I need Help!!

[HollywoodNorth]

I'm going too finally invest in a Blu-Ray player. I'm not a gamer so the PS3 is out of the question.

I'm really new at this and have been doing research. I want a player in which I don't have to buy a new player every couple years because of expanding technology.

1) is BD ever going to stop coming out with different disc versions?

2) Are there any players out right now that will play any disc that I buy?

I don't mind doing firmware updates just not into buying new players very few years because it no longer can be updated to play say Transformers 2 when it is on BD. I hope I was clear as too what I'm asking.

[BStecke]

Even though a PS3 is "out of the question" it's one of the only players out there that meets both of those criteria, for sure. Despite the spec being finalized, it's one of only a handful of players that supports BD-Live. Otherwise the Sony S550 would probably be my other recommendation.

[arush5268d]

There's also the Panasonic DMP-BD50, and the soon-to-be-coming DMP-BD55. Panasonic's players, so far, have been great. Fast load times, execellent picture quality, feature packed and very reliable.

I don't have any experience with the Sony player that was mentioned - but my personal recommendation would be the Panasonic.

I haven't upgraded the firmware on my Panasonic since January.

[HollywoodNorth]

For myself personally I would buy a PS3 and get back into gaming but my wife is like no...but she will let me buy a player. I had purchased a a HD-DVD player just after x-mas last year..from the time I ordered it to the time I recieved WB decided no more HD-DVD so I took my player back without even opening it. Now I wanted Blu-ray in the beginning but HD's price was hard too beat at the time.
That is my dileema plus I'm just getting myself current on BD.

[arush5268d]

Well welcome to the family!

It is a shame what happened to many people, such as yourself. Toshiba really has tried their best confuse the common consumer.

[arush5268d]

I should add that the only thing that the profile 2.0 players add is internet connectivity to download additional special features and the such.

Many of us, including myself, are perfectly happy with a profile 1.1 player and have no need or intentions of upgrading to 2.0. Not worth the price to me.

[HollywoodNorth]

Thanks Ha Ha..well just scoured the internet and the Panasonic DMP-BD50 and I cannot find it too buy anywhere..I am in Canada by the way.

I was under the impression that if you have a 1.1 player and have a movie that is 2.0 you cannot play said movie on that player. I'm a huge movie buff where the extra features are just as important as the movie itself.

[HollywoodNorth]

I guess whta I'm trying to find out is that if I buy a player can I play any movie that come out? Will my player be obsolete in a few years.

Just too let you know I have had the same DVD player now for like 6 years.

[arush5268d]

A profile 1.1 player can play ANY Blu-ray movie - it just won't be able to do anything with the extra features of 2.0.

And no, it won't be 'obsolete.' It will continue to work just as your current DVD player, but with Blu-rays.

[HollywoodNorth]

Oh well alright then. I will start shopping for my player very soon then.

[arush5268d]

What's your budget for this player?

[mike79]

Even 1.0 players should technically play any blu-ray. You may not be able to access all of the special features, so it really depends on how important special features are to you.

[darkpoet25]

https://www.blu-ray.com/players/

Hope this link helps. Welcome aboard.

[HollywoodNorth]

Well kinda waiting on my union contract..if we sign I'm looking at after taxes around $1000 cdn.

[HollywoodNorth]

Honestly looking at the one you mentioned..just not around here yet.

The PS3 80 GB model is looking better and better. Just soemday I want to upgrade my receiver to 7.1.

[Blu-Ron]

Originally Posted by HollywoodNorth

I'm not a gamer so the PS3 is out of the question.

Hmmm...not really. The PS3 is still the best blu player (for now).

[arush5268d]

Originally Posted by HollywoodNorth

Well kinda waiting on my union contract..if we sign I'm looking at after taxes around $1000 cdn.

Oh that's more than enough to get a great player. You'll be fine.....and will surely get years of enjoyment from your new Blu-ray player.

[arush5268d]

Originally Posted by Blu-Ron

Hmmm...not really. The PS3 is still the best blu player (for now).

Take your fanboyism elsewhere. It's not welcome in this thread.

[Blu-RayLover]

I have to agree, that the issues put forward about the PS3 having no bearing on someone who is not a gamer. While I wouldn’t rule out the virtues and wonderful things about PS3, it isn’t a system for somebody who wants a bit of simplicity. Already, the best selling stand-alone Blu-ray player is the Sony BDP-S350, that is now being priced at less than 300 dollars. By the holidays, there will be a series of generic brands on the market that will probably break the 300 dollar mark. Already, a few of these unknown brands are now even priced at 229 dollars! Personally, I would stay with a known, solid brand such as Sony, Panasonic and Pioneer. Others included would be Samsung and then Sharp. What will probably determine the purchase will be price. As far as features go, on a stand alone player, this isn’t really so important and while it does in some respects determine differences in pricing, it’s best to simply purchase the player by way of what you will use or understand about what features are offered. In the long run, the video performance of most players is pretty much the same, while the more expensive units offer some sort of processing that most of us will never utilize. The audio abilities or processing is nearly the same now for most players, at least if you go with HDMI hook-up for direct bit-streaming, as opposed to the old analog system.

Of the players to recommend are as follows:

Samsung BD-P2550
Sharp BD-HP50
Pioneer BDP-51FD
Panasonic DMP-BD30
Sony BDP-S550
Panasonic DMP-BD50

And, if you’re not looking for a lot of features, but a really good and adequate player, the Sony BDP-S350 is perhaps the best buy right now, with the second best choice, the Panasonic DMP-BD30. As it stands, the big race for Blu-ray supremacy, from a practical view is between Sony and Panasonic.

[HollywoodNorth]

I know I have nothing too worry about..just I want the best bang for my buck and if I spent the full grand on the player my wife would shoot me.