Sony Blu Ray Players

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turb

881 posts

Ultimate Geek

#25786 1-Sep-2008 16:35

If you are (like me) teetering on the brink of getting a Blu Ray player, you may be interested to know the Sony service place in Nugent St, Auckland has some for $449. Sorry didn't see what model they are.. Also I have a feeling they operate on a "as is, where is" basis - may be worth a look anyway.

I failed to get a WAF, so alas, no go for me. A mate is going for a WAF on the basis that "Standard Definition might be bad for the baby's eyes"!

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#161321 1-Sep-2008 16:41

Only a little more money gets you a blue ray player in the form of a PS3...

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clevedon

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#161324 1-Sep-2008 16:58

Just what I was going to suggest, with all the extra features the PS3 has including internet browser, multiple card readers etc, etc, for not much more money you get plenty more options / features. From what I've read its gets high scores against other Bluray players anyway just for that the playback function alone, and with one of the fastest disc load times as well. If I didn't already have one, thats what I would be buying and PlayTV is coming as well.

bazzer

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#161327 1-Sep-2008 17:01

clevedon: Just what I was going to suggest, with all the extra features the PS3 has including internet browser, multiple card readers etc, etc, for not much more money you get plenty more options / features. From what I've read its gets high scores against other Bluray players anyway just for that the playback function alone, and with one of the fastest disc load times as well. If I didn't already have one, thats what I would be buying and PlayTV is coming as well.

Don't forget, the current PS3s don't have card readers (if that's important to you).

old3eyes

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#161358 1-Sep-2008 19:06

NZtechfreak: Only a little more money gets you a blue ray player in the form of a PS3...

You have a strange idea what a little more is. In NZ it's about $350.. Not very little..

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Old3eyes

NZtechfreak

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#161365 1-Sep-2008 19:18

Its not that $350 is insignificant, not at all. Its just that to my way of thinking the added value contained in that $350 is considerably better than you're getting for the first $450 or so...

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Jaxson

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#161519 2-Sep-2008 12:46

Also don't forget that the PS3 is very suited to firmware updates whereas a lot of the current bluray players can simply not be upgraded, their firmware is solid state on the board. Bluray is already onto it's second or possibly third set of specifications and the early bluray models are already technically out of date.

I was considering a stand alone player myself but which ever way you look at it, it's simply just not smart to opt for one over the PS3 right now. You're better to save your money for now. Once you buy something you're stuck with it and can't pay the difference to upgrade later, you have to try and sell the first one (at a loss) and then shell out on the next model. The PS3 allows for firmware updates and thereby avoids this hassle.

turb

881 posts

Ultimate Geek

#161529 2-Sep-2008 13:28

What would improve with a firmware update? Unless there was a problem that needed fixing...

Would it play discs better?

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bazzer

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#161534 2-Sep-2008 13:45

One of the PS3 updates enabled Profile 2.0 (i.e. BD-Live). It was one of the first 2.0 players I believe, rendering older players obselete (if you're interested in those features, that is). Things change over time, and PS3 is able to roll with those changes within obvious limits.

Asmodeus

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#161549 2-Sep-2008 14:20

turb: A mate is going for a WAF on the basis that "Standard Definition might be bad for the baby's eyes"!

Ha! Id LMAO if that worked but wouldn't be extremely surprised...

Rhygar

86 posts

Master Geek

#161557 2-Sep-2008 14:52

Jaxson: Also don't forget that the PS3 is very suited to firmware updates whereas a lot of the current bluray players can simply not be upgraded, their firmware is solid state on the board. Bluray is already onto it's second or possibly third set of specifications and the early bluray models are already technically out of date.

I was considering a stand alone player myself but which ever way you look at it, it's simply just not smart to opt for one over the PS3 right now. You're better to save your money for now. Once you buy something you're stuck with it and can't pay the difference to upgrade later, you have to try and sell the first one (at a loss) and then shell out on the next model. The PS3 allows for firmware updates and thereby avoids this hassle.

Can you specifically state which Stand Alone players cannot be upgraded by firmware? I have a Panasonic BD-30 and know for certain that it can be firmware upgradable. I also know that many players, even the early profile 1 players were able to have firmware upgrades.

Maybe you are getting confused with the extra electronics needed for new profile features? A profile 1.0 player cannot use the PIP features in profile 1.1 discs. Profile 1.1 players cannot use BD-Live features. As far as I know all players can have the firmware upgraded to fix various issues.

For some people like me who use a PC for playing games, buying a PS3 was not really that useful to me. Also many people are not that interested in all the extra's that come with movies (I am one of those people). So for just playing a movie any profile player will do that.

I got my BD-30 for $649 which was a good deal at the time and haven't regretted it. It is an excellent player and pretty fast loading times too.

AmooMan

307 posts

Ultimate Geek

#161581 2-Sep-2008 15:49

What about a $220.00 Computer Blu-Ray Drive?
LiteOn make a cheap one..

Link...

Just have to put it in a media center PC..

Jaxson

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#161593 2-Sep-2008 16:11

As Bazzer mentions, yes the new profile specs for Bluray require additional processing abilities that a firmware upgrade can not provide, except where you've got something grunty like the PS3. Only point I make is that PS3 has good internals and ongoing support which allow it to move with the times via a firmware upgrade. Excuse my use of the term firmware if you want to be specific.

For $649 you're close to PS3 territory but it's not my place to tell you what you want to spend your money on. In essence all Bluray players will produce the same picture so many updates to date relate to additional features such as PIP commentaries etc, which are a personal take it or leave it decision. There is some audio codec output developments, but these are only an issue for those who have brand new receivers that can work with the latest and greatest raw audio outputs.

Unfortunately the Bluray drive scenario is similar to what happened in the early days of DVD, in that you need a capable graphics card to decode the high def info. Once you've got this then yeah it's an option, but for many people you're talking a new computer remake which puts us back in the same price bracket without the hassle. Each to their own.

hazza87

352 posts

Ultimate Geek

#161837 3-Sep-2008 13:26

As a matter of interest to this discussion DSE are currently selling the PS3 for $699 so only $50 more. Now that almost impossible to say no to over a $649 sony blu ray player.
http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/48bde73a0a72f7b8273fc0a87f3b0757/Product/View/YG2327

P.S this is because they have the new 80GB models which they are selling for the old price of $799 this means the 40GB model is now $100 off until they're gone i'd imagine.
AFAIK that is the only difference between the models and considering you can change out the hdd for whatever size you want it's not too much of an issue i dont think.

turb

881 posts

Ultimate Geek

#161845 3-Sep-2008 14:08

turb: If you are (like me) teetering on the brink of getting a Blu Ray player, you may be interested to know the Sony service place in Nugent St, Auckland has some for $449.

That's $449 not $649

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

Rhygar

86 posts

Master Geek

#162041 4-Sep-2008 09:43

turb:
turb: If you are (like me) teetering on the brink of getting a Blu Ray player, you may be interested to know the Sony service place in Nugent St, Auckland has some for $449.

That's $449 not $649

I believe he was referring to the player I got at $649. At that price for a PS3 it is very good. For me personally I didn't want or need a PS3 so I got the stand alone player. Just depends on what individual people's needs are I guess.

Pity we can't get some of the cheap but still pretty good brands like the magnavox and sylvania players which are based on the Funai design. These are pretty cheap in the US and could bring prices down here if they were introduced.

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