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

[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.