Home audio & video: Is now the time for a Blue-Ray player?
PS3 won't play old DVDs?
by Dan Filice - 1/20/08 12:43 PM In reply to: In my opinion by jostenmeatI read that the PS3 is a very good BD player but it won't play old discs, which would be important for all of us with a large DVD collection. Did I read correct? If so, that would be a huge Negative for me to not buy a PS3.
Thanks
by minimalist - 1/20/08 2:56 PM In reply to: In my opinion by jostenmeatI think I've about made up my mind to order the Sony S-300 from Amazon and use the money I saved on the discount and tax to buy a couple of my favorite Kubrick movies to show it all off. The PS3 just doesn't seem worth the extra 80 dollars (400 plus 30 for the remote v. 350 for the standalone player) to me as I can't think of a single game I care about on the console. The potential for fan noise associated with game machines and the lack of standard def DVD upscaling are problematic as well.
It seems that this specification issue (1.0. 1.1, and 2.0) is just hair splitting. I have no idea what picture within picture is going to offer my movie experience nor do I care about internet links and marketing tie-ins via ethernet. Other than making-of documentaries, original trailers and director's commentaries, so much of what passes for bonus materials on DVD's are just half-baked filler material designed to get you buy the "special edition".
PS3 upscaling
by albeach55 - 1/20/08 3:22 PM In reply to: Thanks by minimalistThe PS3 will upscale standard def DVD's up to 1080p when an HDMI connection is used. Also, not sure where the other user heard that it wouldn't play "old" DVD's...the PS3 will play any DVD and/or Blu-Ray disc.
Yes, most bonus material is cheezy filler. As to picture in
by NM_Bill - 1/20/08 3:42 PM In reply to: Thanks by minimalistpicture, some folks use it a lot with TV programming & some never do. I feel a segment of the buying public wants that ability.
Yes, for those who want to join in the experience now, version may very well be hair splitting. As one not hurrying to get in, I'll wait for more full featured models. To each their own...
I don't have cable TV so picture in picture isn't a need...
by minimalist - 1/20/08 4:57 PM In reply to: Yes, most bonus material is cheezy filler. As to picture in by NM_BillBut how would that work anyway? Would you have to run the output from your cable box or TiVo through your blue-ray player?
I just assumed that the picture within picture feature would be used for some new gimmick included on the blue-ray disc itself... like a visual version of commentary.
jostenmeat, as one who frequents amazon used DVD prices, I
by NM_Bill - 1/20/08 3:36 PM In reply to: In my opinion by jostenmeatwant both continued sales, at least for a few years, & also reselling of std def DVDs by those who are "upgrading" their library.
As one who also has fretted about regular DVDs being priced as high as they are, I am in favor of cheaper ones being available to me at places like amazon. I have gotten to the point of having a movie reference book all marked up with info I continue to stalk amazon for those classic movies I deem as too expensive but I'm waiting for them.
Yes, I do frequently spend an hour at a time looking for those formerly deemed as too expensive - hopefully price deflated. A DVD library has an expense factor I don't want my wife to think about.
Jostenmeat, in your current fervor I urge you not to buy BD discs just because they are available. The industry continues their old ways of packaging the junk ones too. In fact it may even increase those frankly bad movies being pushed for DVD sales after a brief, rather unsuccessful theater run.
Bill
by jostenmeat - 1/20/08 4:36 PM In reply to: jostenmeat, as one who frequents amazon used DVD prices, I by NM_BillI no longer seek your advice regarding such things as high definition video or audio.
I buy them because I want them. Close to half of the titles I've bought I have never seen. Of course, they have to be available too. What, you want to be my movie critic as well?
So you have a 900 dvd collection. Hey, good for you. And yet you tell me me not to buy BD's. huh?
There is certainly some advantages I have gained by joining the HT world so late and/or recently. Before my TV purchase, I didn't have a tv for many months. Not even an old skool CRT. Three of my closest friends that do enjoy movies often with me don't have TVs. I spend the money, and they help me enjoy the products.
Please do not give me your advice regarding high definition video. Or high definition audio. Thank you.
Your knowledge or viewpoints can be rather suspect to me at times. You do not exhibit the "race to the bottom" as badly as some others I have seen, but having made the fundamental proclamation that HD-DVD wins, that SACD and DVD-A should be absolutley avoided, and now urging everyone in this thread to stick with the vastly inferior SD quality products... your aversion to products that are not completely adopted by the vast majority of the mainstream means you do not get to enjoy them. This also means your understanding or knowledge of high defintion video and audio products is topical at best, not that this affects me because I've definitely kept up for myself. I've listened to you twice already to you regarding non-mainstream tecnologies. 1. SACD/DVDA 2. HD-DVD. Please do not keep screwing me over. Thanks.
Of course, most people don't care about this stuff. There are many forums for many other things. This one is called CNET Home audio & video forum.
