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budget blu-ray player?

A lot of people love using a PS3. There are some real advantages, since it can be updated well beyond the original capabilities with firmware updates. With a PS3, you get a rather full-featured player, including DLNA/streaming, 3D, HD audio, wifi, etc. all in one unit.

If you want to pay more and have the ability to play console games, it's a solid option. I have one, but I rarely use it for blu-ray, though. I hook it to a secondary television that is used mainly for games, and sometimes for movies for the kids. For my theater, I use a Panasonic BD110.

If you don't care about 3D or wifi, you can get a brand name player for much less than $180, including DLNA and Netflilx (and it would be new and warranted). It depends on the feature set you want.
 
Well, I believe I don't know what feature set I want. The reason is, there will be new features in the future. For example, DLNA wasn't in my head when I bought the Blu-ray player a few years ago. So, that might make a PS3 worth it.
 
The PS3 is the most future proof because it has more processing/memory than most others, and because it has such a large user base expecting updates. There will eventually come a time when some new feature will require a chipset it doesn't have, or processing speed just keeps advancing, but right now it is as close to future proof as you can get.

Other than an HTPC, of course.
 
The only downsides to a PS3 are;
1. Noise during playback, you'll notice when the fan spins up
2. Bluetooth controller, not really a 'pretty' item to have a game controller laying around to use it. There are adapters and things you can get to convert it to IR for a universal remote though but extra cost for these things, etc.
3. Noob friendliness with the interface, not really difficult to use, but it's not usually just a pop a disc in and it plays kind of thing.

But if none of these matter, yeah, go PS3. I only have a Panasonic 220 because I needed something more techno-illiterate friendly.
 
Phanuel said:
The only downsides to a PS3 are;
1. Noise during playback, you'll notice when the fan spins up
2. Bluetooth controller, not really a 'pretty' item to have a game controller laying around to use it. There are adapters and things you can get to convert it to IR for a universal remote though but extra cost for these things, etc.
3. Noob friendliness with the interface, not really difficult to use, but it's not usually just a pop a disc in and it plays kind of thing.

But if none of these matter, yeah, go PS3. I only have a Panasonic 220 because I needed something more techno-illiterate friendly.
Click to expand...

1. Yep.
2. Sony has a bluetooth remote that works very well, sometimes TOO good.
3. You can set the PS3 to play a disc as soon as it is inserted.
 
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glen said:
What are teh Blu-ray player suggestions?
Click to expand...

If cost is an important consideration (or getting new over used), I would go for the Panasonic BDT220. It's just slightly over your stated budget ($113 shipped from Amazon). I don't believe Panasonic has abandoned any of its players so far so you should get necessary updates for a long time. I have one (in addition to my HTPC) and it just plain does everything I need it to do (and it does support DLNA and Hulu Plus). In fact, if I didn't have some innate need to fiddle around with things (i.e. my HTPC), I would be perfectly content with the 220 alone.
 
Since newer generally means more of the latest features, what is the product cycle for players? Are they all about to come out with new 2013 models?
 
glen said:
Since newer generally means more of the latest features, what is the product cycle for players? Are they all about to come out with new 2013 models?
Click to expand...

At this point, I don't think I would wait for the next year of players. Most of the companies do come out with annual revisions. But in most cases, the updates are pretty minor. One thing you can do is look at the next higher level of player you are now considering. Chances are that some of the features will creep down into the player in your current price category. But since you've only tossed out DLNA and Hulu Plus, I don't see much use in waiting for the new players. Most players in the $100 range will support such features.
 
I have the Panasonic BD110, and love it. Paid $79 for it at a Fry's sale months ago. You should easily be able to find what you want in the 80-90 dollar range, unless you need wifi, in which case it will be a little higher.
 
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