Is PS3 Still The Best Blu-ray Player??

[Filmmaker]

Is there a meaningful reason why the PS3 won't play 576/50i (PAL) content? Could this be easily rectified with a simple firmware update or is there some trickier issues at play for Sony here? I can rationalize (not support and enjoy, mind you, but rationalize) the Region A-only restriction but the PAL prevention is infuriating. I have a handful of region-free import titles that play fine, but the bonus features are in PAL and are a no-go on my PS3...grrr! It seems so easy for Sony to enable PAL playback on the PS3 and I just wish I knew why they won't. Other than that one HUGE caveat, I love my PS3 dearly.

[Tempest]

I love the PS3 for all the many things it can do. I don't really play games with it much at all but I do enjoy being able to stream to it, Play Netflix, HULU, YouTube, CNN, Pandora, etc etc.. And of course playing Blu Ray Movies.

I know the OPPU doesn't give me all these options/abilities so automatically it is out the window besides it costs a lot more. I don't think any player can offer more and continue to gain more abilities like a PS3 does.

You simply get MORE with a PS3 and I am not talking about gaming.

[SeanMF]

Originally Posted by Pinto

I like being able to put DivX movies on a flash drive and pop it into the PS3 to play them - very handy.

I'll say this about the PS3 - in my experience it is the most CONVENIENT player.

It is the most convenient. Will the ps3 be my main blu-ray player? No. It will be used for gaming and other features it has (which is a lot). My oppo bdp-83 gets blu-ray/dvd movie playback 99% of the time.

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

Ha u guys are a trip, i dont even think you realize how hard you trying to make the PS3 inferior. At the end of the day you cant deny the simple fact that the PS3 has more cons then pro's and more options/flexibility than any blu ray player on the market.
END OF STORY!!

You said it. We agree with you.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by HDPlasma

You said it. We agree with you.

Priceless.....!

[steve1971]

Even though I have yet to own one I will say that the PS3 is the best Blu ray player on the market. As they say it only does everything you could ask for. I know because my freind owns 2 of them and they are awsome.

[shinseiRomeo]

Originally Posted by steve1971

Even though I have yet to own one I will say that the PS3 is the best Blu ray player on the market. As they say it only does everything you could ask for. I know because my freind owns 2 of them and they are awsome.

Besides cost, I see no reason for anyone to buy a BD player other than the PS3. My girlfriend got a Sharp AQUOS player new and cheap. Guess what? I kid you not, the first BD I tried failed to even load. I tried about 5 BD and only one worked. She bought a PS3 the next week and junked the Sharp. (yes I'm a techie, I upgraded her firmware twice)

[demers_60]

I know the majority will disagree with this but I loved the PS when it was just a gaming system. I hope PS4, if there ever is one, will get back to the basics of gaming. Wishful thinking? Probably. Just my two cents worth.

[shinseiRomeo]

Originally Posted by demers_60

I know the majority will disagree with this but I loved the PS when it was just a gaming system. I hope PS4, if there ever is one, will get back to the basics of gaming. Wishful thinking? Probably. Just my two cents worth.

Well I know what you mean. I have over 100 PS2 games. I played all the time. Guess how many games I bought the first three years I owned a PS3. One. I used it as a BD player and used my Xbox 360 as my gaming console.

[Marcus Wright]

Originally Posted by shinseiromeo

Besides cost, I see no reason for anyone to buy a BD player other than the PS3. My girlfriend got a Sharp AQUOS player new and cheap. Guess what? I kid you not, the first BD I tried failed to even load. I tried about 5 BD and only one worked. She bought a PS3 the next week and junked the Sharp. (yes I'm a techie, I upgraded her firmware twice)

While PS3 offers the best value for money, nevertheless, I think I know why some people, including me, dont buy PS3s.
The reason is that gaming is pretty time consuming and addictive, as a result, some people decide not to buy a PS3.
That certanly was the case for me.

[hendersd]

I bought a PS3 about 2.5 years ago (or was it 3?), during the idiotic format war. I gambled on BD winning; happily it did. The machine has worked well for me, although the fan noise finally caused me to sequester the damn thing behind the shelving that houses my plasma. It gets plenty of air back there, but is not in my line of sight (or hearing). I can't imagine just having it by the set or below it; it would be impossible to use it with the fan noise. Anyway, it croaked two days ago (YLOD). So I picked up a new slim model yesterday. There is still some fan noise (somewhat less) so it lives where the old one did. The primary annoyance is that the data on the hard drive of the phat is not recoverable, unless I get the thing fixed so it can transfer the information. OK, I'm rambling, but I guess I'm a PS3 "fan" (pun!) by default, although I'm not too happy about the 2.5 year lifespan.

[kndy]

The only thing about the PS3 that scares me is the front loading. I hate that! Mainly because I have had bad luck with it (mainly for computers that utilize it).

But it's a very good player that has the bells and whistles because it's a PlayStation 3 with many media capabilities.

But I will say part of the reason why I am using it more...

Fox Blu-ray releases - This year, my older Blu-ray player started playing special features in a small box in the upper left corner. Doesn't do this with other titles but only Fox. (my previous player never received a firmware update)

UK releases - I had a problem playing special features (PAL) in which I would hear sound only in my previous Blu-ray player but with the PS3, I can play them easily.

But because I play games on it, I may buy another just solely for BD or an all-region player.