[erure]

So I'm thinking about upgrading to Blu-ray and the thing is, the Blu-ray Disc player costs $300 and a PS3 costs $400. It seems like the PS3 is a much better investment, except I don't really have an interest in games... So are there any features in the Blu-ray Disc Player that is not available on PS3? Thank you

[charcoalfilter1101]

For me, I would choose buying a Blu - Ray Disc Player instead of a PS3 since you don't have any interest in games.

Hope my advise helps.

[mace]

Well it depends on what else you can use the PS3 for. I mean I hear this question a lot, working in an electronics store, but in the end I'd prefer the PS3 over a standalone blu-ray player.

Even if you don't play games, you may find a use for the built in media player and integrated networking/wireless - i.e. if you're going to have it connected to a TV (hopefully via HDMI) - it'll do the same job as a HTPC (almost) - as long as its connected to your home computer network, you can stream music/movies/videos off your PC and watch it on the TV. Saves having to go over and connect up your pc etc...

That's all easy as long as you're using windows media player to some extent.. if you use a Mac then its a bit harder to set up =\

Regarding features - PS3 has pretty much all the features that a blu-ray player would have - though it would be much easier to control the PS3 if you buy a remote for it.. which is an additional cost.

[awdark]

I believe the PS3 is the new version of blueray compliant and you can download the newest updates regularly.

Also, I believe you will be able to stream things over your network if you have an interest to play something from your shared folder on your tv. But I am not 100% positive on that.

[naoto]

The new ps3 is indeed able to upgrade its blu ray software, easy too I put a movie in and it wanted to do an update through the internet. I read up on blu ray quality though and the ps3 is an excellent blu ray player in terms of output (?). The article compared various standalone players to the ps3 and it's nice to know sony didn't cheap out on the lens/handicap any settings, it is a fully blown 100% capable player. Keep that in mind~

You can hook it up to the lan network and stream videos off your mac easy. It shows up on the menu and you are able to access the entire hard drives. You have to read on how though I don't really know.

[res0nate]

The ps3 is far better than any standalone on the market.

[mace]

Also, I believe you will be able to stream things over your network if you have an interest to play something from your shared folder on your tv. But I am not 100% positive on that.

You can hook it up to the lan network and stream videos off your mac easy. It shows up on the menu and you are able to access the entire hard drives. You have to read on how though I don't really know.

For streaming off a Windows PC, it's VERY easy, all you need is to have your music/movies detected by Windows Media Player (i.e. in its library), and then select your sharing options - it should detect the PS3 and you just select 'Allow' for the PS3 to play media off your comp. Then just navigate to music/video on the PS3 menu and it'll detect your comp as a media server. I've done this and its very easy to setup.. works well even over wireless speeds.

If you use a Mac though, it's a bit more complicated, a friend of mine had to install some special software on their mac (it was only a trial version too) so that the ps3 would detect it and be able to play media off it..

[erure]

Thanks you guys. I finally got a nice big TV (from 19" to 32" -- it's quite a difference, at least to me) and a PS3. Came home, set it all up and watched The Dark Knight in blu-ray -- it was amazing.