One-and-Only PS3 as Blu-Ray Player Thread - Page 557

YA, I don’t buy extended War's unless its a system that is prone to failure. After my first Onkyo 805 blew, I bought the extended War for it. I would buy one on a PS3 now after reading things about it, especially if you fold. At work, I buy Dell's 3 year 24 hour on site War on every PC and we use it ALL the time. But on things like say a DVD player or even a TV, I wont. I wouldnt buy an extended War on a Honda but If for some really dumb reason I decided to buy a VW I sure as hell would.

Well I did my own research on the PS3 reliability thing, and I found this interesting test than was conducted. Here is the link:

http://www.ps3vault.com/how-to-kill-a-ps3-console-1975

I think I'll take my chances after seeing this!

Umm, I've been folding with my launch 60G 24/7 for over a year as well as playing games & Blu-Ray movies every week & it's almost never shut off & I've had zero problems!

Oh & my VW Beetle engined car will kick a Hondas butt!!

Home Theater magazine came yesterday - May editiion and they still rate the PS3 as the best Blu-Ray player on the market - mostly due to the upgrading of the firmware and the reliability and short startup times and the video and audio performance.

Yes, but then we already knew that.

LOL no they make up the money they lose on repairs with the high percentage of people that never need to redeem the warranty.

i put in a regular dvd today and once i kicked on the upscaler, the picture is really really amazing for a dvd

Thanks to everyone for their comments so far;

- I'm watching Bluray movies (James Bond, actually), and will also play the occasional game ( I haven't tried yet with my PJ),

- I've manually ticked all resolutions (480, 720, 1080i, 1080p), whereupon it will flick off 1080p and go to a lower resolution - for a few, happy seconds, I can see "true HD", then the PS3 continues to loop through various resolutions until I give up and de-select 1080p. It does the same thing in 'auto' setting,

- Yes, I'm using a device similar to the one identified by 'Rfisher' - but only because I've been "forced" to b/c of my existing prewire. When I started, HDMI wasn't widely available. Now 1080p is within reach and I'd like to use what I've built. I've also got Cat6 in the wall, and may try to use that.

All these devices claim to be HDCP compliant, but I get the distinct impression that this protocol is a bit flaky as it is (based on the many threads I've read), and with these new HDMI over Cat5e devices, it's even more shaky. BTW, the device takes the HDMI signal and pushes it over 2 Cat5e, and converts it back to HDMI (sender and received arrangement)

I have to admit, I used a 'bargin' device, and this may also be an issue. I'm going to try a 'brand name' one (at 4x the cost) this week and see if it helps.

- Yes I could just get another HDMI cord and pull it straight up to the PJ, but I'd like that to be a last resort. I've just finished my development and it would hurt to then staple up a cord on the wall just when it was all done

Thanks
Kevin

I've also just updated the firmware on my PS3, so I'll see if that helps.

Kevin

As for the converter on the Cat-5 issue. Some converters are (VERY) picky on the type of cable used. Some require shielded cat5e cable. In my field. I have found the converter to not even work on cat 6 because of the specifications of the converter I guess.

I usually use Gefen products. When I use the shielded cat 5e I have never had an issue.

I only think about warranties if the item costs over $1,000.00...

Same here, generally. I typically only get warranties on TVs and laptops.

Brandon

Yes, that's exactly the point. On average, people will spend more on the warranty than they would spend on repairs. That's how warranty companies make money...and that's why extended warranties are never worth it.


Yes. The same logic applies. People may try to convince you that auto and health are different, because the downside (that is, money you might have to pay out) has no effective limit...but mathematically, the same thing applies. It's not worth it.

But those arguments certainly have no basis when we're talking about insuring a game console. Whatever the warranty company charges, you can bet that the true "value" of the warranty is much lower than they want you to pay.

Yes, these cables are shielded - it was a commercial 'bundled' cable with two cat5, 2 cat 6, and some other stuff as well (just can't recall it all right now), professionally installed.

For interest's sake, I also tried using two computer ethernet cables (cat5e) to compare with what I had in the wall. The result looked like a 1970's over the air broadcast (snow and static). At least the built-in gives a nice, clear image, but it looks like the HDCP handshake isn't working properly (despite the devices being "HDCP compliant").

