What player should I get? Should I wait?

[MichaelMann]

Hi all,

OK, so I've gone Blu-Ray. I bought several titles last month. What player should I get? Should I wait? What's this 2.0 business? Thanks in advance for any illumination. Best regards,

Michael

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by MichaelMann

Hi all,

OK, so I've gone Blu-Ray. I bought several titles last month. What player should I get? Should I wait? What's this 2.0 business? Thanks in advance for any illumination. Best regards,

Michael

Get either the 80GB PS3 or Panasonic DMP-BD30 stand alone player now, or wait a few months and some really solid profile 1.1 and even 2.0 players will be released that will have excellent load times, full HD audio bitstream support and lower prices.
Watch CES 2008 for announcements on those upcoming players.

[MichaelMann]

Thank you for the advise.

[quetzalcoatl]

Could not agree more on the CES part. We are just 3 days away.

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by MichaelMann

Thank you for the advise.

No problem. Personally, I'd wait.

[Papi4baby]

Yes wait, but if you must have it.

If you play games the PS3.
If you don't care for games the Pani 30 is the one. Be advised you will need a new receiver with HDMI sound decoding with the latest codecs, as this player does not do any decoding, it just bitstreams the audio to the receiver.

[Colorado Blu Skies]

I would buy a 40gig PS3 if you wanted one now because I would assume that it would be 2.0 compliant in the near future.

Otherwise I would wait if you don't want a "game machine"... I was going to buy a standalone from BB because they have the buy a player and get 10 movie deal but I want a 2.0 profile player or one that can be upgraded to 2.0 via firmware.

[Downhere]

Originally Posted by MichaelMann

Hi all,

OK, so I've gone Blu-Ray. I bought several titles last month. What player should I get? Should I wait? What's this 2.0 business? Thanks in advance for any illumination. Best regards,

Michael

I would only recommend two options: A PS3 or the Panasonic BD-30. All the other players aren't worth squat.

Originally Posted by gvortex7

full HD audio bitstream support and lower prices.

And also full HD audio done internally in the player to give the choice of either bitstream or multi channel PCM.

[notthatRich]

Yup I agree with most here - I'd get a PS3 or Panny 30 and if I were gonna get one today, I'd probably buy the Panasonic DMP-BD30K at Best Buy and get the 5 free instant movie deal going on right now

[Bandit 1200]

Originally Posted by Downhere

I would only recommend two options: A PS3 or the Panasonic BD-30. All the other players aren't worth squat.

OK, here comes a couple of complete newb questions then. Why are all other Blu players not worth squat?
Is it that they no longer play movies? or can't be upgraded with firmwear or are too slow.

I was an HD DVD adopter and after yesterday's announcement I put all my stuff on Craig's list and sold most of it today, traded in the rest of the movies at Gamestop to get some store credit there. And thank God Sams Club has a very liberal return policy and I got all my money back on the HD-D3 I just bought there. So essentially I am starting from Scratch here in the HD optical disk market.

Now I don't want to start a flame war, I am going to get a Blu-Ray player after all, But any HD DVD that I bought worked on my HD-D3 player. Even as recent a release as the Bourne Ultimatum.

I don't want to feel burned again like I did with HD DVD so I want to make a good buy when I do get a Blue-Ray. But at this point after reading in these forums there seems to be many people who can't get thier player to read recent movies.

Is there a list of players that we can keep upgrading the firmware on so you don't end up with a $500.00 paper weight. I can't keep talking my wife into letting me these expensive toys you know.

So is the best advice to wait until the dust settles a little more after CES to make a purchase of a Player?

I just really want to enjoy HD movies without worrying about compatability issues.

Thanks for any help guys (and or gals)

[xbox-4ever]

i have not yet invested in a player either, im waiting for after ces and if anything doesnt catch my eye there then i will purchase a ps3 most likely

[Downhere]

Originally Posted by Bandit 1200

OK, here comes a couple of complete newb questions then. Why are all other Blu players not worth squat?
Is it that they no longer play movies? or can't be upgraded with firmwear or are too slow.

