PS3 Blu-Ray Player going to be Obsolete Soon?

[Glavinsolo]

With all these next-gen Blu-Ray players coming out will PS3 compete much more in this market by firmware upgrades or is it on the way to obsolescence.

Example:

Blu-Ray community (BD-Live)

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2325898,00.asp

Sony on Wednesday announced that you can now purchase its next-generation Blu-ray Disc player, the BDP-S350.

The BDP-S350 supports BonusView (picture-in-picture), a feature found in some new Blu-Ray Disc home video releases, and is also BD-live ready, containing access to the Internet for interactive content and an Ethernet port for firmware updates.

The player features Precision Cinema HD Upscale technology, which converts standard definition signals (480i) to 1080p and outputs a full HD equivalent resolution signal to 1080p TVs via HDMI. Along with this, the BDP-S350 incorporates Sony's new Precision Drive HD, which can find and correct wobbling discs from three different areas, allowing more stable play of scratched or bent Blu-Ray discs or DVDs.

"We leveraged our expertise in film production and digital technology to build a machine that movie fans would truly love," says Chris Fawcett, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics' Home Products Division. "An advanced Blu-ray Disc player like the BDP-S350 is a must for every HDTV owner because it delivers the ultimate video and sound quality, while unlocking features you can't find on DVD, downloads or video on demand."

The BDP-S350 player is now available nationwide for $399.99 at Sony Style retail outlets, sonystyle.com, and at other retailers.

 

[Aikouka]

The PS3 may not have the new Precision HD drive, but I'm fairly certain it can do everything else with a software update.

EDIT:

That's one of the reasons why I think the PS3 is one of the better Blu-Ray players that you can get (and especially when it was one of the cheaper options). Frankly, it's just very upgradeable and with the excess processing power, it can run stuff on software that some normal BD players may use a fancy new chip for (like the talk of running Adobe Flash on Blu-Ray players using Intel's new chip... you could do this using Cell instead).

 

[Xavier434]

I doubt it will become obsolete anytime soon simply due to demand. A lot of people own PS3s and a lot of people are still buying them. Not as many people are buying a specific stand alone Sony blu-ray player model that would result in development time for firmware updates on the PS3 to be slacked upon. That's all speculation of course but it makes sense right? It all revolves around the demand rather than the technology at this point?

 

[herkulease]

I doubt it. What will make the ps3 as a blu ray player obsolete is a huge drop in price. when panasonic, lg, samsung, etc put out, below 100 dollar profile 2.0 players then it'll be an issue. as of now Sony will still get people to pick up a ps3 for a blu ray player with "it can also play games."

 

[FuryofFive]

Originally posted by: herkulease
I doubt it. What will make the ps3 as a blu ray player obsolete is a huge drop in price. when panasonic, lg, samsung, etc put out, below 100 dollar profile 2.0 players then it'll be an issue. as of now Sony will still get people to pick up a ps3 for a blu ray player with "it can also play games."

i think ps3 will do just fine. all this speculation is crazy. like the blackberries.. people want alot to come from a little. i dont blame them.


i will say , that PS3 is a fine HTPC...it even plays divx

with that said. i am not a fanboy

i own all 3 fun little systems. as well as both handhelds and a fairly recent gaming rig.

 

[Queasy]

It won't be obsolete. It just won't be the preferred method of buying a Blu-Ray player as stand-alone Blu-Ray players continue to drop well under $200.

 

[KINGGABBO]

It won't be obsolete. I expect it to still be a top Blu ray player, features and performance for many years to come.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Queasy
It won't be obsolete. It just won't be the preferred method of buying a Blu-Ray player as stand-alone Blu-Ray players continue to drop well under $200.

It's not just about the prices though. It is about the firmware support. That will change eventually, but as it stands right now the vast majority of stand alone players under $200 have reported numerous issues playing certain movies as well as sound issues. This includes 2.0 profile players. It seems like the companies are in a position to fix these issues but they only have so much money that they are willing to dedicate to these players. Instead, they seem to be in the frame of mind that it is not a problem worth fixing when that time and money can be dedicated towards the next version of player.

