ot: blu ray

[johnnytata]

wanna get a new blu ray player.

i am not a super-tech guy so don't need the absolute best out there, but i do like movies and perks, so i want to enjoy my experience without completely bankrupting myself.

i am looking for a good mid-range player with some features like live streaming (netflix etc).

i was looking at the ps3, which seems to consistently (on most sites) get the best combination of consumer and critical reviews. not really a gamer, but many of the customer reviews said they didn't even buy it for gaming.

for any super-techies on here, or anyone who has looked at this before, any suggestions?

 

[higgyfan4]

Ps3's, aren't those like $400? You can get a blu ray player for like $80-$90 at Walmart, and they stream Netflix and Hulu and the like.

 

[johnnytata]

running 250 retail but can probably get one for 210 now.

 

[mattola]

use best buys awesome return policy and find one you think you like take it home use it for a couple movies (I suggest Batman Begins or The Dark Knight for their scenery as you will get a real good idea of what that player shows with the city shots) if you dont like it return it.

I got a PS3 as I wanted the console as well

 

[abaskin18]

Sony & Samsung both have good midrange players with built in wifi for your streaming. Dark Knight & Inception are good to test for live action and I recommend Finding Nemo to see the purtty colors...

 

[johnnytata]

Sony & Samsung both have good midrange players with built in wifi for your streaming. Dark Knight & Inception are good to test for live action and I recommend Finding Nemo to see the purtty colors...

the sonys and the samsungs get good reviews, as well as the panasonic.

any thoughts specifically on the ps3 compared to the straight-up blu-ray players?

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

the sonys and the samsungs get good reviews, as well as the panasonic.

any thoughts specifically on the ps3 compared to the straight-up blu-ray players?

if you don't care about gaming, why pay $200 MORE for the exact same Blu-Ray technology you would get in a decent Sony Blu Ray?

Unless you are UBER high tech savvy and can recognize slight variations in pixel definition, color saturation, etc, and have the skills to calibrate you high end HDTV for pure color calibration as well...
Pretty much anything but the cheapest ones now can stream all the good stuff you could want.
Quite frankly, aside from looks, size, and whatever cool features it may have (wi-fi built in, 7.1 surround, etc), I defy you to tell the difference between a movie playing on a $125 Blu Ray and a 200 Blue Ray

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

PS3's are $250 now?

haven't been paying attention.

still, twice the price to do the same stuff if gaming not important.

 

[forty_three]

I am one of those uber-geeky tech nerds and have two PS3s. I only play like 3 games, but my kids play some. It's a nice thing to have, especially when you can download demo games for free and blow off steam.

I like the additional features like the Internet Browser, ability to plug in external drives for content, plus I have a server in my basement that is hooked up to my direct TV as a DVR. So then I can use the PS3 to stream recorded shows from there. Plus I digitized all of the home videos from my whole family, and all of that is on the server a few clicks away.

Plus the player built into it is much faster and higher quality than you get with the 90 dollar jobby at Wal Mart.

 

[abaskin18]

the sonys and the samsungs get good reviews, as well as the panasonic.

any thoughts specifically on the ps3 compared to the straight-up blu-ray players?

If you game it's a reasonable option. If you don't it's not for you, imo. My Sony has a browser and can read external drives, it just can't do FLASH.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I am one of those uber-geeky tech nerds and have two PS3s. I only play like 3 games, but my kids play some. It's a nice thing to have, especially when you can download demo games for free and blow off steam.

I like the additional features like the Internet Browser, ability to plug in external drives for content, plus I have a server in my basement that is hooked up to my direct TV as a DVR. So then I can use the PS3 to stream recorded shows from there. Plus I digitized all of the home videos from my whole family, and all of that is on the server a few clicks away.

Plus the player built into it is much faster and higher quality than you get with the 90 dollar jobby at Wal Mart.

This is the big factor. The PS3 has much more on-board horsepower than a standalone BR, so you get from off to 1080p goodness in about half the time of a standalone.

PS3 has better streaming options than most too. Netflix and Hulu+ are pretty standard now, but it also has Amazon Instant, Vudu (with full 1080p and 7.1 surround capability on many movies), NHL Center Ice, MLB Extra Innings, and Crackle (via the web browser).

 

[mall3013]

Just my .02 here, but if you can afford the PS3, then do it. It has Blu Ray built in, plus if you are into gaming, I believe it is free to play online. Walmart normally has PS3 bundles for sale, which includes either blu ray movies or PS3 video games. The prices have come down a bit. If I'm not mistaken, the PS4 will be coming out next year, therefore I'd suspect the prices to drop a bit for the PS3. Good luck!

 

[forty_three]

Keep an eye out for refurb PS3s also. There is a store here in Columbus that had a stack of 'em for 179 or 199 each a few months ago, which is how I got a second.

Micro Center - Computers, Electronics, Computer Parts, Networking, Gaming, Software, and more!

I won't buy my geek gear anywhere else.