Any Disadvantages using a PS3 as a Blu-ray Player?

[JimPullan]

Well guys, for me I'm buying the Toshiba X2A for Christmas and will be waiting on the Sony BDP-S2 in the 2nd quarter next year, incorporating HDMI 1.3 in that unit. Other devices will be introduced as well taking advantage of the HDMI 1.3 features.

With the (soon) introduction of the Sony PlayStation 3, which will already incorporate HDMI 1.3 chip in it, can the PlayStation 3 be used as a dedicated Blu-Ray Disc Player, even though I'm not a gammer ? What are the Pro's and Con's of this approach or thinking ? I look forward to your insight.

Jim

[Jazar]

can the PlayStation 3 be used as a dedicated Blu-Ray Disc Player, even though I'm not a gammer ?

Absolutely. The issues are:

* We have no clue on the quality of the player. Everyone hopes that it'll be excellent but so far there hasn't been any serious hands on with the PS3 as a BD movie player.

* The menu interface leaves something to be desired. There was a screen shot a while ago that did show what the BD/DVD menu looks like and it resembled a lot of the PS2 menu. Not very attractive.

Edit: here is the screen shot:
http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps3/game...es/79737-1.jpg

* Uses the PS3 controller as a remote or requires a seperate bluetooth remote control (not included). Also there doesn't seem to be an IR receiver so that universal remotes are not compatable unless (hopefully) there is a USB->IR adapter (probably not included).

[vick vega]

What if any advantages will hdmi 1.3 have if you have a 1080i tv and are planning to use analouge plugs for the player to decode the next gen audio?

[ay221]

Sony will be selling a $30 remote control, so maybe with that you wont have to fumble around the menu.

[Kenshiro]

Originally Posted by Jazar

Absolutely. The issues are:

* We have no clue on the quality of the player. Everyone hopes that it'll be excellent but so far there hasn't been any serious hands on with the PS3 as a BD movie player.

* The menu interface leaves something to be desired. There was a screen shot a while ago that did show what the BD/DVD menu looks like and it resembled a lot of the PS2 menu. Not very attractive.

Edit: here is the screen shot:
http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps3/game...es/79737-1.jpg

* Uses the PS3 controller as a remote or requires a seperate bluetooth remote control (not included). Also there doesn't seem to be an IR receiver so that universal remotes are not compatable unless (hopefully) there is a USB->IR adapter (probably not included).

I'm pretty sure that pic was reported to be a fake.

Honestly, Blu Ray would be in serious trouble if they skimped on the PQ for the PS3. As the only player that compares in price to HD DVD players, that is going to be the mainstream player that the majority of Blu Ray consumers will base opinions. Obviously it won't be as straight forward as a dedicated player and it will miss many of their features like analog outs for audio. But Sony has already put some features in the PS3 that the stand alone players are lacking, they can't afford to go cheap with it.

[Ascended_Saiyan]

Originally Posted by Kenshiro

I'm pretty sure that pic was reported to be a fake.

It is a fake. I've seen the GUI and it is quite smooth. It is very similar to the PSP GUI.

[AV_Integrated]

Jim - The single biggest reason not to use the game system as a Blu-ray player is the wear and tear it will put on the game system. Realistically, this is trivial considering you can get 2 PS3 units for the same price as a single stand alone player. But, as players come down in price the PS3 will likely seem to be a bit expensive, while players are less money. So, why screw up your gaming console when a stand alone player can do it for less?

More importantly, and as yet unknown, is whether the PS3 holds its own as a quality Blu-ray player. If it is on par with the other players coming to market, then we will see PS3 used extensively. But, if it falls short on quality, as the PS2 did with DVD, then people will be quick to criticize the unit and make SURE people know of that shortcoming.

Actually - it would be disasterous if PS3 looks bad with Blu-ray because the entire justification for the added cost increase of PS3 is due to the advanced technologies, especially Blu-ray.

Either way - I'll likely play a Blu-ray movie before I play a single game on my PS3.

[Jazar]

Originally Posted by Ascended_Saiyan

It is a fake. I've seen the GUI and it is quite smooth. It is very similar to the PSP GUI.

You've seen the BD player GUI or the general PS3 GUI? The general PS3 GUI resembles the PSP but there hasn't been any public showing of the actual movie player GUI. I'm not convinced it's fake.

[theknub]

if nothing else, the ps3 will make a good standalone player until you have the ability to purchase a normal standalone in say a year when (hopefully) prices are more reasonable

[ProvenFlipper]

As far as the movies go... Won't they have the same pop-up menus that the normal players have?

Also one of the disadvantages I see is the PS3 doesn't have analog outs, you you will need HDMI input on your reciever, which I assume Jim has, but not everyone does yet.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by vick vega

What if any advantages will hdmi 1.3 have if you have a 1080i tv and are planning to use analouge plugs for the player to decode the next gen audio?

All info indicates that you'll only get 2-channel stereo as analog outs. The AV Multi-out for the PS3 probably doesn't do 5.1-7.1. It will direct digital streams through the optical port.