I'm planning to test a set of MUX 500400 VideoEase HDMI extenders next. I have a bit more hope now that at least the in-wall will work, I'll just have to spring for the higher cost.

BTW, could there be any issues with the PS3 trying to push 24fps or the 'deep color' option? Can I turn these options off to see if that could the problem? Any thoughts?

Thanks
Kevin

24fps / 24Hz should be less "signal" than 60fps/60Hz, or even 30, and therefore easier.

the way i see it is if a warranty makes you feel better, do it...

That's not how digital works. There's no 'signal' with HDMI.
If all the connections are digital then anything should work properly.

I didn't know of any CAT cable that was HDCP compliant.

Kdub - If the image is getting snow, then you don't have a digital connection. And there's no way that's HDCP compliant.

Indeed. If people can pay a $1,000 premium for lossless sound or 24hz frame rate they can pay $60 for an extended warranty if it suits them

Brandon

There's also bandwidth with digital - the amount of information being pushed through at once. A 1080p 60Hz signal is sending more information than a 1080p 30Hz signal. 2x as much, because there are 2x as many frames being sent. Not to mention audio. And possible signal degradation over long runs.

And I have seen picture with lots of snow on a HDMI/DVI cable. Picture didn't stay very long, but would come in and out. The cable had gone bad.

I've decided that decent, easily upgradable standalone Blu-Ray players are not going to hit my "perfect" price point ($199) any time soon. I refuse to buy a second-rate player, but I also refuse to spend $400+ for what amounts to a glorified DVD player, which I can buy at the local Wal-Mart for $29. Yes, I know the video quality is a lot better, but $400 for a movie player is ridiculous (in my opinion).

I've been absolutely shocked at how stagnant manufacturers have kept the price now that they've won the war. Its like they've won and are totally fine with shafting the consumer on price, keeping Blu-Ray as a highly marginal and fringe product, when it could be a runaway success at a better price point. Very short-sighted!

Note: I don't care about video games at all. I just want a good Blu-Ray player that is reasonably priced, easily upgradable via the internet, and provides good video quality and performance. The PS3 seems like the most bang for the buck right now, but I am still scared off by the price.

I have a $50 gift card to Amazon right now, and would therefore gladly pay $250, *maybe* even $300 for a PS3 (including the Blu-Ray Remote Control). Does anyone know what the timeline for a price cut on the PS3 would be? Its been out for a while now, yet as far as I can tell hasn't seen a price cut.

Thanks for any insights.

I would say not anytime soon. At the very soonest around the holiday season, but I wouldn't bet on it. It's already seen two price cuts (sort of), so I don't imagine another one will come until the holidays at the earliest. That's my speculation but so far my instincts have been pretty good on price cuts.

Brandon

I just updated my firmware, but I can't find the mosquito noise filter anywhere. I looked in all the menus including the AV menu while a BluRay disc was playing.

Is this option only for SD DVDs? I don't have any to try out.

One more question, what's the general consensus on this filter, good or bad?

MNR is only for SD DVDs.

It is effective and good for DVD which are badly encoded with sharp edges. It does not make any difference on realy good encoded DVDs.

Have a look at the credits at the end of a movie. You can see it there most obviously.

Protheus

Thanks Protheus!


I see it totally different than you.

I remember when VCRs cost $500.

I remember when good SD DVD players cost $700.

Just because you can find a VCR or DVD player totay for $29 doesn't bring down the value of a BluRay player.

I find $400 for the PS3 to be an incredible deal, it's cheap as hell IMO.
I would pay $700 for it if it cost that much, cause it's a lot better than the VCR or SD DVD player that I paid as much for in the past (inflation factored in).

And that's only speaking about the BluRay portion of the PS3, once you factor in the fact that it's a top notch video gaming console, you could double the price again and it would still be worth it.

I don't really see your point. All technology starts off as prohibitively expensive. I remember when plasma televisions cost $10,000 or more. This wasn't reasonable for the average person at the time, and now the prices have dropped to the point where I have purchased one for significantly less than that!

Its basic economics. Sure, DVD players once cost $700, but they didn't truly catch on until they dropped below $200. There simply aren't enough people in the world willing to pay such a high price for a movie player!


