**Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

I do. I have the Samsung UP-5000.

How much was it? How are you liking it so far?

[The Chef]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

For anyone who picked up Batman Begins on BR and has seen it on HD-DVD previously, how would you compare the video quality?

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

For anyone who picked up Batman Begins on BR and has seen it on HD-DVD previously, how would you compare the video quality?

Haven't seen the Blu ray version but this is from the review on dvdtalk.com
----
...While this Blu-ray only adds one new special feature above and beyond what was on the HD DVD, the image and sound quality are still top notch, and there's really no better way to prepare yourselves for the release of The Dark Knight. If you already own the HD DVD, there's not much to warrant an upgrade, but for anyone else, it's not even a question. PQ: Warner Bros. presents Batman Begins in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1, in a VC-1 encoded 1080p transfer. This is the exact same transfer used on the HD DVD....

I believe the same is true for the audio.

[The Chef]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Sounds good, I sold everything HD-DVD related so Im picking this up at some point either way but curiosity got to me so I figured I would ask anyways.

[aholbert32]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

How much was it? How are you liking it so far?

I bought mine for around 550 from Amazon and its the best purchase I've made in years. I bought the player before the most recent firmware updates and there were a few issues w/ disc compatibility, audio dropouts and a few other bugs. The current firmware update gave the 5000 profile 1.1, fixed the audio dropouts and made it compatible with ever audio format. Ive had no issues with the player since the recent update.

The 5000 is the best DVD upscaler I've ever seen. I was just watching the Godfather on DVD (to figure out if I should buy the bluray when it comes out) and it looked so close to HD that I dont think I'll rebuy it. The bluray and HD-DVD playback is great too. The only remaining issues are people with complicated audio setups like running the audio through a receiver using advanced codecs.

Ive seen the 5000 for as low as 299 but its back up to around 800 on Amazon since there are so few left.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Are they still producing them? I really want to pick up some blu-ray titles, but I don't want to get rid of my dozen-plus HD-DVD titles, either.

[aholbert32]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Are they still producing them? I really want to pick up some blu-ray titles, but I don't want to get rid of my dozen-plus HD-DVD titles, either.

They arent and neither is LG. Most people have just sold their HDs and converted to Bluray so combo players are a thing of the past.. I bought mine with a 4 yr repair warranty so I should be fine. After the warranty if my 5000 breaks, most of my hds will be on bluray and probably for cheap so I can just rebuy. I just have a hard time rebuying movies that work perfectly fine on HD.

[Blzer]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

I have a PS3 so this doesn't actually concern me, but my friend is wanting to buy a Blu-ray player. I was telling him all of the advantages of a PS3 over another one, and I gave these reasons:

- Cheapest (or one of them)
- Can also play DVDs (as well as upconvert them), CDs, and all of the other things like uploading photos and music
- Unlike other ones, it can take firmware upgrades
- It is a PlayStation 3 for Christ's sake!


I was just wondering if these were correct. Like, can most Blu-ray players only play Blu-ray discs, or can it also play DVDs and CDs?

[aholbert32]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

I have a PS3 so this doesn't actually concern me, but my friend is wanting to buy a Blu-ray player. I was telling him all of the advantages of a PS3 over another one, and I gave these reasons:

- Cheapest (or one of them)
- Can also play DVDs (as well as upconvert them), CDs, and all of the other things like uploading photos and music
- Unlike other ones, it can take firmware upgrades
- It is a PlayStation 3 for Christ's sake!


I was just wondering if these were correct. Like, can most Blu-ray players only play Blu-ray discs, or can it also play DVDs and CDs?

All Bluray players play DVDs and CDs and there is an Insignia and Samsung bluray thats cheaper. Also most Bluray players can take firmware upgrades. The PS3 is the cheapest profile 2.0 bluray player though.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

I have a PS3 so this doesn't actually concern me, but my friend is wanting to buy a Blu-ray player. I was telling him all of the advantages of a PS3 over another one, and I gave these reasons:

- Cheapest (or one of them)
- Can also play DVDs (as well as upconvert them), CDs, and all of the other things like uploading photos and music
- Unlike other ones, it can take firmware upgrades
- It is a PlayStation 3 for Christ's sake!


I was just wondering if these were correct. Like, can most Blu-ray players only play Blu-ray discs, or can it also play DVDs and CDs?

The PS3 is worth the $100 difference between the cheaper $300 Blu Ray standalones. You get a next-gen gaming machine, media center for streaming content, internal decoding of HD audio codecs (lets you buy a MUCH cheaper HDMI receiver), and Sony's constant updates.

The other Blu ray hardware companies have been pretty inconsistent about getting much needed firmware updates out. It took Sony all of 2 days to get the 2.4 update removed and then replaced with 2.41

I doubt Samsung, Panasonic and others would have been able to mobilize that quickly.

Don't forget the PS3 is Sony and the BDA's crown jewel. Therefore, it's going to get be first in line for any updates. That alone is worth the $100.

[callmetaternuts]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Have we gotten to the point yet where BR players arent ridiculously expensive? I havent looked in awhile (have a PS3).

Looking at gettnig Batman Begins this weekend to get prepped for The Dark Knight

[Blzer]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Thanks for the responses, guys. Hopefully I can convince him to get a PS3 anyway.

Does anyone know of a store selling Cloverfield on Blu for less than $30? I went to Target.com and saw it was $20, so I rushed over to Target to buy it but found out it was an online deal only (because I'm sure shipping and tax takes care of the rest of the costs). I think Best Buy has it at $30 currently, but I want to find it somewhere at $25 or less.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Thanks for the responses, guys. Hopefully I can convince him to get a PS3 anyway.

Does anyone know of a store selling Cloverfield on Blu for less than $30? I went to Target.com and saw it was $20, so I rushed over to Target to buy it but found out it was an online deal only (because I'm sure shipping and tax takes care of the rest of the costs). I think Best Buy has it at $30 currently, but I want to find it somewhere at $25 or less.

Amazon was $14.95 when I ordered it.

[DTX3]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Thanks for the responses, guys. Hopefully I can convince him to get a PS3 anyway.

Does anyone know of a store selling Cloverfield on Blu for less than $30? I went to Target.com and saw it was $20, so I rushed over to Target to buy it but found out it was an online deal only (because I'm sure shipping and tax takes care of the rest of the costs). I think Best Buy has it at $30 currently, but I want to find it somewhere at $25 or less.

Get it off half.com, $15.96 is the lowest. Serious question, whats the deal with wanting a Blu-Ray player when you already have a PS3? my friend has been saving up for one when he already has a PS3...i dont get it.

[Blzer]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Get it off half.com, $15.96 is the lowest. Serious question, whats the deal with wanting a Blu-Ray player when you already have a PS3? my friend has been saving up for one when he already has a PS3...i dont get it.

Doesn't make sense to me either. I'm still trying to find out why someone would want a Blu-ray player that's not a PS3 period.

As for Cloverfield, I was just trying to avoid doing things online. Anything online involves a bill that my parents see. My mom was mad enough that I bought a $3 HDMI cable or a $0.72 Bluetooth earpiece (don't know why). I pay for it, I don't know why she would care.