http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/ Engadget HD Comments for http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 11:47AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 2:24PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 11:53AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 12:57PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 1:13PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
It's not quite as pointless a feature as it was in HD DVD as the download capacity is far greater, but it's still pretty low on the list of things you should be looking for in a player.]]>May 2nd 2008 1:58PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 3:02PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
I don’t even care much about surround sound much less whether its this codec or that. I am use a high end 2 channel system with good speakers and a nice 46 inch flat panel and it all looks and its all good to me. The profile 2.0 features I am not getting with a 1.1 player are gimmicks I could care less about. Just give me a kick ass picture and I am happy.

I prefer a quality 2 channel system with top notch speakers over a lesser 5 plus channel system with all the latest codecs and bells and whistles. Which means I won’t be upgrading that until I can afford to spend several grand on an amp and speakers. So all the features I am supposedly missing by not having a 2.0 player would go unused anyway.

So while everyone else is waiting for this spec or that profile I am having a blast watching Blu-ray movies. And isn’t that what this is all supposed to be about? This stuff always devolves into silly fanboy pissing contests about who has the latest codecs.
]]>May 2nd 2008 3:13PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/What would be the point in going BR if you weren't, I don't understand! Why do you want to settle for second best or only half the package??You definitely should just stick with DVD.
Sure you might have a pretty picture, but the full HD experience is far more than that, and surround HD audio ROCKS!!
]]>May 2nd 2008 10:02PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/What would be the point in going BR if you weren't, I don't understand! Why do you want to settle for second best or only half the package??!"

I've been around long enough to know marketing BS when I see it and that is what all the breathless gushing over the coming of profile 2.0 looks like to me. I would rather a manufacturer just leave the gimmicks aside and focus on giving me a quality picture and a good UI. I could care less about connecting to some crappy movie portal thrown together by some marketing department to sell you more stuff or some stupid java game rushed out the door to pad the special features. I don't want to chat with people I don't know about a movie while I am watching it. And why should I care about surround sound codecs if I am not willing to shell out thousands of dollars for new system to listen them on.

Its very easy to get lost in the spec game and lose focus that the main reason for owning a disc player is to actually watch movies and TV shows.

That is why we don't care. Why is this such a problem?]]>May 3rd 2008 1:23AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 3rd 2008 7:51AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
New audio codecs are not gimmicks but they don't matter to me because my system is perfect for listening to music and that is 90% of what it gets used for.]]>May 3rd 2008 10:03AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
"I've been around long enough to know marketing BS".........................How come you gut sucked into BR then??]]>May 3rd 2008 9:39PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/2. when I do get a standalone player it needs to be 2.0 compliant and have a RS232 port on the back which puts it way out of my budget for now.]]>May 2nd 2008 11:58AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
Why they build all this capability into the PS3 and not include an IR input is beyond me. Also, I'm not crazy about the design, if I were to simply use it as a movie player, and place it into my entertainment rack. It looks more like a toy.

If I were to ever get a blu-ray player, I think I could easily hold out until a decent, affordable stand alone unit is available that supports the 2.0 specification.]]>May 2nd 2008 10:35PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
Consoles are sold out all around the place, manufacturers were caught off guard by the HD DVD withdrawl, then they were also introducing new models for this summer, so they didn't have enough present production to match the increased demand. and the US Dollar went down, so prices didnt stay as low as christmas sales.

Personally, most of the time i couldn't care less about internet or a few other profile 2.0 BD standard features.

best thing is to watch the movie. also, most people know the best 2.0 player is PS3. which is future proof! so if you want this right now. get the ps3.

for second players, the 1.1 or 1.0 consoles are just fine.]]>May 2nd 2008 11:58AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
I'm rather shocked that this post didn't even mention the PS3 in passing. Obviously, if you want a player right now, that's the one to get.]]>May 2nd 2008 7:41PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
Otherwise I agree - I paid $295 for my BD-1400 last December & can't find it right now anywhere below $399. Yeah - it's clear who won the format war. Hint, it's not the consumer.]]>May 2nd 2008 12:01PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 1:06PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 12:06PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/There are plenty of good deals out there, you just have to look.