Thanks for trying to help, but no thanks. Yes, I already hinted that I shouldn't listen to you anymore, but now I plead you to plug it as far as stupid gratuitous advice given to someone who knows more than you about such prodcutcs, of which you do not own anyways.
for everyone else, there is a good sticky at the BD software forum, with consumer ratings giving up rankings of Blu, gold, silver, bronze, copper, coal, etc. I have one "coal" product but I really wanted this chinese movie. Planet Earth only received bronze, IIRC, and that should really speak to how good the video quality must be for the gold stuff.
Or keep investing in obsolete tech if you want just because everyone else does, and has no idea what they could be getting for what I consider just to be little more. $230 for Oppo, or $300 for BD? $20 for new DVD, or $20 for new BluRay disc. $5 for used DVD. Or $10 for used BluRay. And I know most people here don't care about high definition HT audio, most definitely including Bill, but it represent a great pleasure for me indeed.
So, otherwise, feel free in joining me to demand and support high quality, high definition video and audio. Thank you.
Whoa, man. I shall never try to dictate any manner of taste
by NM_Bill - 1/20/08 5:04 PM In reply to: Bill by jostenmeatSorry I seemed to diss you. If I come off half baked, well so be it.
Of course you buy what you want.
Sorry you ever took that SACD thing so strongly. I think I was just saying it didn't catch on very well.
I was just trying a simple prediction (not well in retrospect) about formats.
Yes, you are keeping up with various things better. Yes, for the time being, I choose not to join in the higher def.
I don't doubt the whole environment pleasure at all. I just don't have the funds for it at the time being. Other things do infringe on life.
Suspect, stupid, gratuitous - whoa. Yes, I don't own what i don't own.
My obsolete tech of std def DVDs is my world of movies of lasting quality. I enjoy the movies, otherwise why would I bother?
MFG Date?
by LCromwell - 1/27/08 9:10 AM In reply to: like any evolving technology we have to choose when we buy by NM_BillAnd where can you find the MFG. date before you buy?
on the back of the unit (where the connectors are)
by NM_Bill - 1/27/08 11:28 AM In reply to: MFG Date? by LCromwella statement of unit model, compliance with mfg standards as of time of manufacture, date of manufacture.
So if you want to check you must be able to open a perhaps sealed box. Of course people like me will pass over most any box with evidence of having being opened in preference to one that is still pristine.
If I'm to consider buying anything that is an open box, I want to be able to thoroughly inspect it & preferably want to knw why the box is open.
So stores that have pretty much all the stuff out subject to "customers" rummaging through boxes may create a bunch of open boxes that then impede their acceptance for sale.
I HAVE ONE OF THE FIRST SONY BLUE RAY PLAYERS
by stewart norrie - 1/20/08 1:39 PM In reply to: Is now the time for a Blue-Ray player? by minimalistAnd love the awsome picture and d.t.s. sound. There has been 2 firmware upgrades and loading is a little slow I wopuld go for it stewee
Panasonic BD player
by Dan Filice - 1/20/08 1:59 PM In reply to: I HAVE ONE OF THE FIRST SONY BLUE RAY PLAYERS by stewart norrieI was at Costco this morning and saw the Panasonic DMPBD30AK BD player. I went home and did some research. On some of the high-end HT review sites, they say the best BD player available now is this Panasonic. They say it's better than the Sony 300 or the Samsung. The Panasonic is priced at $449, so this will need to wait. CC has the Sony BDPS300 for $399, but there are too many negative comments. I'm itching to buy the Panasonic. So let's see....what can I sell?? My dog? My wife? My kids?
Pana no eject on remote
by LCromwell - 1/27/08 9:13 AM In reply to: Panasonic BD player by Dan FiliceI read the reviews and Liked the Pana until it said there is no eject button on the remote and the SONY BDP-S300-301 is now at $299 with free shipping at several places on line.I would like to know how one can tell the Mfg date?
Why is the lack of a remote eject button a deal-buster?
by miller.90 - 1/27/08 11:54 AM In reply to: Pana no eject on remote by LCromwellI'm curious why you'd reject a model you like because of the absence of a reject button on the remote. I'm guessing that the designer made it that way because the only time you'd open the tray is when you're going to unload or load the device, and the ONLY time you can do that is when you're standing right in front of it. Therefore, there's no reason for a remote eject function. What other reason would you have for ejecting? Allowing remote ejection increases the possibility that the user would forget the tray's open and leave it, thus greatly increasing the ingress of dust into the interior of the player (dust is the most common cause of laser failure). If I were the designer, I'd make it the way Panasonic did.
enjoy, Stewee, enjoy
by NM_Bill - 1/20/08 3:43 PM In reply to: I HAVE ONE OF THE FIRST SONY BLUE RAY PLAYERS by stewart norrieNM_Bill
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
