Blu Ray/DVD Bleg
One of our DVD players went poop. So, we need a new one. I figured I’d go ahead and get a Blu Ray unit at some point. Thing is, I know nothing about them. I gather they play DVDs as well. And some of them are wifi enabled so that you can stream audio/video from your PC.
Anyone have a recommendation?
April 19th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Go with a Sony PS3
You don’t play games? Still get one. Here are the reasons
1. Plays DVD and Blu Ray wonderfully
2. When new standards for Blu Ray come and they already have, it’s very easy to update the PS3 via wifi or wired Internet vs a standalone Blu Ray player which you are either stuck at a certain firmware or you have to burn a CD with the new firmware and install it via placing the burned CD into the player and hoping you did it correctly.
3. Can use the PS3 to watch your pictures, videos, or music from your computer
4. Having company, having a game console will always come in handy
April 19th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
If you’re going to keep buying your entertainment on physical media I would definitely second Randy’s recommendation for all the same reasons particularly #3 in the future
BTW not a gamer here either
April 19th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Do you have a decent computer? I ask because I just purchased a computer for myself. I have no monitor; it is just hooked up to our TV. To show there is a point to this, I got a Blu-Ray drive for the computer. It was only about $120. It plays Blu-Ray and HDDVDs (which is somewhat pointless now, except you can buy up HDDVDs really cheap now). Having a Home Theater PC is ideal. You get quality Blu-Ray playback, a gaming machine, and a fully-functional computer all bundled up into one nice little happy box.
April 20th, 2009 at 12:44 am
Only a few issues that might arise with Nick’s ideas
1. Having my living room tv as my computer work area doesn’t work for alot of people (try working in Photoshop from your couch)
2. Computer good enough to be dual tuner DVR + blu ray > PS3 in price
3. Once you play Call of Duty 4 or 5…your hooked on a PS3 (even if your 42 yrs old) 🙂
April 20th, 2009 at 1:05 am
Nick’s solution is what I use myself But It’s certainly not for everyone
And given the children in the house I would lean towards something “simpler” and less “fragile” (by that I mean OS)
Some people like to tweak, some want an appliance
YMMV
April 20th, 2009 at 3:34 am
Well, I’d personally recommend the Samsung P1600 or P3600. They’re both excellet quality Blu-Ray and DVD players. I just got my P1600, and I’ve been testing it this evening. DVD upconversion for my tv looks excellent, and the sound is much better than my old dvd player. PS3 is slower, although perhaps more powerful, but also clunkier in size and shape. Samsung’s new models incorporate the ability to connect to the internet for pandora music (something I am appreciating this minute) as well as firmware updates. It also has wireless capability with a little wireless dongle – the P3600 comes with the dongle. I’m a bit of an audiophile so for me the audio is the most important, but I also appreciate good video and this player has it. Amazon.com lists the P1600 for around $250. If you don’t get Samsung, I’d recommend a new Panasonic or Sony player as well for similar prices. PS3 does do a good job, but its becoming older tech, I think.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:07 am
This is why I asked if he had a good computer already. If it would require a major upgrade to put a Blu-ray drive in, it is definitely not worth it. If that is the case, go PS3. But if it wouldn’t require much in upgrades, the pc option is great (My new computer only cost about $650). And I disagree that working in photoshop is hard from the couch. In fact, I find it quite comfortable! Although I will grant a closer view may be required for some tasks.
And while the pc option is not ideal if it is the one you may use for work, etc. it is good because of the flexibility it gives you. Also, it may not be ideal if your wife wants to watch a movie and you want to do something on the computer…
April 20th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Do you want the player to be region free?
April 20th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I add my support to the PS3 suggestion.
April 20th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I don’t know what that means.
April 20th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Add me to the “get a PS3” list.
There are a ton of good games for it, and if you go to the online store you can get some really good ones for $10.
Plenty of games that a 5 year old would enjoy the heck out of that are quite suitable and entertaining for an adult.
Check out EchoChrome for a game that the littles ones might only like to watch. You guide stick figures through an Euclidean / Escher universe where an obstacle you can’t see doesn’t exist and perspective rules all.
April 20th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
“I don’t know what that means.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvd_regions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc#Region_codes
April 20th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
“Region-free” means that it will play disks from other countries. If you are really into Dr. Who it might come in handy.
I’d love to get the DVD of the TV program “Posh Nosh” as a gift for my sister and her husband, but I know that it won’t play on their DVD player.