Blu-ray drive in a computer or player

[jetsonic]

tell me which is more stable and better?

[coolmilo]

What do you want to use a Blu-ray drive for? If for watching movies, do you have a home theater (at least a 1080 P TV with HDMI)? If so then buy a standalone player. They are very reliable.

If you just have a PC or laptop and it is powerful with a great screen then that might be the way to go.

The better stuff you have to feed Blu-ray the better it will look/sound and the more satisfied you will ultimately become.

I don't have one but I agree that the best overall way to get started is with a PS3. It's not only a great Blu-ray player but it is also a great game console not to mention the most affordable way to start your habit.

[HiNRG]

I'm planning on upgrading my computer to a Blu-ray drive soon, but if I do that, I'll want to upgrade my analog LCD monitor as well. Can anyone tell me if a Samsung with 1440 x 900 resolution and a DVI digital input will make optimal use out of having a Blu-ray drive, or would anyone recommend waiting and buying a monitor better suited for Blu-ray's video capabilities?

[Deciazulado]

A samsung 900 x 1440 will only show up to 810 x 1440 pixels in a 16:9 wide image (Blu-rays have 1080 x 1920 pixels)
You probably need to have an HDCP input on the monitor, and the video card have HDCP too to get all that resolution, but I'm not sure as I haven't been following the PC Blu-ray section closely.

There are already cheap 1080p x 1920 HDCP computer monitors available btw

[jorg]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

A samsung 900 x 1440 will only show up to 810 x 1440 pixels in a 16:9 wide image (Blu-rays have 1080 x 1920 pixels)
You probably need to have an HDCP input on the monitor, and the video card have HDCP too to get all that resolution, but I'm not sure as I haven't been following the PC Blu-ray section closely.

There are already cheap 1080p x 1920 HDCP computer monitors available btw

i can confirm that your monitor and video card have to have hdcp, i have also read of instances were if u have some programs running in background(display capturing i think[fps.]) then you will not be able view content. but if u do not want to invest in the newer monitors with hdcp you could use a program to get ride of that protection(doom9 forums ) i also read from maximum pc magazine that some blu-ray drives can NOT play movies?(sony one) i can not conform this but they did publish it so.. can any conform this?

[HiNRG]

Thanks, upon looking a little further, I found a similar Samsung monitor to the one I was looking at before that has a DVI w/HDCP port connector, a 16:10 (Widescreen) display, and 1680 x 1050 resolution. It's a 20" monitor selling for only $300 at CompUSA. I think this will be my next monitor unless jorg is right about BD drives not playing movies. Can anyone confirm this?

[Deciazulado]

I think CompUSA has a computer monitor that does full 1080p x 1920 (of course it costs more). You should check it out.

[HiNRG]

Are there computer monitors with MDMI inputs, because I saw a MSI motherbord with a HDMI output, or is that just for regular HDTV's?

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by HiNRG

Are there computer monitors with MDMI inputs, because I saw a MSI motherbord with a HDMI output, or is that just for regular HDTV's?

I think there's a couple (BenQ 24" seems to be one) (but you have to confirm if that monitor added the 1:1 pixel mapping feature, otherwise you won't get the full sharpness. 1:1. Very important if you wan't to get the full 1080 experience on a 1080 x 1920 monitor :D)

You can use an HDMI to DVI cable for those computer monitors that have DVI only (HDMI is basically the DVI video signal plus the audio signal in one cable) (so you have to have a way to get the sound from another output if you go the HDMI to DVI route for the video) but the important thing for Blu-rayian stuff is you want to make sure to get a monitor input that has HDCP (be it HDMI or DVI) (and that the video card output has it too, if you use a video card) (and of course test that the HDCP handshake is working) to get the full avantage of digital 1080p video through HDMI outs.

I think I can count computer monitors that do HDMI or DVI HDCP and 1080p x 1920 with one hand, off the top of my head. There will be more as time passes by, of course

[HiNRG]

Hey, thanks Deciazulado - very helpful. You saved me a crap load of research. I'll still look into it on my own, but at least I have an idea of what I'm looking for now.

[movies3]

Originally Posted by jetsonic

tell me which is more stable and better?

from what i have seen the dell xps laptops are very nice with the blu ray drives. i have the older dell xps and my screen goes to 1920x1200 and it looks amazing.

[dadkins]

VAIO Laptop(see sig) with BD drive and 1920x1200 XBrite screen.
Intense!