That's a shitty situation for the consumer who buys these 2.0 players expecting all movies and sound to work flawlessly. The PS3 is trustworthy and there is more security when it comes to these sort of updates thanks to the overwhelming sales and demand in comparison to any individual stand alone.

I expect time to change this stuff though as those really old players are replaced with newer players at low prices with far less problems.

 

[Pheran]

Err, the article referenced in the OP is 6 months old - I've had my Sony S350 for months. I don't have a PS3, but there's nothing wrong with it as a Blu-Ray player except the inability to output an HD audio bitstream (it must decode it internally and output PCM, which should sound the same, though it won't activate the right "lights" on HD audio decoding receivers). Well, that and it doesn't include an infrared receiver unless you buy an addon.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: Queasy
It won't be obsolete. It just won't be the preferred method of buying a Blu-Ray player as stand-alone Blu-Ray players continue to drop well under $200.

It's not just about the prices though. It is about the firmware support. That will change eventually, but as it stands right now the vast majority of stand alone players under $200 have reported numerous issues playing certain movies as well as sound issues. This includes 2.0 profile players. It seems like the companies are in a position to fix these issues but they only have so much money that they are willing to dedicate to these players. Instead, they seem to be in the frame of mind that it is not a problem worth fixing when that time and money can be dedicated towards the next version of player.

That's a shitty situation for the consumer who buys these 2.0 players expecting all movies and sound to work flawlessly. The PS3 is trustworthy and there is more security when it comes to these sort of updates thanks to the overwhelming sales and demand in comparison to any individual stand alone.

I expect time to change this stuff though as those really old players are replaced with newer players at low prices with far less problems.

I had ties with a DVD hardware/semiconductor manufacturer during the 2001-2003 period when DVD players dropped in price.

We made a quality product. The people making the Apex brand crapped in a box, put a $30 tag on it and shipped it to Walmart.

Guess who lasted longer?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: CKDragon

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: Queasy
It won't be obsolete. It just won't be the preferred method of buying a Blu-Ray player as stand-alone Blu-Ray players continue to drop well under $200.

It's not just about the prices though. It is about the firmware support. That will change eventually, but as it stands right now the vast majority of stand alone players under $200 have reported numerous issues playing certain movies as well as sound issues. This includes 2.0 profile players. It seems like the companies are in a position to fix these issues but they only have so much money that they are willing to dedicate to these players. Instead, they seem to be in the frame of mind that it is not a problem worth fixing when that time and money can be dedicated towards the next version of player.

That's a shitty situation for the consumer who buys these 2.0 players expecting all movies and sound to work flawlessly. The PS3 is trustworthy and there is more security when it comes to these sort of updates thanks to the overwhelming sales and demand in comparison to any individual stand alone.

I expect time to change this stuff though as those really old players are replaced with newer players at low prices with far less problems.

I had ties with a DVD hardware/semiconductor manufacturer during the 2001-2003 period when DVD players dropped in price.

We made a quality product. The people making the Apex brand crapped in a box, put a $30 tag on it and shipped it to Walmart.

Guess who lasted longer?

Yep. Which is why I said the PS3 Blu-Ray player won't be obsolete. It just won't be the preferred player any more.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Queasy, still offering a voice of reason in these dark days.

How ya been man? That monitor finally crapped out last year...lol

Hope you and the kids are well man.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: CKDragon
I had ties with a DVD hardware/semiconductor manufacturer during the 2001-2003 period when DVD players dropped in price.

We made a quality product. The people making the Apex brand crapped in a box, put a $30 tag on it and shipped it to Walmart.

Guess who lasted longer?

Keep in mind that I understand your point and I am not disputing that price is a major reason for such things and perhaps even the #1 reason. All I am saying is that price isn't everything.

 

[oznerol]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: CKDragon
I had ties with a DVD hardware/semiconductor manufacturer during the 2001-2003 period when DVD players dropped in price.

