First BD purchase: "Slim" PS3 vs. new Sony Network Blu-ray Player BDP-N460?
From a quick read of the last dozen or so pages of this thread, I gather than many agree that the PS3 is a superior choice over most stand-alone players for its extensive built-in feature set (not to mention the included gaming platform!). But does Sony's new "network-enabled" BDP-N460 player help to level the field a bit, or are the file-serving and other CPU-esque attributes of the PS3 still trumping a dedicated player's comparatively limited feature set, in your opinion?
This would be my first BD player purchase (first of, eventually two). I also currently have an XBox Elite and Netflix, but rarely is there anything worth watching on Netflix' streaming offerings anyway. So, I'm, leaning toward the PS3 for its cool GUI and its apparent file-serving features. Plus, even though I have an XBox, it would be fun to play some old PS2 games (if they're even compatible, which I've heard they're not?) or buy a PS3 game or two now and again.
But the look and silence (are stand-alones, in fact quieter than the "slim" PS3?) of stand-alone players also appeal to me. Built-in IR is also nice. Start-up time is also high on the list--is the PS3 still beating Sony's stand-alones in start-up time as well? Although the new, slimmed-down PS3 is slightly more "component-like" in its appearance, it's still hard to resist the sleek cosmetics of a stand-alone player. Though I'm not sure I would have any use for any of the PS3's wireless capabilities, I'm still deciding whether a PS3 as a BD player is the right box for me, in light of the N460's introduction.
Any more comments to push me one way or the other would be most appreciated. Actually, one feature that would push me to decide, is if I could browse the web semi-comfortably using a PS3. Is the PS3's browser tolerable for quick Google/IMDB kinda lookups? There's a BT-enabled PS3 keyboard available for it as well, right? I'll probably eventually end up with both. I'll likely get a slim PS3 for the bedroom (where the main HT set-up is) right now, and a shiny new "network" Sony BDP-N460 stand-alone player for the living room HT set-up later. Thanks for any replies!
POWER:
Power usage comparison between "slim" PS3 and Sony BDP-S360/S560 stand-alone players?
Unfortunately, many CE manufacturers no longer identify Wattage consumption of their products. Specifications only show required voltage. I would assume that a PS3, even a slim one, would likely burn more Watts than a stand-alone player. Anyone have any idea on the Wattage used by a slim PS3 vs. a standard player such as a BDP-S360?