Best route is to find yourself a suitable HDMI receiver that can receive 7.1 audio, as there are no receivers with TrueHD/HDMA decoding just yet. The PS3 can decode TrueHD 7.1 and pass it through HDMI.


fuad

[vick vega]

I'm sorry if my post was missunderstood I ment is there any advantage to the hdmi 1.3 in the bdp-s2 if you only have 1080i and don't have to worry about the audio as the player can decode it and pass it to your reciever by 6 ch. anlouge cabels? With the stand alone player. So should I stick w/ the bdp-s1

[JimPullan]

Originally Posted by vick vega

I'm sorry if my post was missunderstood I ment is there any advantage to the hdmi 1.3 in the bdp-s2 if you only have 1080i and don't have to worry about the audio as the player can decode it and pass it to your reciever by 6 ch. anlouge cabels? With the stand alone player. So should I stick w/ the bdp-s1

Vick,
If you don't see implementing or using the features of HDMI 1.3, be it for the Audio or Video benefits, than the BDP-S1 will be more than satisfactory. My Pre-Amp/Processor from Arcam (AV-9) can and will be board upgraded to HDMI 1.3 early next year as they acquire the chip, so it's important to me to simply wait for the Sony BDP-S2 that will have the HDMI 1.3 chip in it as well.
To benefit from all this amazing technology will require a 1080p display or 1080p projector, a receiver or pre-amp/processor, a high definition dvd player, and either a satellite receiver or cable box, all equiped with HDMI 1.3. I've been stashing away my acorns for their arrival since June. By June next year I'll be standing on the pinnicle of home entertainment. See how patient I am

Jim

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Ultimate AV eNewsletter October 2006

PS3 To Decode Dolby TrueHD

Other than playing back HD DVD discs (ha-ha!) it seems that there's precious little else that the upcoming PlayStation3 gaming console can't do. .

The latest news is that the game console will in fact be able to decode Dolby's lossless TrueHD next-gen audio codec, apparently up to seven channels' worth. This is a step up from Sony's own standalone $999 BDP-S1 player, Pioneer Elite's $1,500 BDP-HD1 and Samsung's $999 BD-P1000.

This is cool for the PS3, but don't you all think this is a ridiculous situation overall?

Although all the Blu-ray players announced so far are backward compatible with DVD, neither the Sony or Pioneer players will reportedly play CDs. PS3, on the other hand, will not only play CDs, but SACDs as well!

It's also hotly rumored but not quite confirmed that the PS3 will also include HDMI 1.3. The fully loaded PS3 will retail for $599. And did I mention that it's also a rather hotly anticipated game console?

Go figure.

I'm sorry, but this just doesn't make sense. How does a game console (or whatever you want to call it) go over standalone players like this?


It seems to keep coming back to this:

Why even bother buying a first gen standalone player at this rate?

You can use a PS3 as as stopgap at least until second gen.

Hell, even if you don't care about gaming at all...you read things like this and it just has to make you take pause.



I'd say the answer to the thread title is a resounding HELL NO!!! unless the PS3 ends up just being a piece of junk outright, which I seriously doubt.

[vick vega]

Is there any way to still get a ps3 other than ebay?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by vick vega

Is there any way to still get a ps3 other than ebay?

Wait on Best Buy, Toys R US, Amazon, EB and GS websites.

Get on everyone's email notification lists and be ready at a moment's notice.

[peachsb]

I think there is a resounding reason TO buy a PS3 as a stand-alone. Space. Every component cost money, as well has the space to put it and the space in the receiver to take the input. I don’t know about you, but I have a 3806 Denon receiver, which I never felt was lacking but, even still, it only has 3 channels of HD. I couldn’t have 6 sources of HD without going to an alternative video swithcer, e.g. the TV input or a and acutal switching box. Give one up for satellite, that’s leaves two. I figure one for HD-DVD and another for Blu Ray. I am praying that both the 360 and the PS3 do a great job, because unless they just suck they’ll be my players as well as for gaming (if you’ve seen the latest titles in 1080p, you’d start gaming too!)

According to this pre-release review in Japan, the PS3 is fast: http://ps3.ign.com/articles/740/740005p1.html

“Good news for those worried about the slow start-up times with current next generation optical disc players. The PS3 loads up a Blu-Ray movie fast”

“Startup as a whole seems to be pretty quick for the PS3”

The biggest concern I have over the PS3 as a stand alone player is the remote. Apparently it is Bluetooth. If there is no IR on the unit, than I won’t be able to program my Denon remote with the dicreet IR codes, nor implement the sequences into any macros. I heard tell of a USB-IR but until the unit is release and someone specifically addresses this issue in a trade article, I am distrustful of the internet rumors that are so far I know about this.

Something I think would be a brilliant move for either/both the 360 & PS3 would be to implenet in the the software the ability to read audio files off a home network. It couldn’t be that hard, and it would make it just one less device I still need to buy.

About “wearing out” a player. I may make myself look like an idiot in the eyes of videophiles here, but I have been using an Xbox as a prime DVD player for years. At times I have averaged 20 movies/week, not counting the gaming and the ONLY problem I have now after practically my 5 year old has been abusing this thing for years is the tray occasionally sticks. Incidentally I seem to get a better picture out of this old Xbox than I have seen in any other player to date (including several thousand dollar DVD players). I figure it’s because the receiver & 1080p dlp are already have what the expensive DVD players have. Not only that, but it allows subtitles on 2x FF (helpful when rushing through a bad movie).

If you are building something for gamers, that demographic is not gentle with their equipment like your typical Videophile. Without concern I predict the PS3 will be a tank.

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by peachsb

Incidentally I seem to get a better picture out of this old Xbox than I have seen in any other player to date (including several thousand dollar DVD players).

This pretty much sums it all up...I'm on my way to gamestop to trade my bdp-1000 & HD-A1 in for a couple of old school xbox's

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Gimme a F'n Break

This is Great news for XBOX!!!!
"Another nail in the coffin for progressive scan"

[Ascended_Saiyan]

Originally Posted by Jazar

You've seen the BD player GUI or the general PS3 GUI? The general PS3 GUI resembles the PSP but there hasn't been any public showing of the actual movie player GUI. I'm not convinced it's fake.

I've seen the general PS3 GUI where they selected the movie playing function from the menu (that video was removed at Sony's request). So, you may be right.

For the people that haven't seen the other video, here it is.

[vick vega]

Does anyone know where you can see/buy this remote?