This week again, Fry's electronics is having a special sale of pretty good BR titles at $14.99, which is pretty much a Bogo.]]>May 2nd 2008 12:45PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 1:09PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 1:47PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 3:33PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 5:24PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
Used to happen like clockwork, every time HD DVD had a hot title. First one ever was opposite Transformers.]]>May 2nd 2008 6:43PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 12:22PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
Blu-ray is still behind where HD DVD was two years ago. In terms of interactive and internet capabilities, even the first HD-A1 HD DVD player beats the pants off every current Blu-ray player except the PS3, and the PS3 isn't even being considered by most of the potential market.

Congrats, Blu-ray - you won, but the failings of your format are coming to light.

For the record, I hope Blu-ray pulls it together, but I wanted to take the time to say "told you so" as a spurned HD DVD fanboy. (I'm dual-format now)]]>May 2nd 2008 12:23PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 5:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
Spoken like a person that doesn't even own one of these piece of crap BD-J machines. Anything needing Java to operate will fail and crash. These machine are like mini pc's. Java is the biggest enemy of pc's. Java will be the reason BD fails. Poeple what to watch a movie, not five loading screens that lockup.

As for HD audio and 2.0. Remember most people buy 720 flat panel TV's. Which means they don't surround, and can't even tell what 1080p looks like. Upscaling a DVD to 720 will almost look like 1080p downscaled to 720. Thus other reason why they just don't care about BD.]]>May 3rd 2008 10:00AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
I don't know why you're so anti Java. Java is a fundamental way to abstract programs from the underlying hardware which is why you will find it running anywhere from cellphones all the way up to big iron. Companies like it because it is write once, run anywhere. BD-J happens to be a version of J2ME running a multimedia profile called GEM with some extensions. GEM is an industry standard for interactive applications in digital set top boxes.

Naturally a device can have a duff or underpowered Java implementation, but that's the fault of the manufacturer, not the spec. Blame the manufacturer if their player runs like mollases. I'd add that some HD DVD players were also noted for their slowness which is not surprising considering HDi is an interpreted runtime based on JavaScript.

Players like the PS3 and BD30 show BD-J works great when its implemented properly.]]>May 3rd 2008 11:08AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 12:28PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
The smart buyers out there who are ready to pull the trigger on Blu Ray will get a PS3. Even if they don't care much for Profile 2.0, it's still the fastest and most feature packed Blu Ray player for the price, by far, and updates itself with new firmware as needed. It's truly a no-brainer.]]>May 2nd 2008 12:28PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/HD DVD may be on the ocean floor, but the blu ship now has a fairly noticeable list to starboard and unless something dramatic happens very shortly, the life rafts are about to be launched.]]>May 2nd 2008 10:16PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
If they weren't smart enough to buy full featured, less expensive players the first time (when they were called HD-DVD), what the hell makes you think they're smart enough to know the difference now?

I think it's going just like everyone thought it would. Sony wins the format battle, loses the war by a blowout because IT'S SONY.

Considering the fact that most people need a home equity line just to buy in to the tech in the first place, and the fact that the home market is further in the toilet than Amy Winehouse after a night of hard partying, maybe Sony should take on the American housing market crisis. Then, eHD would have another war to report on, Sony could offer BOGO EquityLines and maybe Jose Canseco won't have to walk away from his mansion after all.]]>May 2nd 2008 12:32PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 12:38PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 12:57PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 1:58PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
I've been right so far with my predictions (as opposed to Truth Tellers predictions) so bear with me. Blu-ray's test will be 2008 holiday and 2009 . If the magic doesn't happen then, start worrying....]]>May 2nd 2008 12:36PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 5:24PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 12:42PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 12:48PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 1:10PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 1:35PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
All you BR fanboys got exactly what you wished for, keep on dreaming.]]>May 2nd 2008 12:50PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 10:22PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
Speak for yourself Ben. All of the HD DVD supporters knew this would happen, while all of the Blu-ray fans continued to blindly worship their blue god.]]>May 2nd 2008 1:04PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/May 2nd 2008 1:09PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
That said, I am a Sony fan boi of staggering proportions, so I am far from objective. (Still waiting for the big SACD comeback of 2007...errr 2008...uhhh,,,2009?)]]>May 2nd 2008 1:10PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/02/who-in-their-right-mind-would-buy-a-blu-ray-player-right-now/
Discuss.]]>May 2nd 2008 1:12PM