Why would anyone buy a Blu-ray player (other than the PS3)?
by Richard Lawler 
posted Apr 27th 2006 at 4:40PM
Whether or not you believe the latest price rumor about the PS3 ($399 US according to PSM) we can be pretty sure it will be less than $999.95. Not so coincidentally, that is the current pre-order price for Sony's own top of the line BDP-S1 Blu-ray player. We still have no idea what the final features of the Playstation 3 will be, however we've been shown dual HDMI outs and expect DVD upconversion, hard drive and probably a snazzy new videogame or two that won't be on the BDP-S1, which brings me to my main question.Why would anyone pay probably twice the asking price of the PS3 for additional features that appear to begin and end with "rigid beam construction"?
As Matt and Ben alluded to in the podcast,
profit margins will likely be higher on the Blu-ray players when they are released compared to Toshiba's HD-DVD player, but will they stay that way?
We also have to consider that the Playstation 2, at launch, wasn't a very good DVD player compared to others on the market and this may or may not be repeated. Every Blu-ray player is required to support certain options regarding audio, interactive menus, etc., so it is hard to say what the difference between the devices will be. The Xbox 360 could present a similar issue for HDTV owners, however if the $100 price rumor is true, it would equal the price of an HD-DVD player in total, instead of being only half.
Are you considering buying a Blu-ray player and if so, does the promise of the PS3 make you more or less inclined to buy a standalone player?
We also have to consider that the Playstation 2, at launch, wasn't a very good DVD player compared to others on the market and this may or may not be repeated. Every Blu-ray player is required to support certain options regarding audio, interactive menus, etc., so it is hard to say what the difference between the devices will be. The Xbox 360 could present a similar issue for HDTV owners, however if the $100 price rumor is true, it would equal the price of an HD-DVD player in total, instead of being only half.
Are you considering buying a Blu-ray player and if so, does the promise of the PS3 make you more or less inclined to buy a standalone player?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lorcan @ Apr 27th 2006 5:01PM
I'll be buying a dedicated Blu-ray in the longer term once they become more common and much cheaper, but definitely, PS3 will be my first. It's also supporting 1080p, and HDMI 1.3 - things many first players won't have. And of course, it's a powerful new games system, which is a nice bonus ;) Apparently you'll even be able to watch a movie and play games simultaneously on two different displays, thanks to the dual-video-out, which might solve some headaches with people fighting over what to use the box for!
nemi @ Apr 27th 2006 5:05PM
Q. Why would anyone buy a Blu-ray player? (other than the PS3)
A. Because it may have terrible quality.
I remember back to PS2 launch days. The DVD playback quality was slated in Hi-Fi magazines compared to (good) stand-alone players.
The same may hold for PS3.
Now people are going to tell you that the movies are digital and how can any player make them look better or worse than they are authored at. Well these are the same people who well tell you there is no benifit from a good upconverting DVD player. So go read an explanation of up conversion and all the problems that happen with non-native frame rates, interlacing methods and resolutions. The upconversion issue will become a moot point but all the other porblems will be hanging around. I know that in most house-holds holds the Ps3 will be downsampleing the 1080p source to 720p or 1080i. This will bring it's own bucket of issues such as Aliasing artifacts (bad).
The only saving grace for the PS3 is that it's harddrive and network connection allows for playback software updates. Let's hope that Sony do strive to improve any playback quality or bug issues.
Ben Drawbaugh @ Apr 27th 2006 5:11PM
Come on Richard this is an easy one.
Picture quality and the biggest of all.
Jack of all trades, master of none.
No thanks, I will take the stand alone player. The only reason I haven't pre-ordered one is because I am hopeing that someone beats Samsung out of the gate.
Richard Lawler @ Apr 27th 2006 5:14PM
But how do we know the PS3 will be less of a Blu-ray player than the BDP-S1?
I mean it makes sense and all, and given their track record it's certainly to be expected, but what if it is actually decent?
