LG's BD300 Netflix / Blu-ray deck ships on October 10 for $349
[Thanks, Joshua]
[Thanks, Joshua]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Byrdman @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:14PM
This could be what gets me a blu-ray player (other than in my computer). Being a profile 2.0 player with the option for netflix downloads makes this player worth it in every way.
DEEZNUTZ @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:16AM
Netflix DL's in HD would be a deal sealer.
Jimmy @ Oct 3rd 2008 4:24PM
Currently Netflix does not offer HD but plans to soon in the future. LG has said that this will support that also. So... jump in.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:35AM
The LG BH 200 shows us that this ought to have been a masterpiece of a dual format deck, which was the original intention with this model.
It's a damned shame they switched to single format only when there are so many inexpensive HD DVD movies out there to be had - and a bit of a surprise they'd cut their own noses off like that when so many HD DVD owners would be likely to be interested in an excellent dual player.
Still, the BH 200 will keep me (and those who have discovered it's charms) happy for a long time yet.
All it needed was a firmware update to become the best player out there and it got it this year.
I wonder if this BD 300 is so easy to hack for multi-region SD DVD & multi-region Blu-ray?
No fuss, no hardware required just a good old remote code.
As it ought to be - and isn't on any other Blu-ray player.
squiggleslash @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:30AM
Funny thing is that it wouldn't take much (comparatively speaking) to make Netflix et al compatible with HD DVD systems. It'd just be a matter of shipping a disk (which could be a 3X DVD, it's not going to have much content and certainly will not need spinning at 3X) with a basic Advanced Content stub that does nothing other than connect to an AC server at Netflix. Everything's built in to the HD DVD spec to make this possible.
The "awkward" part is setting up the server. It would have been a nice parting gift by Toshiba, Microsoft, et al to actually put in place turnkey ways of setting up such servers so it was easy for online content providers to support the million or so people with HD DVD players out there, but, alas...
phlavor @ Oct 3rd 2008 3:13PM
Will this upscale normal DVDs?
phlavor @ Oct 3rd 2008 3:19PM
Found my answer. It does upscale to 1080p
Alex @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:59PM
what is it with hardware - ESPECIALLY BD - these days where every friggin piece of equipment is now "in the future a firmware update will allow it to support ___________ ".
Damned BluRay stuff is always "just wait wait wait, it WILL be great!"
squiggleslash @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:18PM
Because Blu-ray wasn't meant to be like this.
They created a spec some time ago. It was essentially (functionally, at any rate) DVD in high resolution. I believe Java was the only serious enhancement. Then the DVD Forum said "Wait, we think the future of media looks like..." and described a spec which presumed that, y'know, people have this Interweb thingie, and at some point would expect lots of stuff to come via it.
The BDA said "Nah"
The DVD Forum said "Uh-uh"
The BDA said "No way"
The DVD Forum said "Yes way"
Ok, you get the idea. The DVD Forum then announced HD DVD.
The BDA continued with the theme. Initially this was because of a number of companies fearing a schism who tried to get the two sides together. The BDA accepted that VC-1 and H.264 might be good ideas and included it. But they rejected Advanced Content seeing it as a fancy web browser and largely ignoring what it was there for.
At this point, the two formats started to actually take a real form. Toshiba produced the first HD DVD player, followed shortly by someone else producing the first Blu-ray player. HD DVD was the funky one that hooked up to the Internet, whereas Blu-ray kinda looked like an expensive DVD system.
And that was the beginning of the end. While not really understanding what the network connectivity aspect of HD DVD was, the BDA recognized that Blu-ray was well behind HD DVD in terms of features.
So Profile 1.1 came along, allowing Blu-ray to have discs that were just as feature filled as HD DVD discs. The critical feature was PIP. Meanwhile the BDA decided to do something about Internet connectivity, and while still not "getting it", it announced Profile 2.0, allowing for external connectivity of some sort and some storage of media online.
Essentially, the initial version of Blu-ray sucked. Blu-ray's been playing catch-up with HD DVD ever since, even now, well after the format war has ended. Because this catch-up occurred after Blu-ray players started being made, and with plenty of advance warning as to the features that'll be implemented, we're still looking at firmware updates. Once the format's finished, you'll see less firmware updates.
All of this could have been avoided if WHV hadn't screwed up on January and backed the unfinished, put together by imbeciles who still don't understand why they're adding the features they're adding, format.
Jeffshome @ Oct 10th 2008 11:19PM
I pre-ordered the LG BD300 but received notice from CC it's not coming:
This email is to notify you of a delay in your order. The manufacturer has not released this product to Circuit City by the date that was specified, so we are unable to fulfill your order at this time.
Original Release Date: 10/10/2008
We will keep your pre-order open for the next 30 days and ship your item when we receive it. You will not be charged for this item until it ships.
If you would like to cancel your order click here.
James @ Oct 13th 2008 5:39PM
Just an FYI. I just got off the phone with LG, and the rep told me that the BD-300 has already been released state-side. I told him that it, in fact, had *not* been released, and cited the three major retailers--Amazon, Best Buy, and Circuit City--who have yet to receive shipments, and who still have no knowledge of a release date. I also informed LG that Netflix customer service says that they also have no release date scheduled. The rep put me on hold for a bit, and came back to tell me that he had checked "with another department," and they told him that they've no idea why shipments had not gone out. So, LG is insisting that the BD-300 has hit the street.
Something's fishy here--and it smells pretty bad. At any rate, I bought a new Sony Blu-Ray this past weekend, and will stream my Netflix through X-Box come November. Sorry, LG, but you guys lost a sale.