LG blue ray player for $139

[JoeyM]

From SD, Seems like a good price.

Internal Super Multi Blue-Ray Disc/HD DVD-ROM Combo Drive w/ LightScribe.
Specification
Read:
BD-R: 6X by CAV
BD-RE: 2X by CLV
BD-ROM: 6X by CAV
BDMV: 4.8X by CAV
HD DVD ROM: 3X by CAV
HD DVD-Video: 3X by CAV
DVD+R/-R: 12X by CAV
DVD+R/-R DL: 8X by CAV
DVD+RW/-RW: 10X by CAV
DVD-ROM: 16X by CAV
DVD-RAM: 5X by PCAV
DVD-Video: 8X by CAV
CD-R/RW/ROM: 40X by CAV
Write:
DVD+R/-R: 16X by PCAV
DVD+R/-R DL: 4X by CLV
DVD+RW/-RW: 6X by CLV
DVD-RAM: 5X by PCAV
Format Support: BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE; HD DVD-ROM; DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM; CD-ROM Mode-1/Mode-2 Data Disc, CD-ROM XA, CD-I, Photo-CD Multi-Session, Video CD, CD-Audio Disc, Mixed Mode CD-ROM Disc, CD-Extra, CD-Text, CD-R, CD-RW
Interface: SATA , Buffer Memory 4 MB
Random Access Time: BD-ROM - 180 ms; HD DVD-ROM - 210 ms; DVD-ROM - 160 ms
Dimension (WxDxH): 146 x 185 x 41.3 mm , Color: Black

Joe M.

 

[RESmonkey]

Check the reviews. If it's good, jump on it.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

wrongo forumo

 

[CasioTech]

blue ray players are already $140?!! I thought they were like $400 or more!

f u ps3.

 

[Lurker1]

Fry's was carrying the Lite-On BD players for $109 out the door two weeks ago. Pioneers were under $150 last week.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: CasioTech
blue ray players are already $140?!! I thought they were like $400 or more!

f u ps3.

it's an internal one...meaning it goes in your PC.

 

[bigsnyder]

This is a great deal. The cheapest I have seen these is $154 shipped at mwave.

 

[Insomniator]

So even with this in my PC I can't play a blue ray movie in 1080p without an HDCP monitor right?

absolutely ridiculous.

 

[MoMeanMugs]

You could use AnyDVD HD. It will strip away the protection, so you can watch whatever you want.

 

[bigsnyder]

Not correct. If you use the "VGA" output connector (or component adapter), you can play 1080p just fine as long as your display supports it. Thats how I have my HTPC connected to my KDS-55A3000 rear projection. No HDCP required for analog. I will also add the included PowerDVD software will pass surround formats such as DD EX and DTS ES via S/PDIF. You are limited to just 2 channel output for analog.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: MoMeanMugs
You could use AnyDVD HD. It will strip away the protection, so you can watch whatever you want.

AnyDVD + PowerDVD = Best Total HD Solution in my book :thumbsup:

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MoMeanMugs
You could use AnyDVD HD. It will strip away the protection, so you can watch whatever you want.

AnyDVD + PowerDVD = Best Total HD Solution in my book :thumbsup:

I don't think PowerDVD supports HD-DVD anymore. :thumbsdown:

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: CasioTech
blue ray players are already $140?!! I thought they were like $400 or more!

f u ps3.

..gona wait till they are 59.95 at costco. should be a year or less.

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MoMeanMugs
You could use AnyDVD HD. It will strip away the protection, so you can watch whatever you want.

AnyDVD + PowerDVD = Best Total HD Solution in my book :thumbsup:

I don't think PowerDVD supports HD-DVD anymore. :thumbsdown:

I have an older version of PowerDVD Ultra that works great.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: RKS

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MoMeanMugs
You could use AnyDVD HD. It will strip away the protection, so you can watch whatever you want.

AnyDVD + PowerDVD = Best Total HD Solution in my book :thumbsup:

I don't think PowerDVD supports HD-DVD anymore. :thumbsdown:

I have an older version of PowerDVD Ultra that works great.

I just tried playing Transformers with the included OEM version and its giving me an error now.....was working fine a few months ago. I guess you can't update it if you want to keep HD-DVD functionality.

Otherwise the drive is great, although it mostly plays Blu-Ray now so unless you have a large collection of HD-DVD I'd say its not worth any premium over a standard Blu-Ray player. I've had it since February when it cost me $220. I fully expect it to be $100 or less by X-mas and Blu-Ray burners to be this price in a year or less.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: RKS

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MoMeanMugs
You could use AnyDVD HD. It will strip away the protection, so you can watch whatever you want.

AnyDVD + PowerDVD = Best Total HD Solution in my book :thumbsup:

I don't think PowerDVD supports HD-DVD anymore. :thumbsdown:

I have an older version of PowerDVD Ultra that works great.

ditto

 

[Insomniator]

Originally posted by: IGBT

Originally posted by: CasioTech
blue ray players are already $140?!! I thought they were like $400 or more!

f u ps3.

