Blu-ray Player or PS3?

[wrestling_stat]

On black Friday, I want to buy either a Blu-Ray Player or a PS3 to play the blu-ray discs that I have gotten, but I do not know which one would be the better to get.

What are your opinnions? (What do you have, do you like it, etc.)

Thanks for your help.

[dvdjunkie]

Since I have both the PS3 and a stand-alone LG Network Ready Blu-ray Player, I can tell you that you would be better off with the stand-alone player because the PS3 DOES NOT PLAY standard DVD's. It plays only Blu-raY discs.

There will be some really good players out there on sale on Black Friday, so shop around for the best prices. Wal-Mart will have one for less than $100, but I am not sure if it not a discontinued model that will require updates for your playing pleasure.

Try to buy a current model and ask if it is a discontinued model if the price appears to be too good to be true.

Good Luck!!!

[Barbossa]

Recently, Walmart had a Blu-Ray player for $98. Visions, a local electronics store, also had a Blu for $98. I think the one at Walmart was a Phillips.

I may pick one up myself, but I don't have a TV. However, I'm looking at getting a new desktop PC with a 1080 monitor to replace my old CRT one. the PC I have in mind does not have a Blu-Ray drive. Can you connect Blu-Ray players to the new monitors?

[DarthPrime]

I had both until a week ago, and I sold my PS3. I rarely played games on it, and preferred the stand alone player I had for watching movies. The PS3 is a great machine, but its not worth the extra money over a stand alone unless you plan to use it for games.

There are a lot of good players out now for around $100. Target recently clearance out the Sony BDP-S360 for about $75. I'm using a Sony BDP-BX2 right now (same player as the S360, but has a backlit remote and comes with a HDMI cable). Its been a flawless player the past year I've used it. It doesn't have wireless, which might be a drawback for some. Although I don't use BD Live at all, so it doesn't matter to me.

dvdjunkie - All PS3s will play DVDs. I know my 120GB Slim did before I sold it, and my friends 60GB and 250GB Slim play DVDs too.

Barbossa - if the monitor has a DVI, or HDMI input you can connect a Blu-ray player to it. A lot of monitors have multiple inputs now.

[yamiiguy]

Since I have both the PS3 and a stand-alone LG Network Ready Blu-ray Player, I can tell you that you would be better off with the stand-alone player because the PS3 DOES NOT PLAY standard DVD's. It plays only Blu-raY discs.

Yes it does. Something must be wrong with your PS3?

I vote PS3 because of the sheer amount of features. Plus, the fact that it's easily updatable (unlike some other players, where you had to buy a new player for features such as 3D)

[DarthPrime]

Since I have both the PS3 and a stand-alone LG Network Ready Blu-ray Player, I can tell you that you would be better off with the stand-alone player because the PS3 DOES NOT PLAY standard DVD's. It plays only Blu-raY discs.

Yes it does. Something must be wrong with your PS3?

I've heard of some PS3s Blu-ray laser messing up/dying. On those the PS3 still reads DVDs and CDs, but want read Blu-rays. Maybe the opposite can happen and it only plays Blu-rays?

A lot of players are just as easy to update as the PS3. However the PS3 is the only player that got a 3D upgrade. If you want 3D and want a stand alone player you need to buy one thats already 3D ready.

[SpringHeelJack]

I suppose the real question is do you think you'll use the PS3 as a gaming system?

[dvdjunkie]

I am truly sorry. I don't know what I was thinking when I posted about the PS3 not playing regular DVD's, the PS3 will not play DVD-R and RW discs that you make. It plays all legal standard def DVD's along with the Blu-rays and it updates itself as long as you are hooked to the internet.

Those of you who don't paricipate in BD-Live are really missing a lot. That is what makes the Blu-ray movies so immersive. If you are hooked to the internet you get some really great treats like chats with the stars and directors and exclusive sneak peeks at other movies.

When "Half-Blood Prince" came out on Blu-ray, the BD-Live event was a conversation with Daniel Radcliff and they actually showed some early scenes from "Deathly Hallows".

If your Blu-ray players is Internet ready, a small investment in a Wi-Fi card will put you in touch a lot of really cool things.

[Barbossa]

Those of you who don't paricipate in BD-Live are really missing a lot. That is what makes the Blu-ray movies so immersive. If you are hooked to the internet you get some really great treats like chats with the stars and directors and exclusive sneak peeks at other movies.

I think this is the stupidest gimmick of Blu-Ray. Seriously, who has the attention span to chat while trying to watch a movie. As for BD-Live live chats with production crew, that just happens once per movie. I'm sure the actors and producers have all the time in the world to do it once per week.

I'm sure BD-Live is just there for those people that like to beat themselves in the chest and say "look at me, I'm better than you!" It's just a status thing.