Andrew @ Apr 27th 2006 5:26PM
Why would anyone buy a Blue-Ray player? I don't know, maybe because the majority of the studios are supporting BR. Having attended CES this year, Blue-Ray was by far the more popular format.
cckrobinson @ Apr 27th 2006 5:34PM
Q. Why would anyone buy a Blu-ray player? (other than the PS3)
Besides the likely quality drop, the majority of the big box customers won't know any better. My Dad won't have a clue what a PS3 is let alone that it has a built in Blu-ray drive. He'll walk into Best Buy, go to the DVD player section, and buy a stand alone player. If Best Buy had the PS3 set up next to the BDP-S1 then he would more than likely buy the cheapest one. I highly doubt you will find them even remotely close to each other in the store since BB would rather sell my Dad a BDP-S1 since he will never ever buy any games for his PS3.
bill p @ Apr 27th 2006 6:09PM
I will eventually buy myself some sort of high-def, next-gen, shiny disc movie player but, like everyone else, I think it sucks that right out of the gate I'll have to pick between two incompatible formats (does anyone remember the original DIVX idea?)
So my inital plan (budget notwithstanding) is to buy the PS3 (as much for the Blu-ray player as for the gaming machine) and buy a stand-alone HD-DVD player.
That way, I'll be pretty much covered - as I believe HD-DVD will eventually win out. Ever since the VHS/Beta debacle, Sony has continually tried to sell the world on their own proprietary formats (MiniDisc, ATRAC3, Memory Stick, UMD, etc.) and continually done themselves harm. So, if (when) Blu-ray loses out to HD-DVD, I'll still be ok, as Sony has committed to games in the Blu-ray format for the PS3.
If HD-DVD does lose to Blu-ray I'll guess I'll take a loss on craigslist.
because I want the game machine.
Joe Maki @ Apr 27th 2006 6:54PM
Your general CE consumer is not going to buy a gaming consule to watch DVDs. Even if it is cheaper. Gamers will snatch one up, but this is really a nitch market in world of consumer electonics. If Blu-ray sucess is dependent on the PS3, it's "game over"
Erik Childs @ Apr 27th 2006 7:40PM
conspiracy theory:
how do we know the BDP-S1 isn't the PS3??@! maybe everything's in there, but the controllers are still being designed and won't be released until the fall.
would explain the thousand bucks for the darn thing.
Ed @ Apr 27th 2006 7:47PM
Why not a PS3--
1. After the expected bundling of useless accessories and unwanted games, the system will cost $700
2. By the time a PS3 is actually out, BD players will be $500 or less.
Kevin M. @ Apr 27th 2006 7:51PM
I'm getting REALLY annoyed at the anti-Blu-Rayism sprinkled in your posts. We KNOW it's $1000. Get over it. HD-DVD is only priced so low because of Toshiba's desperation. In this case, you get what you pay for.
On topic, the reason I would want a stand alone is so I don't have to deal with the PS3 controller (rather have a traditional remote) and a player DESIGNED to do the specific function. PS2s are not great devices for playing DVDs. They load INCREDIBLY slow and don't have a great interface for DVD-watching. Plus, a stand alone looks nicer.
Jake @ Apr 27th 2006 8:39PM
I'll be going with HD-DVD and a PS3, thank you. For the combined cost, it'll be cheaper than the stand alone BR players! Of course, it'll probably cost $100 to get a remote control module for the PS3, like it originally did for the PS2...
Oh, and Kevin M. (#11 right now)... its, um, THEIR BLOG. They can be anti-whateverthehell they want. ;-)
derrick @ Apr 27th 2006 9:16PM
Even though there is a sizable market for game consoles, every day Joe Blow will be buying a stand alone player(if any) IMO most people will be satisfied with their current generation player and large decent display.
Ken @ Apr 28th 2006 1:02AM
Until I see the video and hear the sound quality of the PS3, I will not make any judgement as to why the stand alone is $1000 and the PS3 will be $400, 500, 600.
The PS2 was certainly not a great DVD player (not to mention the fact you would burn the poor thing out).
Doug Coleman @ Apr 28th 2006 1:44AM
I will buy a PS3 to check out the format, as will many others, and then decide whether or not to invest further in a dedicated Blu-ray player. At present I use a Linn SC universal disc player, which plays all disc formats superbly (Stereophile A list). I'll be looking for a high end audiophile company to, ultimately, make a universal disk type player which can handle Blu-ray discs.
Deezul @ Apr 28th 2006 8:08AM
#11 - Toshiba desparate? Most industry analysts agree if HD DVD fails, it's a blimp on Toshiba's earnings. If Blu-Ray/PS3 fails, Sony is in a world of hurt. Their entire back movie catalog, including the recent MGM purchase, would be worthless on Blu-Ray. They'd be paying fees to Toshiba to churn out HD DVD versions. PS2 is what has brought in most of Sony's money the past few years, not the movie side of the CE side.