We made a quality product. The people making the Apex brand crapped in a box, put a $30 tag on it and shipped it to Walmart.

Guess who lasted longer?

Keep in mind that I understand your point and I am not disputing that price is a major reason for such things and perhaps even the #1 reason. All I am saying is that price isn't everything.

If you wanted to buy a DVD player today - would you go out and buy a PS2?

Yes, the PS3 is upgradeable and it is good quality - but when it comes down to it - particularly with electronics - these things reach a level of being entirely disposable. The cost of standalone players will drop significantly more (and much faster) than the cost of PS3s.

And the difference between a "high-end" player and a Wal-Mart Apex brand one is incredibly negligible to the average consumer. If you think the majority of people buying these things even know (or care) about the difference between progressive and interlaced scans, you are greatly mistaken.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Will the PS3 be one of the best blu-ray players for at least the next couple of years?

Yes.

Will it be the cheapest blu-ray player with that feature set and level of quality for xmas 2009?

No.

So, when xmas 2009 rolls around if you're only buying a PS3 as a blu-ray player you'll be wasting money. You won't be missing anything you'll just be paying too much.

If you want a game console and media streamer then the PS3 may be a good choice, depending on whether you like the exclusives and controller. Otherwise an xbox and regular blu-ray player will be better.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: CKDragon
I had ties with a DVD hardware/semiconductor manufacturer during the 2001-2003 period when DVD players dropped in price.

We made a quality product. The people making the Apex brand crapped in a box, put a $30 tag on it and shipped it to Walmart.

Guess who lasted longer?

Keep in mind that I understand your point and I am not disputing that price is a major reason for such things and perhaps even the #1 reason. All I am saying is that price isn't everything.

I understand, I didn't mean to argue any particular point that you brought up. I'm just sharing my opinion that even if those sub-$200 players aren't the latest-and-greatest that they'll still sell the most and the average consumer will likely never know the difference.

But I'm sure everyone who got to watch a stretched DVD movie at a family's house over the holiday season already knows that. 😛

 

[zerocool84]

I thought the PS3 was one of the best Blu-ray drives cus it gets very frequent firmware updates comapred to standalone players.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
I thought the PS3 was one of the best Blu-ray drives cus it gets very frequent firmware updates comapred to standalone players.

That's true now, but it becomes less important over time and eventually even $150 players will work just as well.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: zerocool84
I thought the PS3 was one of the best Blu-ray drives cus it gets very frequent firmware updates comapred to standalone players.

That's true now, but it becomes less important over time and eventually even $150 players will work just as well.

Well obviously, but when that time comes, the PS3 will be gone.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: zerocool84
I thought the PS3 was one of the best Blu-ray drives cus it gets very frequent firmware updates comapred to standalone players.

That's true now, but it becomes less important over time and eventually even $150 players will work just as well.

Well obviously, but when that time comes, the PS3 will be gone.

I don't know... look how quickly the PS2 became obsolete as a DVD player.

Judging from the stuff shown at CES, 2008 was the last year the PS3 is going to be a good value purely as a BR-D player. Everyone else is coming out with $250 (MSRP!) devices that can sing and dance just as nicely.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
If you want a game console and media streamer then the PS3 may be a good choice, depending on whether you like the exclusives and controller. Otherwise an xbox and regular blu-ray player will be better.

Just curious Dave if you could elaborate on that last statement. Why would the Xbox be better exactly? If you don't care about "exclusives" since most of the newer games seem to be on both platforms, then I don't see how it's "better" other than just "different".

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
If you want a game console and media streamer then the PS3 may be a good choice, depending on whether you like the exclusives and controller. Otherwise an xbox and regular blu-ray player will be better.

Just curious Dave if you could elaborate on that last statement. Why would the Xbox be better exactly? If you don't care about "exclusives" since most of the newer games seem to be on both platforms, then I don't see how it's "better" other than just "different".

