TMT.. just works, has a good interface, integrates seamlessly with Media Center. For me it is worth having put a bit more effort in to get it working properly so that I have one box that does it all. + with Slysoft I can get Blurays from other regions that are region locked and still play them, all in all for me has been worth while but it is not the cheapest of easiest option. That is a low end stand alone player.
Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64
I have a BluRay in my mediaPC with MediaPortal and have had to use external software (PowerDVD) for playing Bluray movies. I use a Philips Remote (SR7500 I think) which works with both MediaPortal (with a bit of fiddling to get the extra bits working) and also works in PowerDVD so that resolves the problem of having to use the keyboard at least.
I have found that I seem to spend a lot of time upgrading the PowerDVD software every time a 'new' BD copy protection or whatever comes out. It's quite a pain. Even with the very latest version of PowerDVD I couldn't get Avatar to play properly off the disk and Cyberlink couldn't help me.
If you decide to spend some money on the player software then it might be worth considering TMT or one of the others discussed here. My experience with giving money to Cyberlink hasn't been very positive generally.
Interesting comments. I have had a BD player in my HTPC for about 2 years with PowerDVD and never had an issue. I brought the BD version of 9, and recently upgraded to v10MKII. Never had a disc it wouldn't play (with the exception of badly scartched) but I don't have 3D and There is an intergration addition for MC that enables it to work with the MC remote. (Sorry, i've never used MP)
However, as has been previously stated, $75 for PDVD, + BD Drive + time to setup = more than cheap BD player
Lounge: WIN7 HOME x64 HTPC - E6420 2.13Ghz - 4Gb 800MHZ PATRIOT RAM - ASUS HD5670 1GB ASUS P5B-VM MOBO - LG BLU-RAY DRIVE - BG3595 TUNER - 1.5TB STORAGE PANASONIC 42" FULL HD PLASMA - PIONEER VSX1019AHK RECEIVER - WHARFDALE DIAMOND 10 SPEAKERS
Man Cave: XBOX 360 MODERN WARFARE 2 EDITION - PANASONIC 37" PLASMA - SONY MONSTA 5.1 SURROUND SYSTEM
It could be a firmware thing, later Blu-ray discs sometimes require a newer firmware on the drive. If not that, then try Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre. I've got version 3 (confusingly they still sell both versions 3 and 5 on their website) and it does a lovely job of DVD and Blu-ray content.
If you do get TMT, shop around a bit for coupons or offers, as Arcsoft are always offering between 25 and 40% off for some reason or other.
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