Anti-BluRayism? No, just facts.
Ben Hobbs @ Apr 28th 2006 8:29AM
What I don't understand is how the PS3 is about 15% of the size of the first Blu-Ray players, apparently will sell for 1/3 the price, include a HDD etc... and has an uber powerful console tucked inside as well.
Matt @ Apr 28th 2006 8:47AM
3 reasons:
1. Combo player would play back Universal Studios movies in HD-DVD mode.
2. You've got a Blu-Ray player in your laptop.
3. Writable Disc feature. PS3 won't allow archiving HD movies from a PVR (assuming Hollywood allows this)
Jason @ Apr 28th 2006 9:26AM
Kevin M: Come on man... this post isn't ANTI Blu-Ray... get over it... they are asking a realistic question... please... go out and hug and kiss Sonys butt a little more... maybe that will make you feel better.
If you ask me I think HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are going to be failures... who wants to go out an start buying movies for 29 bucks just for a little step up in quality. If you are that crazy about how things look you probably already have a decent upscaling DVD player and the real difference is going to be hard to justify. When are we going to get on demand HD content of whatever we want! Where is FiOS from Verizon and when can we start junking this "media" for something that is truely "next gen" and doesn't require us to run out and buy discs with movies on them.
Brenden @ Apr 28th 2006 9:33AM
From what i can tell, the reason PS3's blu-ray is cheaper than the stand alone is because most if not all of the video processing on the PS3 will be done through the cell processor and software. The stand alone you are getting actual 'specialized' chips that are doing the work.
So simply, its software vs. hardware.
I'm a gamer, so i'm just going with the PS3.
Walkin @ Apr 28th 2006 10:11AM
The only reason I'm getting one is because it's in the PS3.
Terrence @ Apr 28th 2006 11:49AM
I agree with the article. I am buying the PS3 specifically because of Blue Ray. Why purchases a BR Player on its own when I can having the gaming plus for half the price? BR at its worse will probably be better than an upscaled DVD player and I'm getting it for half the price. Its a no brainer. And when HD DVD or BR drop than I'll get a stand alone.
Joakim @ Apr 28th 2006 3:45PM
I'm surprised som many people take this question really seriously. Do you seriously agree that price is the only issue and that brand, noise level, build quality and most of all design is of no importance. It obviously is for evry other product on the market. Why else would anyone buy anything other than $99 Korean compact stereos with built in TV and VCR?
Gary Phillips @ Apr 28th 2006 4:54PM
I will be getting the hd dvd add-on for the 360. I have seen it handle 1080I hd content and if it can handle HD DVD movies as well as some of the downloaded live content then it will be a $100 dollars I am willing to risk losing, whatever format comes out ahead. If as I suspect someone ultimately comes up with a dual format device and the formats coexist then I will get that one down the road. All formats being equal to the consumer HD DVD's manufacturing cost advantage would likely win the day. Betamax had a theoretical advantage over VHS but the consumer couldnt tell the difference. VHS had a price advantage. See what I am getting at.
Bryan @ May 1st 2006 1:46PM
I am not interested in buying a BluRay player or a PS3.....But I might be tempted to buy a BluRay player, and a PS3??? Combining the two is a smooth move. Its a trojan horse. Once the player is in my house. I will buy movies for it. I wont buy movies I already own, but I will get new ones, or movies I have yet to buy for DVD. At the same time, there may be some amzing games that are worth a look along the way. Is there a better way to show off a new HDTV, than smooth graphics and HD movies??
Ben Hobbs @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:36PM
#20 "From what i can tell, the reason PS3's blu-ray is cheaper than the stand alone is because most if not all of the video processing on the PS3 will be done through the cell processor and software. The stand alone you are getting actual 'specialized' chips that are doing the work."
If thats the case and IF the PS3 is a competent enough blu-ray player then why simply not base the standalone players along the same concept (i.e the cell processor). lose the gaming parts and hard drive etc.... and voila - A Blu-Ray player that costs less to make and is considerably smaller.
See... thats where it just doesn't make sense, if the PS3 can handle blu-ray easily and proficiently why not use a stripped down model as the base for the blu-ray standalone platform. Whats the use of "specialized chips" if they don't improve anything and just make the unit more expensive?