Blue Ray Movies - Do I get a Blue Ray Player or another PS3?

Hello there,

I was just wondering if anyone could offer me the benefit of their knowledge and help me make a decision I've been struggling with for ages now.

After the recent news that suggests Blue Ray may have won out over HD-DVD I have been planning to buy a Blue Ray Player for my HD TV downstairs but I don't know if I should opt for a player or just buy another PS3 instead, it seems to me that if the PS3's Blue Ray software is future proof due to the updates it recieves it seems crazy for me to shell out £200-300 more on a decent Blue Ray player that is updated enough to last for longer than a year but to be honest I really don't have much of a clue when it comes to the ins and outs of Movie/TV hardware and really just wanted your opinion on what seems to be the best bet.

I was planning on buying the Pioneer BDP-LX70 for around £799.99 which seems to be one of the best options available at the moment without going over £1000 but I've only managed to find one review of it which says it's one of the better models available on the market so far, I'm not really worried about the prices coming down but what I am worried about is if it offers nothing more over the PS3 other than the higher price tag, would this player still be able to play the latest Blue Ray movies in a years time or will it follow suit of the earlier models and need an update (basically buying another player)? Or should I just buy another PS3 and use it just as a player (I would just use the PS3 I own already but I don't always have the free use of the living room due to my flatmates) and I don't really want to lug it from room to room everytime I wanted to watch a movie on the big tele.

So would it make more sense to just buy another PS3 (at the lower price tag now it's only 40GB) or shell out on a proper player if it offers better quality over the console (I've heard the actual player is quieter than the PS3 but I've never really noticed it with the one I already have.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Panasonic BD30, just a little more than a PS3. X360PS3AMD05

Why would you buy a player that actually cost more than a PS3 when you can get the PS3 which will be able to do so much more.

All this headache is exactly why I had went HD-DVD. It works, and it was a STANDARD.

Oh well, I got a PS3 this weekend so I can continue with HiDef...but man, this BluRay stuff is a joke with its players.

The problem with that standalone player was just one tiny thing, but it makes a big difference: it's more expensive than a PS3, yet doesn't offer the ability to be future-proof through online updates. Essentially you'd be paying more for less, which doesn't make any sense to me. Not to mention a second PS3 will allow you to play games on the big screen if you should feel like doing so.

I find it rather ironic that Sony can price the PS3 at $400 yet not able to release a standalone at under $300. If there was a standalone Blu-Ray player at $200 (I don't know the conversion rates, I'm guessing the rough estimate of 400 British pounds) I'd suggest the standalone because it'd be so much cheaper. But since there is no such standalone...

That's the one thing I hate about Sony, how they always overcharge, except when they're backs are against the wall. *Sigh* What with the death of HD-DVD there goes our best chance of getting affordable HD content...

The problem with that standalone player was just one tiny thing, but it makes a big difference: it's more expensive than a PS3, yet doesn't offer the ability to be future-proof through online updates. Essentially you'd be paying more for less, which doesn't make any sense to me. Not to mention a second PS3 will allow you to play games on the big screen if you should feel like doing so.

I find it rather ironic that Sony can price the PS3 at $400 yet not able to release a standalone at under $300. If there was a standalone Blu-Ray player at $200 (I don't know the conversion rates, I'm guessing the rough estimate of 400 British pounds) I'd suggest the standalone because it'd be so much cheaper. But since there is no such standalone...

That's the one thing I hate about Sony, how they always overcharge, except when they're backs are against the wall. *Sigh* What with the death of HD-DVD there goes our best chance of getting affordable HD content...

Opalescent

lol, why complain! at the moment you have the chance to get your hands on a future proof Blu-Ray player which coincidently can play some fairly decent games and has all that multimedia functionality for $400 and you want a damn standalone player? ARE YOU MAD?

And as for the comment about overpricing til their backs are against the wall, any company facing possibly having an entire department in a market go bust will resort to massive price drops in order to remain competitive. Since Sony are in little danger of being wiped out in the DVD, TV and Blu-Ray player markets, of course they won't massively drop their price, the console market on the other hand is a different story.

[QUOTE="Opalescent"]

The problem with that standalone player was just one tiny thing, but it makes a big difference: it's more expensive than a PS3, yet doesn't offer the ability to be future-proof through online updates. Essentially you'd be paying more for less, which doesn't make any sense to me. Not to mention a second PS3 will allow you to play games on the big screen if you should feel like doing so.

I find it rather ironic that Sony can price the PS3 at $400 yet not able to release a standalone at under $300. If there was a standalone Blu-Ray player at $200 (I don't know the conversion rates, I'm guessing the rough estimate of 400 British pounds) I'd suggest the standalone because it'd be so much cheaper. But since there is no such standalone...

That's the one thing I hate about Sony, how they always overcharge, except when they're backs are against the wall. *Sigh* What with the death of HD-DVD there goes our best chance of getting affordable HD content...

donwoogie

lol, why complain! at the moment you have the chance to get your hands on a future proof Blu-Ray player which coincidently can play some fairly decent games and has all that multimedia functionality for $400 and you want a damn standalone player? ARE YOU MAD?

And as for the comment about overpricing til their backs are against the wall, any company facing possibly having an entire department in a market go bust will resort to massive price drops in order to remain competitive. Since Sony are in little danger of being wiped out in the DVD, TV and Blu-Ray player markets, of course they won't massively drop their price, the console market on the other hand is a different story.

And if you cut it in half you can let it also double as a George Foreman Grill :).

He's right, for the price the PS3 is a hell of a machine.