[yamiiguy]

Those of you who don't paricipate in BD-Live are really missing a lot. That is what makes the Blu-ray movies so immersive. If you are hooked to the internet you get some really great treats like chats with the stars and directors and exclusive sneak peeks at other movies.

I think this is the stupidest gimmick of Blu-Ray. Seriously, who has the attention span to chat while trying to watch a movie. As for BD-Live live chats with production crew, that just happens once per movie. I'm sure the actors and producers have all the time in the world to do it once per week.

I'm sure BD-Live is just there for those people that like to beat themselves in the chest and say "look at me, I'm better than you!" It's just a status thing.

I totally disagree with you. Although it's not being used to it's full potential (as far as I've seen anyway), BD-Live is one of Blu-Ray's very best features. I'm sure that most of us have double dipped on a movie at some point, BD-Live makes new versions irrelevant. I envision BD-Live becoming akin to what DLC is to games. There is no reason for SD Bonus Features to be put on the disc anymore either. Not everyone has an internet connection capable for HD bonus features unfortunately but they could put them on for those of us who do though.

[DarthPrime]

I think my problem with BD-Live is that there are some titles with great content like dvdjunkie mentioned, but overall most titles waste BD-Live's potential.

[wrestling_stat]

I suppose the real question is do you think you'll use the PS3 as a gaming system?

I most likely won't use the PS3 as a gaming system becuase I do not have the time for it. I am a first year math teacher and going to grad school to get my masters. So my free time is not very much. I currently own a Wii, which I only use for a total of 2 hrs a week to work out, and a PS2 which isn't even currently hooked up.

Thank you all for your input.

[SpringHeelJack]

Then just get a straight-up Blu-ray player. If you're not going to use the PS3 for gaming, you're better off without.

[Cordy_Biddle]

Get a Blu-ray player definitely. Prices keep crashing (which obviously means that the format is being adopted by a larger group of consumers); for example the Sony brand player I got last year is now considerably cheaper than what I paid for it.

You'll have better flexibility in buying a straight player as opposed to a PS3.

[Barbossa]

Get the Sony 3D-Ready Blu-Ray player thru Disney Movie Rewards for $59! I'm gonna get it. Can't pass that deal up.

[DarthPrime]

Get the Sony 3D-Ready Blu-Ray player thru Disney Movie Rewards for $59! I'm gonna get it. Can't pass that deal up.

I wish I had held off entering some of my codes. I would have picked one of those up too.

I think its the BDP-S470, with shipping its around $75. Not bad at all for a player that normally runs $130ish.

[milojthatch]

Get the Sony 3D-Ready Blu-Ray player thru Disney Movie Rewards for $59! I'm gonna get it. Can't pass that deal up.

I wish I had held off entering some of my codes. I would have picked one of those up too.

I think its the BDP-S470, with shipping its around $75. Not bad at all for a player that normally runs $130ish.

You may be better off. I checked the reviews for the Blu Ray player that Disney is offering on Amazon. While they did have a few good reviews for it, they also had just as many, if not more, bad reviews. Among the themes of the bad ones were that Sony customer service sucks and that the player has issues with not playing the audio of what ever disc. I was thinking at first it sounded like a great idea, but now I'm thinking maybe not so much.

[wrestling_stat]

Thank you for all your help. I think I am going to go the Blu-Ray root. Even through a PS3 is tempting, but I do not need another gaming system. Now I just have to figure out what the best system to buy. Has anyone gotten the Blu-Ray player off DMR? If so what how do you like it?

[Barbossa]

I wish I had held off entering some of my codes. I would have picked one of those up too.

I think its the BDP-S470, with shipping its around $75. Not bad at all for a player that normally runs $130ish.

You may be better off. I checked the reviews for the Blu Ray player that Disney is offering on Amazon. While they did have a few good reviews for it, they also had just as many, if not more, bad reviews. Among the themes of the bad ones were that Sony customer service sucks and that the player has issues with not playing the audio of what ever disc. I was thinking at first it sounded like a great idea, but now I'm thinking maybe not so much.

Were you reading the same page as me?
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDP-S470-Blu ... 687&sr=1-1
It seems most reviews are positive. I just looked it up on Future Shop's website. The regular price here in Canada is $249.99 but it's on sale right now for $179.99. So, it's a great deal getting it thru DMR if, with shipping, it comes out to being around $90.

[DarthPrime]

Yeah the BDP-S470 seems like a solid player, and the price though DMR is great. Very good deal if you have the codes, and need a Blu-ray player.

Sony is great with firmware releases on its players too, if there is a problem playing a new disc. I think my player has only had 2 updates since it was released, and so far its played every disc I've tried with no problems.