The reason the other players aren't worth squat is because they are profile 1.0. More and more movies will start having extra features that require a profile 1.1/2.0 player to view them. Therefore, if you buy a profile 1.0 player you will not be able to access those features. And honestly, most of the profile 1.0 players are pretty slow and clunky (especially the Samsung).

That is why, I personally would only recommend the Sony PS3 or the Panasonic BD-30. Both are profile 1.1 and the PS3 has the ability to be profile 2.0 in the future. Not only that but the PS3 gets constant firmware updates that enhance or give new features. If you want to be future proof and not have to worry about compatibility, then the two options above are the only way to go. Of course you could wait to see what CES brings as well, but you will have to wait for some time before those players hit the market.

[DiverDRA]

MMann, it depends on the rest of your AV system.

If you have a 5.1 surround sound setup and an older receiver that cannot handle TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding (and care about lossless audio to go with HD video), then PS3 (my expectation is that a firmware update will be coming soon to decode DTS-HD Master Audio).

If you have a new receiver that does this decoding (and you care), then I agree with the Panasonic BDP30.

If you would like to be able to watch a slideshow of your digital photos while you listen to complimentary MP3 music, then PS3. If you'd like to be able to stream photos and music and video from your home PC via wireless or Ethernet connection, the PS3 (my wife really loves this capability).

Obviously if you want to play games, then the PS3 (we love to play Guitar Hero III, Dirt, Call of Duty).

I've had my PS3 for 4 months and obviously I love it. Also bought one for my son as a graduation gift.

There will definitely be new players coming (i.e., possible announcement from China next week at CES) and the prices will drop (that's a given in consumer electronics) so the other factor is how long do you want to wait to see the eye popping 1080p resolution and the incredible theater equivalent audio?

[un4gvn94538]

60 gig ps3, onkyo 705, 40 blu ray movies zero problems with playback! couldnt be happier. not being able to bitstream true hd isnt a bad thing. and i do expect dts ma decoding in the near future. true hd pcm sounds oh so excellent!

[DiverDRA]

MMann, also I don't believe the Panasonic DMP-BD30K will ever be able to be blu-ray 2.0 (a.k.a. BD Live) compliant because it lacks an Ethernet connection. 2.0 is all about interactivity.

The PS3 obviously has had this connectivity from the very beginning which makes it more than a blu-ray player or a game console ... it's really a multimedia center.

The way you would update the Panny's firmware is via the SD card slot. The PS3 firmware is updated via Ethernet (wired or wireless), USB memory key, or SD card. The PS3 is all about lots and lots of options.

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by DiverDRA

MMann, also I don't believe the Panasonic DMP-BD30K will ever be able to be blu-ray 2.0 (a.k.a. BD Live) compliant because it lacks an Ethernet connection. 2.0 is all about interactivity.

The PS3 obviously has had this connectivity from the very beginning which makes it more than a blu-ray player or a game console ... it's really a multimedia center.

The way you would update the Panny's firmware is via the SD card slot. The PS3 firmware is updated via Ethernet (wired or wireless), USB memory key, or SD card. The PS3 is all about lots and lots of options.

exactly, you can also stream media from your pc

[tru_to_blu]

Get the PS3 for now.

[davidPS3]

PS3, you won't regret it and no load times!

[Choronos]

I recommend the PS3, it's future proof as it gets constant firmware upgrades that so far has transformed the system into a sexier beast and is profile 1.1 ready, plus you have a game system out of it and it's online service is free.

I can leave the thing on all day and it won't shutdown due to overheating. I've had mine since launch and have not had any freezing or overheating problems. My launch XBOX 360 died out within 4 months and my replacement began breaking down within 6 months. PS3s were built to last. I'm planning on buying two more PS3s in the coming months, one for my old man and one for the living room.

[Evashun]

Originally Posted by MichaelMann

Hi all,

OK, so I've gone Blu-Ray. I bought several titles last month. What player should I get? Should I wait? What's this 2.0 business? Thanks in advance for any illumination. Best regards,

Michael

Hey Michael

IMO I suggest getting the Playstation 3. Its the best bargain and is already 1.1 ready and later you can upgrade it to 2.0 via software update. Then later once the 2.0 and beyond comes, I would invest in a high end Pioneer Elite player. Hope that helps man.