Should I get a Blu-ray player?

I still have my SuperBeta, and I still like it better than VHS, not that I use either much anymore.

Blu-Ray is vastly superior to DVD if you have the system for it. I am completely spoiled by it now. Even my DVDs look better with the good upscaling that came with my player.

As for cost, the PS3 is a real bargain if you can live without front panel controls and put up with higher power consumption. I use a PS3 as a media system, playing music and movies, and have it connected to a media server which stores all of our mp3 files and digital photos. It's a great setup.

Tom

 

You want the type of blu-ray player that raises the resolution of regular DVDs to 1080p, assuming you have a 1080p TV. The higher end Sony and Samsung players.

 

It's all about the connection type. If it's component 3-wire, then stick to DVD.

If you have HDMI, then it's worth an upgrade - but not necessarily BluRay.

I got the Pioneer DV-400V about 60$, which is upscaling to 1080p, my LCD 32" TV is 720p, so in the DVD settings I set it to that.

Now, the Pioneer DV-400V has a FRONT USB port - that is the *awesome* part.
No more burning DivX AVI files on a blank DVD, which won't work in less than 2 years.

Now I save the AVI files to either a USB Key or a USB disk (an unused 40g + 15$ hd-usb enclosure). Just format FAT32 instead of NTFS, then you can use MAC or Linux or PC with the Pioneer !!!

IOW, the Pioneer DV400-V is cheaper and easier than getting another PC, Mac Mini, or laptop, to play back DivX AVI files.

BitTorrent + MiniNova.org + 4G USB key (20$), and watch TV Shows and old movies for free. 720p or 1080p is becoming real popular.

 

Who else read the sub-titles? Very funny.
Recommended reading for skanks.

 

Hmmmm. In the mid 1990's I got a very fancy Pioneer laserdisk player. Unloaded the laserdiscs when DVD became popular, but still have the machine.

It still works fine, as I kept the Pioneer demo disk that came with the box. Call me silly and nostelgic for old stuff

 

Aunt of mine had a SuperBetamax. Awesome picture quality. Better doesn't always cut it in the marketplace, hence VHS took over

Your setup is the way to go if you intend to have a truly integrated home entertainment network

 

The subtitle about Blagojevich was side splitting.

My favorite though

"UCLA scientists discover new strain of deadly bacteria that feeds exclusively on hand sanitizer gel"

and

"Are your childrens toys coming to life at night? Next "Today Now" 7-9 am est"

 

Friend of mine just got a new TV and PS3, and he popped in the latest Indiana Jones film. Looks great, but at some moments it can be too good, and you can tell they are on a sound stage in front of a green/blue screen.

 

I just have to be careful to steer clear of porn and naked photos when looking for family vacation pictures: "...and here is one from the trip out west...OMG!" :redface:

That is a hazard. We notice a lot of things like that.

Tom

 

I have HD, it's better resolution than real life!

 

Um ... you are going to have to do a LOT better job of organizing your photos

Eg: I'm pretty careful to drill down at least 2-3 folders before having one titled "hot steamy porn" or "naughty skinny dipping"

However, the folder "jay removing bloodsuckers from his pointy bits after naughty skinny dipping" I leave right at the top layer.

I figure it's good health educational material to warn others on the hidden dangers lurking and wiggling beneath that peaceful looking small isolated lake

Hint: never, EVER just YANK them off. I still have an automatic flinch response to that episode. It was horrific

 

I may have hurt myself laughing at this one.

Tom

 

At the time, I didn't think it was very funny. However, with a few years behind that incident, I can almost bring myself to smile about it

But I still can't get rid of the instinctive flinching response

 

Ouch!!

 

I'd also look at Apple TV.

They have (sort of) HD video (not nearly as good as Blu Ray), but the strength of system is in its ability to get video on-demand from the internet (including new release rentals), and download into a format where you can take video with you on your iPod/iPhone.

 

I recall screaming words a lot more harsh than "ouch"

I then started whimpering

 

So you just get the release through iTunes? That would be handy enough

 

Last year I bought a 40G PS3 so I could play BD movies, and in addition, download movies on my PC and network the PS3 so I can watch them on my TV. I have a 42" 1080P LCD, and after using the PS3 to play regular DVD movies, I came to the conclusion that buying blue ray disks are a waste of money, unless there are a lot of movies on it EX Close Encounters, has all three versions, or if it has 7.1 or 5.1 uncompressed audio, otherwise a standard DVD plays just as nice, sounds just as good as a BD disk. With that said, a good Upconverting DVD player is a whole lot cheaper and plays just as nice on a 720p or 1080i set.

 

DVD on the PS3 is nice, but Blu-ray is even better. I have a Mitsubishi 52" Diamond Vision DLP TV that is simply breath taking with Blu-ray. Good DVDs look darned good, but they look grainy after watching a good Blu-ray.

Tom

 

For $75.00 I bought a Toshiba upgraded DVD player that sends either 720P or 1080i to my tv. Quite an improvement over analog.