Blu-Ray

[pontifex]

So I guess Blu-Ray won the war?

Whats the best bang for the buck player out now?

 

[krypto1300]

If you've got a pretty good PC, just buy a Blu-ray drive and some player software.

If not, the PS3 is the best deal IMO. Same price as stand alone players, plus you can play some games if you like.

 

[newnameman]

PS triple

 

[Schadenfroh]

Assuming you have all HDCP components in your PC, Blu-Ray SATA drivers are <$150.

If you want a standalone player, the 40gb (or cheapest you can find) PS3 is a profile 2.0 player. You will need a $15 IR adapter ($50 if you want to power the device on with it) if you wish to use your Harmony Logitech remote with the PS3. Otherwise, the Bluetooth remote can handle its operation.

 

[Muadib]

How much is the software to play Blu-ray, if you get a Blu-Ray drive for your PC? They don't come with software, right?

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Muadib
How much is the software to play Blu-ray, if you get a Blu-Ray drive for your PC? They don't come with software, right?

$100 (PowerDVD 8 Ultra). And make sure you have an HDCP video card and monitor. At this point you are already at $250 MINIMUM. Just get a PS3 for $399 and everything is guaranteed to work flawlessly (well as close as you'll get with a Blu-ray player).

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Muadib
How much is the software to play Blu-ray, if you get a Blu-Ray drive for your PC? They don't come with software, right?

$100 (PowerDVD 8 Ultra). And make sure you have an HDCP video card and monitor. At this point you are already at $250 MINIMUM. Just get a PS3 for $399 and everything is guaranteed to work flawlessly (well as close as you'll get with a Blu-ray player).

What about sound? Can you get the HD codecs on a PC yet?

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Muadib
How much is the software to play Blu-ray, if you get a Blu-Ray drive for your PC? They don't come with software, right?

$100 (PowerDVD 8 Ultra). And make sure you have an HDCP video card and monitor. At this point you are already at $250 MINIMUM. Just get a PS3 for $399 and everything is guaranteed to work flawlessly (well as close as you'll get with a Blu-ray player).

What about sound? Can you get the HD codecs on a PC yet?

You know, I'm not sure.

 

[Shawn]

there needs to be an official thread. this question is asked every week.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: Shawn
there needs to be an official thread. this question is asked every week.

I concur. :thumbsup:

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Muadib
How much is the software to play Blu-ray, if you get a Blu-Ray drive for your PC? They don't come with software, right?

$100 (PowerDVD 8 Ultra). And make sure you have an HDCP video card and monitor. At this point you are already at $250 MINIMUM. Just get a PS3 for $399 and everything is guaranteed to work flawlessly (well as close as you'll get with a Blu-ray player).

What about sound? Can you get the HD codecs on a PC yet?

You know, I'm not sure.

The HD sound formats need to be decoded by whatever software package you use and are output via analog through your sound card.

ATI 4000 series have their own onboard audio codec that does output 8ch LPCM over HDMI. Nvidia's current HDMI solution only allows for s/pdif passthrough of standard AC3/DD/DTS formats.

Around September you'll start seeing new sound cards that will do uncompressed/lossless bitstreams over HDMI as well as 8ch LPCM. Expect them to run ~$200 (Asus Xonar 1.3 and Auzentech Prelude Home Theater).

Some of the newer integrated motherboards may start offering this as well. Maybe G43 or G45 and AMD's Fusion, but not really sure.