Seeking Blu-Ray player advice

Looking for opinions here on a Blu-ray player to buy in the near term (within six months give or take) that upconverts regular DVD's beautifully (as well as my old Toshiba XA2), and is (of course) a great Blu-Ray player that loads Blu-Ray and regular DVD discs fairly fast. HDMI connection is a must. My monitor is a 42-inch Sharp HD LCD. I like being able to use my current universal remote (so the proprietary remote included with any Blu-Ray player is mostly unimportant to me), and therefore was a bit irked to read I can't control a PS3 console with my universal remote because there is no IR sensor (oh well, can't have it all), but I'm not ruling out a PS3. I'm not concerned with the latest multi-channel audio bells and whistles because I output audio from my older PSB/NAD speakers/receiver (yes, I'm still using 2-channel stereo sound!). So, is a PS3 a good choice for me, or a stand alone Blu-Ray player? I'm not a gamer, but not adverse to not utilizing the PS3 gaming functions. If a stand alone player, which model(s)? Thanks in advance for any helpful replies.

[cartier]

I personally use a PS3 and love it, my original intent was only to use it as a movie player but eventually got into a little bit of gaming too. That being said many of the users on the forums are very impressed with the Panasonic BD30 player while others are awaiting the BD50. If you are at all concerned with wanting to use BD Live features then either the PS3 or BD50 would be the way to go. The PS3 is now fully BD Live compliant via the 2.20 firmware update. Also both should do an incredible job of upscaling DVD movies.

As far as the PS3 remote issue there is a separate IR based USB device that can allow for simple movie playback using a programable universal remote, like the harmony series. The downside is you can not use it to turn on the PS3, but if you have to put a movie in the player anyway it is not a big deal. Although I do not use this there are others that have.

Load times on the PS3 are extremely fast, arguably the best load times of any player.

[un4gvn94538]

thats depends on what you plan to do for the future. obviously since you already have an hd dvd player, your going to be getting blus and so it wont be just for upconverting. do you plan on upgrading your receiver for surround sound?

[kevinchi]

I can only explain how my bd-p1400 has performed since Dec 07. Setup is easy enough if you have experience with Hi-Def connections. Don't purchase a HDMI to DVI adapter,especially if you are putting your player in a cabinet, not enough room for cable and adapter, furthermore HDMI is a brutal connector when it comes to friction fit and staying in position when moving the unit in and out. Just as bad as USB. Next thing that startled me was the slooowww eject process, but I guess this is the way these players are. Of course the first thing in is a Bluray movie, picture and sound quality as good as can be expected, navagation very easy, menu system for setup is very good too. The BD player pushed out my DVD player from the cabinet, so I tried a DVD and had some grief with Video and sound cutting in and out. Tired another DVD same story, OH!OH!. Check online and wow a firmware update available. Upload is very easy, so far so good. Tried the DVD that was failing, problem solved. Okay I can still watch my library of DVD's back to some Hi Def movies. Watched 2 with no problem over the next couple of weeks. Then number three..... sound cuts out and then gone. Put number 1 and 2 back in to check to see if it was a faulty Disc. Nope same problem. BTW-Part of the appeal when purchased was 5 free movies which still have not arrived, how do I track them, no clue, no assistance from Samsung or Retail store where I bought it. Anyway here we are in March low and behold another update available. Uploaded with ease, now lets see how it works. Hey right on! perfect picture, no cutting of sound, whew! Whoa whats this!, 15 minutes into the Movie (I Am Legend) the screen is starting to scribble (reminded me of the days when a wrinkled tape was moving accross the 4 head VCR) You &*%&%$'s Then crack! Black screen no sound...............! Thought for sure this thing screwed my amp. Power off the unit was the only thing that worked on the remote. Powered back up and decided to try again as everything seemed ok. Nope again and again and again same thing almost always at the same point, so tried watching alternate version, not any better other than I could watch 5 minutes pause when the weird screen started and then unpaused after 20 seconds what a long movie HA!HA! LMAO. I guess I wait to see if others have the same fun and find resolve. BTY same deal with any disc I put in now. Can't really go out and buy an HD player.