Is it worthwhile to get a Blueray player yet?

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KK

Lifer
Jan 2, 2001
15,903
4
81
any way to play a blueray image file on a pc without a blueray drive? If so, what would I need?
 

SphinxnihpS

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
8,368
25
91
I don't care who blew Ray! This thread belongs in L&R. Mods...

Seriously though, PS3 hands down. Best Blue disc player plus awesome media hub, plus web, plus games. It's a no brainer. I just got 2 Sony standalone BD players for my parents house and their new 111FDs because I figured my parents are old and the standalone player will be easier for them to use and look more familiar. Had one of em hooked up for 5 minuets before I put it back in the box and went to exchange them for PS3s. A PS3 with disc auto play on is very much more user-friendly than the standalone Sony BD players.
 

xboxist

Diamond Member
Jun 25, 2002
3,017
1
81
I've used the PS3 primarily for Blu-Ray movie playback. The fact that it's a solid game console is a sweet bonus. I've had ZERO issues with anything about the PS3 in the year that I've had it.
 

effowe

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
6,012
18
81
Originally posted by: KK
Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS
Originally posted by: KK
any way to play a blueray image file on a pc without a blueray drive? If so, what would I need?

WMP and a HQ .avi?

any special codec?

I don't know if they release blu ray image files as an ISO or MDF, but those could be mounted onto a virtual drive with Daemon Tools and played through VLC no problem.
 

KoolDrew

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
10,226
7
81
I still don't have one. I'll most likely purchase a PS3 rather than a stand-alone though.
 

SpunkyJones

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2004
5,090
1
81
I have a PS3 and couldnt be happier, I've had no issues and using it for some casual console games is a bonus. Its also nice for streaming pics/videos/mp3's from my media server.
 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
I'm gonna wait on $10-15 discs. Until then, my upconverting DVD player is just fine, thank you.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Originally posted by: So
I'm gonna wait on $10-15 discs. Until then, my upconverting DVD player is just fine, thank you.

Netflix. $1 more per month gets you BluRay
 

SphinxnihpS

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
8,368
25
91
Originally posted by: Leros
Originally posted by: toekramp
Originally posted by: Leros
Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS
Originally posted by: KK
any way to play a blueray image file on a pc without a blueray drive? If so, what would I need?

WMP and a HQ .avi?

mkv?

yep, mkv + vlc = win

mkv + codec pack + media center = win

I used PS3 Media server to stream from PC to PS3. WMC is teh broken. When MS figures out DLNA, I may go back.
 
Dec 4, 2002
18,211
1
0
popcorn hour a110 + mkv + home server + your favorite mkv downloader = win

edit: So much so that I am selling my Sammy 1500 to upgrade the server with more storage.
 

abaez

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
7,155
1
81
Originally posted by: effowe
Originally posted by: KK
Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS
Originally posted by: KK
any way to play a blueray image file on a pc without a blueray drive? If so, what would I need?

WMP and a HQ .avi?

any special codec?

I don't know if they release blu ray image files as an ISO or MDF, but those could be mounted onto a virtual drive with Daemon Tools and played through VLC no problem.

VLC doesn't play BR.

I image my BR's to a 1:1 ISO with anydvd. Mount with virtual clondedrive, play in WinDVD.

Only thing is that the ISO's are 25gigs, but with 1TB drives costing $80 these days, not a big deal.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
i love my PS3. while i don't play many games (the selection for the PS3 really sucks) it is a good system. we watch a lot of movies and being able to play blu-ray, ps1-3 games and streamline picturs/music etc is great.

i do need to pick up a remote soon.
 

IcePickFreak

Platinum Member
Jul 12, 2007
2,428
9
81
Great choice, I've been using the PS3 for pretty much strictly movies for about the past year now and haven't regretted it for a second. I think it also does an excellent job upscaling regular dvd's, but blu-ray with HD audio is just amazing.
 

Kanalua

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2001
4,860
2
81
I also have to vote for the PS3. I have one and it's an amazing blu-ray machine, it upconverts DVD beautifully, it is fully upgradeable firmware/software so your player will likely not be obsolete for a very long time, the thing is built like a tank, and when it boils down to it...you have a gaming console, too!

You can still appreciate your DVDs because the PS3 upconverts like a champ. But...when you put in that blu-ray disc (say...Band of Brothers, or Pirates of the Caribbean) and the HD sound and HD picture kicks in...you will do like me and wife are doing, and start replacing and rebuilding your video collection in all BLURAY!

I would not go with a blu-ray ROM just yet. No real good tech at decoding the audio and video just yet (ie - no real good video and audio through HDMI for the computer, just yet).
 

Joemonkey

Diamond Member
Mar 3, 2001
8,859
4
0
Originally posted by: waggy
i love my PS3. while i don't play many games (the selection for the PS3 really sucks) it is a good system. we watch a lot of movies and being able to play blu-ray, ps1-3 games and streamline picturs/music etc is great.

i do need to pick up a remote soon.

do you have a PSP? If so, and you use orb or playon, you can stream netflix instant queue movies to it as well :)

a gamefly subscription would also be a good idea, $60 is too much for a game that may not have any replayability

also, why do you need a remote? The PS3 controller works just fine for us
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
41,018
10,274
136
I jumped in here because I'm still using DVDs (upscaler). A lot of people have said that they like the PS3 for Blu-Ray playing ability. Would now be a good time to get one? Would I be apt to be satisfied with it indefinitely? Will it play my DVDs? Is the WiFi version worth the difference?