..gona wait till they are 59.95 at costco. should be a year or less.

you are gonna wait up to a year to save ~70 bucks?

 

[waxking1]

Sold out.

Here's another store with a similar price. I've never bought from these guys but they seem reputable.

http://www.centralcomputers.co...-h20l-cddlg-ggch2r.htm

 

[videopho]

Be patient.
My guts feeling now is that prices for BR drive are going to drop well under $100 just a matter of time either around the labor day or huge "Back-to-School" sale.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: bigsnyder
Not correct. If you use the "VGA" output connector (or component adapter), you can play 1080p just fine as long as your display supports it. Thats how I have my HTPC connected to my KDS-55A3000 rear projection. No HDCP required for analog. I will also add the included PowerDVD software will pass surround formats such as DD EX and DTS ES via S/PDIF. You are limited to just 2 channel output for analog.

Yes, you're safe with a non-HDCP compliant monitor until the studios enable the ICT part of the DRM specs in 2012.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_Constraint_Token

If you want 5.1 or better sound output, prepare to shell out $100 for the full version of PowerDVD. Also, the latest version of PowerDVD (v8) no longer supports HD-DVD playback.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MoMeanMugs
You could use AnyDVD HD. It will strip away the protection, so you can watch whatever you want.

AnyDVD + PowerDVD = Best Total HD Solution in my book :thumbsup:

I don't think PowerDVD supports HD-DVD anymore. :thumbsdown:

Allow me to fix please.

[AnyDVD + IMG Burn (to get a ripped ISO file of your Blu-ray)] + [HTPC with PowerDVD v8 (and Alcohol 52% et. al. for mounting said ISO files) + a huge hard drive] = Blu-ray media jukebox bliss!!!

My solution = E8400, 4GB RAM, ATI 2600 Pro, 750GB HDD, LG HD-DVD/Blu-Ray combo drive, and space for more HDDs when the need arises. This machine also runs Tversity to serve files for a PS3 in another room.

 

[sleefer]

PowerDVD 7.3.3319 supports playing HDDVD or BluRay directly from the hard dirve. Any version beyond that iirc no longer supports it. You don't need to convert to ISO unless you want to. I have this drive and it's working great for burning DVD's too.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Golgatha

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MoMeanMugs
You could use AnyDVD HD. It will strip away the protection, so you can watch whatever you want.

AnyDVD + PowerDVD = Best Total HD Solution in my book :thumbsup:

I don't think PowerDVD supports HD-DVD anymore. :thumbsdown:

Allow me to fix please.

[AnyDVD + IMG Burn (to get a ripped ISO file of your Blu-ray)] + [HTPC with PowerDVD v8 (and Alcohol 52% et. al. for mounting said ISO files) + a huge hard drive] = Blu-ray media jukebox bliss!!!

My solution = E8400, 4GB RAM, ATI 2600 Pro, 750GB HDD, LG HD-DVD/Blu-Ray combo drive, and space for more HDDs when the need arises. This machine also runs Tversity to serve files for a PS3 in another room.

All of my HD complaints would be solved if the following happened:

1. Someone wrote an ISO loader plugin for Vista MCE
2. PowerDVD wrote a plugin for Vista MCE so it wouldn't have to open outside the GUI
3. CableCard got it's act together and started selling to consumers (along with multiple tuner support without MCE hacks)

 

[bigsnyder]

Originally posted by: Golgatha
If you want 5.1 or better sound output, prepare to shell out $100 for the full version of PowerDVD. Also, the latest version of PowerDVD (v8) no longer supports HD-DVD playback.

Again for clarification, this is only true if you need analog 5.1 output directly from your soundcard. If you are using a typical 5.1 or 6.1 surround sound receiver to decode, the included OEM version will pass along DD/DTS through an optical/coax S/PDIF connection just fine. Please remember that S/PDIF does not support the lossless HD audio formats due to bandwidth limitations. The OEM version does not support these anyway.

Just an FYI for those having trouble with this, here is a quick guide that I posted on another forum:

*Make sure that the SPDIF is enabled to output digital audio source in your soundcard drivers first.

Under the PowerDVD configuration menu:
1. Go to the Audio Tab
2. Select "Speaker Configuration"
3. Click on the drop menu and select "Use SPDIF" (was the very last one listed for me)
4. Click on "OK" and you should be good to go.

That should do it. I am using a Coax connection, though optical shouldn't be any different. I can confirm from the information on my receiver's display that it is receiving a Dolby EX (and equivalent DTS) signal when present. If you also enable the information screen during playback, PowerDVD will also report what it is outputting as well.

I will add that you must set your sound preference when no movie is in progress. If the movie is already in progress or even paused, your pretty much stuck with what was previously set (at least on my setup).

 

[bigsnyder]

One more thought for you folks holding off until prices drop well below $100: if you are wanting HD-DVD support, I have a gut feeling these combo drives will be discontinued before they get that cheap. I hope I am wrong, but I got mine for $155 shipped and haven't yet regretted it. Of course Blu-ray only drives is another matter.