Anyone have a Blu Ray Player?

[d-dave]

So long as you get a player from one of the big brand names like Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, or even Oppo if you're into internet stores, you'll be fine. Most of the new models have all of the bells and whistles you'll need.

Also, if you're running a 32" HDTV or smaller, you're going to have difficulty noticing the extra pixel density. Enjoy Blu Ray. I am, and I love the more interactive extra features (HD DVD...oh how I miss how smooth you were with PiP!).

[88 Bronco]

I can't speak for the other Blu-ray players, but Sony updates the PS3's operating system. I think the next update makes it 3-D capable.

[Chimera]

I agree, PS3 is a very good Blu-Ray player. With PS3 media server (google it) you can take any movies from your computer HDD and stream it through your PS3. Out of the box, it streams a few codecs, but not all.

Plus you can stream netflix (the PS3 has a search function, something the 360 is strangely missing) and the DVD upscaler is pretty good. The only problem with DVDs being upscaled on the PS3 is the colors look either very washed out or far too vibrant. The happy medium seems to be a rarity.

I know I may get laughed out of the forum for saying this, but Vizio also makes a pretty good blu-ray player with internet apps, such as vudu, netflix (is there anything left that doesn't stream netflix), amazon video, yahoo widgets, etc. Just make sure you get an extended service plan if you go that route.

[faultlessjoint]

blu ray won't die this generation. it'll more than likely be the last disc based medium but it'll be a complete medium. the bandwidth and infrastructure simply aren't there to stream movies in full HD.

That's changing quickly. I haven't watched a movie off a disc (DVD or blu-ray) in over two years. I download everything via Usenet. Max out my Verizon FiOS connection (25mbps down). I can download full-length 720p movie in about 30 minutes. 1080p in about an hour (I don't have a 1080p tv though, so I don't bother).

Streaming isn't perfect though. I can use NZBplayer to watch it as I download it, but it's still kinda buggy. However 30 minutes for a full length movie is not bad at all. It would take that long to drive to redbox/blockbuster and rent a movie.

The only issues are: 1. Not everyone lives in a competitive market where FiOS and Comcast offer speeds up to 50mbps. 2. Downloading movies via usenet puts 0 liability on the end user, but is technically still copyright infringement. Although, there is no way to determine where the copyright infringement occurs and as stated zero end user liability. A legit company just needs to develop a delivery system as efficient as usenet, and then find the right price point.

[cookinwithgas]

I got the LG BD-570 a few months ago

http://www.productwiki.com/lg-bd570/

It is fantastic. The wifi-connectivity works great, I can get to my MP3's all my photos, it will support a USB drive connected to it (higher models have a hard drive installed) and Netflix works a lot better and easier than it does on a game console.

I have Netflix on XBOX, and have a Wii, but when its movie time the wife and kids want to use the DVD player, not log into XBOX LIVE as me and fiddle with the game console, which is slower to load as well - the idea of having to put a disk in the Wii is even worse to them. If you are geek thats no big deal but for regular people the embedded netflix on the BluRay is fantastic.

[mmmbeans]

That's changing quickly. I haven't watched a movie off a disc (DVD or blu-ray) in over two years. I download everything via Usenet. Max out my Verizon FiOS connection (25mbps down). I can download full-length 720p movie in about 30 minutes. 1080p in about an hour (I don't have a 1080p tv though, so I don't bother).

Streaming isn't perfect though. I can use NZBplayer to watch it as I download it, but it's still kinda buggy. However 30 minutes for a full length movie is not bad at all. It would take that long to drive to redbox/blockbuster and rent a movie.

The only issues are: 1. Not everyone lives in a competitive market where FiOS and Comcast offer speeds up to 50mbps. 2. Downloading movies via usenet puts 0 liability on the end user, but is technically still copyright infringement. Although, there is no way to determine where the copyright infringement occurs and as stated zero end user liability. A legit company just needs to develop a delivery system as efficient as usenet, and then find the right price point.

yea, but people still wouldn't pay for it. You don't use Usenet because it's convenient, you use it because it allows you to steal movies.

[Chimera]

A legit company just needs to develop a delivery system as efficient as usenet, and then find the right price point.

www.vudu.com

Price point isn't perfect; about a dollar more than other on demand HD services, but overall quality is much better

Biggest downside: need a STB.