I think he meant "the exclusives" as in "PS3 exclusives". The 360 has a fair number itself, especially including games that are only otherwise on the PC. In general, I think it's hard to dispute that the total, over-all Xbox 360 library is better than the PS3's, and that the quality of multi-platform games is _usually_ higher on the 360 (a trend which, for better or for worse, seems to be continuing). Microsoft has also shown much more diligence at landing DLC and so forth.

 

[Insane3D]

I agree the 360 has more games, but it seems like to me, as a causal gamer anyway, most new games aren't exclusives anymore. It seems like most of the games I picked up over the holidays for the PS3 were also available on PC and 360. Also, at one point the PS2 had a ton more games than the 360 and it kept people from buying the more advanced 360 at one point, now that time has gone on, that is no longer the case. So, in my mind, I don't see why the library for the PS3 wouldn't get better and better as time went on. Why are exclusives so important anyway? I'd prefer that most games that came out were available on the the 360, PS3, and PC

I will admit that the 360 has a better multiplayer system, although it does cost $$ per year, but there are gamers out there like me who aren't interested in multiplayer. Maybe I'm wrong, but it just seems like to me both consoles have the advantages and disadvantages, but as time goes on the playing field will level out more. I don't see one as "better", just "different".

*shrug*

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: ducci

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: CKDragon
I had ties with a DVD hardware/semiconductor manufacturer during the 2001-2003 period when DVD players dropped in price.

We made a quality product. The people making the Apex brand crapped in a box, put a $30 tag on it and shipped it to Walmart.

Guess who lasted longer?

Keep in mind that I understand your point and I am not disputing that price is a major reason for such things and perhaps even the #1 reason. All I am saying is that price isn't everything.

If you wanted to buy a DVD player today - would you go out and buy a PS2?

Yes, the PS3 is upgradeable and it is good quality - but when it comes down to it - particularly with electronics - these things reach a level of being entirely disposable. The cost of standalone players will drop significantly more (and much faster) than the cost of PS3s.

And the difference between a "high-end" player and a Wal-Mart Apex brand one is incredibly negligible to the average consumer. If you think the majority of people buying these things even know (or care) about the difference between progressive and interlaced scans, you are greatly mistaken.

I wouldn't need to buy a PS2 because all DVD players today play all DVDs and there are other DVD players out which do more complicated stuff if I am interested in that instead.

The only problem with your argument is your perception on what the problems are with today's current low priced stand alone blu-ray players. Otherwise, I would agree with you.

I am not talking about issues with the different scans or the issues concerning sound quality not being the absolute maximum that it should be. I am talking about problems where the user pops in a particular blu-ray movie and it flat out doesn't play or freezes very regularly forcing you to restart the player. These kinds of problems exist in some of the cheap players right now even though they are 2.0 profile. The problem is firmware and it often does not get fixed because they are not being supported enough as a result of lack of consumer popularity for a particular model combined with the manufactures projected profit estimations which show that development time to upgrade the firmware on those models is not worth it when it could be used on the newer more expensive models. This is not the case with the PS3.

Even the common user is going to be really pissed off if they buy their cheap $200 player right now, pop in a popular movie like Iron Man, and the only thing they see is a black screen. This is not an exaggeration. I have read this exact problem and many like it all over the AVS Forums involving many of those cheap older $200 players with Iron Man and other popular movies. The common user is going to think their player is broken and exchange it only to be disappointed again at which time they will return it for a refund if they still can. When that happens enough, many negative reviews on the internet are written, read by the masses, and word gets around to those who don't read reviews as much. This happened with HDTVs and it is happening with blu-ray players too.

My theory is that enough time will pass to the point where today's current expensive Blu-ray players that do not have nearly as many issues will eventually become the future's $200 players and that is when we will see them fly off the shelves. That is when the PS3 may not be the most popular blu-ray player anymore.

 

[erwos]

Movies which have problems in the cheap players are ALWAYS the result of the movie, not the player. It's astonishing how many BR-Ds have corrupted jars, authoring mistakes, and so forth. The problem with Iron Man was BD-Live being down a few days after release.