Sure it does. For the average person, they won't pay over 10 times as much money for something that they don't view as 10 times better. Thats the situation I am in. I have seen both, and Blu-Ray is clearly significantly better than DVD, and I am totally itching to get a good Blu-Ray player. But *TO ME*, $400 is simply too much.

Clearly, its not the same situation for you, and thats fine. You must just be a bit more of an early-adopter than me.


Now you're just being crazy Again, I don't care about the game console part at all. And there are some decent standalone players for $400 right now. If the PS3 were $700 or more, I absolutely *GUARANTEE* that tons of people would be buying standalone players instead. I know that I would!

I will buy the first "top notch" player from a *good* brand (Panasonic or Sony are the only two I trust that make BD players) that drops below that $250 price point on Amazon.

Thanks for the feedback. I understand where you are coming from. You clearly have a higher tolerance for the price point of the PS3 than do I. You also clearly care about the game console portion as a good "value add" where as I wish it wasn't there at all, to be honest.

I just want a good, reliable way to watch HD movies on my 1080p plasma, since I am totally unsatisfied with what I get from DVD and Comcast.

So a BD player is a bit more than just a "glorified DVD player," then, eh?

I know where you're coming from. When the writing went up on the wall and I knew I'd need a BD player going forward, the prices made me choke also. After all, my Toshiba A2 really was priced like a glorified DVD player!

Ultimately, I realized that I would benefit from the PS3's media center capabilities, that I would enjoy occcasional games, that I did like the idea of built-in wi-fi with Internet connectivity, and relative future-proofness -- and that I could get one for $300 via the SonyStyle credit card offer -- it didn't seem all that outrageous any more.

If there had been a stand-alone player that could match it as a BD player alone at that price, I'd have bought it, particularly if it supported multiple simultaneous digital/analog output and IR remote, but there wasn't. Still isn't. So it wasn't a hard decision at all, in the end.

Of course, of course it is Still, the gap in price is astonishing!


I think this is what is most frustrating of all. HD-DVD players have been priced at an acceptable level for a very long time now, and it seems to be that the HD-DVD people had a lot more respect for consumers than the BD people.


See, I already have a Mac Mini hooked up to my television, which already acts as an upconverting DVD player and media center. If I can rent HD movies from the iTunes store with it, I wouldn't be in the market for a Blu-Ray player until they dropped in price to $100 or less, to be honest! So, all the bonuses on the PS3 really don't mean all that much to me... And I don't want to open yet another credit card just to save $100!

Still, I see your points. A PS3 at $300 would be *really* hard to resist...

He's not being crazy, you guys just have different value perceptions for this equipment. The reality is the time it will take BD to become affordable to the masses will still have been quicker than VCRs, DVD players and CD players. There is nothing unreasonable about BD pricing. If you're not willing to pay over a certain threshhold you're entitled to that, but we are not being "ripped off" nor is i a "sham."


And this is where the rubber meets the road. You're completely ignoring the fact that HD DVD players were priced below cost because it was facing leverage issues in the market. It has absolutely nothing to do with respect for consumers, which is crazy to assume. It is completely unreasonable to compare prices from an economically feasible business model with long-term success in mind to prices from one that could not have survived in the long term and was pricing their players below cost in order to leverage market share. Now I agree that nothing about BD is cheap or inexpensive, but it's a decent price compared to prior technology progression cycles and it's not a ripoff when HD DVD prices are put into perspective.

Brandon

try this on for size. my parents still have our original atari 2600 system packed in original box with manuals and receipt. $279.99+tax

their first vcr with that new-fangeled wireless remote-$1299.00+tax. and the deal breaker for my dad on that was half off of a year membership at the local video rental store, 13 miles away! price of membership-$69, after discount. with that membership, rentals were $8 ea.

my first vcr, which i bought 2 years after them, had a wired remote and cost $699. don't even get me started on all the laserdisc special editions box sets at about $125 apiece! all this was when wages were about $5.00 hr.

believe me, i'm not braggin' here. it's just that the ps3 seems like an unbelievable bargain considering quality of picture and sound and gaming capabilities relative to the cost-of-living adjustment from the late 70's and early 80's. at these prices, you can't afford NOT to buy new equipment!

at least this is what i tell my wife every time i bring home a new a/v component.

Ironically, this is true for quite a few things, like major appliances...