It looked the same as all the 720p TVs around it.

If you know of any cheap 1080p TVs with a relativly small screen size (26" or less) that would be helpful.

At the moment I have no friends with PS3s. However one of my friends is strongly thinking toward buying a Slim because of the price drop. I would definetly be keeping him more company if he did.

[mr. b]

Originally Posted by Hellhog

Ya, my budget, or lack there of doesn't support me moving up to 1080p. Unless there is a cheap TV at 1080p. The only thing I saw was at Best Buy. A 22" Insignia 1080p TV. It looked the same as all the 720p TVs around it.

If you know of any cheap 1080p TVs with a relativly small screen size (26" or less) that would be helpful.

At the moment I have no friends with PS3s. However one of my friends is strongly thinking toward buying a Slim because of the price drop. I would definetly be keeping him more company if he did.

With smaller screens, you are probably good at 720p. The difference is not that noticeable between 720p and 1080p with small screens.

I'm not really sure what to suggest. If you have the budget right now for a PS3 slim, a game or two, and some accessories, then you are not too far off from saving up a little more and picking up a larger hdtv with 1080p capabilities. I guess I would rather start out with the nicest, largest screen I can get before getting anything else. You would also have a blast playing the xbox 360 on a larger tv, and you would be set to enjoy full 1080p once you did get a blu-ray player.

If you just want to start watching some blu-ray movies, then obviously go with the BD-60 and save some cash to go towards a larger hdtv.

The PS3 has been touted as being an excellent blu-ray player since it's initial launch, and from what I've read so far, the slim is the best out of all the PS3's when just used as a blu-ray player. It's quieter, uses less electricity, and runs cooler. I also just read that the slim has the capability of syncing with some of the newer htdv's (not just Sony either) to allow you to use the hdtv's remote. This would save you a few $'s if you didn't have to buy the PS3 remote. Like I said, I'm not really sure what to suggest.

[kefrank]

The BD60 has an intermittent freezing issue on BDs that the PS3 does not have. See the BD60 dedicated thread for details.

The BD60 is touted as a better upconverter than the PS3, so if you're mostly going to use it for DVD playback and an occasional BD, the BD60 is probably the wisest choice, freezing issue notwithstanding.

[boxterduke]

If you want a hassle free BD player then the PS3 is your answer. It does not hurt to have it because down the line you might find a game that you like.

I'm a PC Gamer first and most but when I decided to go hidef I just bought a PS3 to give me the option of playing games as well. I love my decision and love playing games on the PS3.