Everyone has seemingly jumped on the Blu-ray bandwagon recently, proclaiming it the unofficial winner of the high definition format war between itself and HD DVD. People have also suggested that the PlayStation 3 - not a stand-alone Blu-ray player - is the better machine. Recent reports have proved this belief to be true.
It could be possible that early adopters of the Blu-ray format (Stand alone players) may have received the short end of the stick, while on the other hand; PS3 owners are in the presence of possibly the best Blu-ray player on the market as it is upgradable.
Through typical PS3 firmware updates, the PS3 is able to upgrade to the new features from the new “Profile 2.0” coming later in the year. This allows for the user to access downloadable content ranging from feature films, trailers, ringtones, and more. Most stand-alone players, and, more importantly the earlier ones, will not be able to do this because of the lack of Internet capabilities.
While this might give more credibility to the PS3 as a Blu-ray player and an entertainment device as a whole, it does not look good overall as it could show just how lousy the heads behind Blu-ray does their planning. A USD 399 Blu-ray player is possibly superior to a USD 799+ player? We at PSU certainly feel this shouldn’t be the case.
Source: CVG

One of many great reasons to buy a PS3... whats everyone waiting for??
I saw this on the History Channel. Pretty much sums up the HD Format War:
www.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DfriS4OOcdgQ&sid=9482493091
So pretty much buy a PS3 people, if yo do not already own one. It is the best of both worlds.
-- Sarad Jackson
It shouldn't, but you have to realize that the PS3 intially cost 800-900 bucks to make and they had to compete with videogame consoles. Even at those prices, it's bargin. No other Blu-Ray machine has an HDD or a Cell Processor, it definalty gives the PS3 more options than stand alones. Another thing is, they are able to mass rpoduce the PS3 because more people are buying them than stand alones and thus they can drop the price. It's hard to sell a stand alone Blu-Ray player for 399 when your only producing a small amount.
psn id: gingo.... it maybe shouldn't be the case but i dont see why people would buy a stand alone player anyway when ps3 is cheaper, internet connections, prequent updates, can play games, plus dvd and cds aswell it seems like the perfect media player so why would somebody pay more for something much much less
Why are Standalones so expensiive anyways? Can't be too hard to make because Sony have managed to get one to work amazingly well. All they'd literally have to do is have a smaller hard-drive, take away the ability to play games and bobs your uncle.
It's obviously a great player. Its ability to be upgraded to the later profiles just adds to its value
Yes, the PS3 is the best way to go. Standalones cost too much anyway. Looking around I found a site that says it best...
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=15547
I know alot of people who are buying the 40 gig model, who don't play alot of games but want it as a blu-ray player. The sony remote is totally worth it as well.
its upgrade ability and the price make ps3 the best
PS3 + HDTV + PS3 remote = the ultimate media center
PS3 does it again....one more advantage of buying PS3......
...mmm and it really costs that much to simply mail a CD to the owners of those stand alone players to upgrade their firmware?
Yes we all get more with a PS3. But in this world of recording on HDD instead of video or dvd and sky interactive etc surely they can think of some way you can install updates on a stand alone BluRay player?
How about USB slots on the players so you can download updates on your PS3, save them on a stick and then transfer them over.
Just a thought.
Of course PS3 is a better Blu-ray player, you can play on it also.
Those BD players will still play a lot of the movies and upscale dvd's as well. Its not a total loss, but the PS3 40gig is the best on the market at the moment. Some early adopters will have to update their player sometime this year. It happens with all new tech of this capacity.
Everyone needs to just accept it and move on as quickly as possible. Because the Future is BLU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why would you buy an expensive Blu ray player when you can buy a PS3 for less anyway? Some people out there need some common sense lessons !!!!
Here's the link that jockamo meant to come across. Just copy and add DfriS4OOcdgQ to the end of a youtube video URL after the equals sign. This is more fault of the other manufacturers not making their players as easily upgradable.
i like the playstaion 3 because of the bluray player. it's got way better sound and i noticed i had a dvd and always missed certain parts on my ps2 of it. and can play any video game that has been scratched to death like my MGS2 game from playing it on my ps2 alot. has anyone heard on the MGS4 announcement yet??????
Well... I have two PS3's.. One for my girl friends house, and one for my Scion tC & Alpine system!!! Go Blu!!!
The mighty PS3 deserves an accolade in 2008 for being such an affordable, versatile, innovative fine piece of machinery! IMO.
@chimmy, I never thought of that? it isnt possible to have the stand alone blue ray player be upgraded through the newer Blue Ray titles?
Early adopters of stand-alone players for anything have to risk things like these. CD players didn't play burned mixes from the beginning, nor did DVD players play copies. You can't expect things not to get better as time goes on. Look at CD burners. They started at 1x and are now up to 52x or more. They get cheaper, faster, and more reliable as time goes on.
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Internet connection is a feature lacking in the early Blu-ray players, true. However, since the minds at Sony have already thought of this, I believe Blu-rays will come with firmware updates on the disc (like with PS3 games for the people who don't have internet connection.)
Everyone?
Recent Reports?
Yes everyone is going nuts about Bluray - proclaiming in the streets with big placards and banners being waved about. "The war is over!" "Bluray is the winner!" "I want Bluray" "Bluray Yay Team!"
Already since the whole bandwagon jumping thing happened I can't drive to work because of the crowds lining up in front of stores, millions doing the sleep out thing hoping to buy a PS3 Bluray player & movie before stocks run out. It's a disruption - I mean have some manners people, control yourselves there is enough Bluray to go around. I know its very very very popular and everyone is by reports jumping on the bandwagon and proclaiming things - but be orderly about it and line up on the foot path and not all over the streets!
When I'm at the supermarket and the line is long I now say out loud - "Jeez these Blurays must be popular!" ...I get some funny looks from those in the cue but its probably because Im just stating the obvious. When I had to take my brother to the hospital last week there was a lot of people waiting in the lobby - My god I yelled, are they selling Bluray in hospitals now? I think there should be some restrictions and in such places they should not offer Bluray movies as it caused far to many delays..
Everyone already knows Bluray is ever so popular now - I mean they are all jumping on the bandwagon as you said. I'm confident then that we will see sales figures for movie releases on Bluray jump from those pissy sell through numbers of last month to something vastly closer to DVD sell through rates - millions & millions per day right?
With Sony announcing the flood gates open, next month hundreds of millions of consumers will flock to buy a PS3 because we know it's an incredible Bluray player (by reports) and as such it will easily outsell Wii, Xbox360...combined! Holy Moly! Who would have thought that such a come back was possible. Dead last and the butt of many jokes to incredible rock star like phenomenon. Unbelievable!
Keep up the quality reporting & editorial guys!
Still waiting for my Star Wars saga, on Blu-Ray, it's going to be awesome..
What is the proprer audio codec genius.
yeah DAMN RIGHT!!!
@the cleaner, man you need to seriously give yourself a reality check. you are always all over every story, proclaiming to have wisdom far beyond what any of us mere mortals could posses, while at the same time trashing sony and downplaying every single glimmer of fun people might have on here. Grow up and get the h^ll out of here. If you are SOOOOOO intelligent, and SOOOOOO in tune with EVERYTHING, and SOOOOO much more mature than us, then GET OUT. Seriously, if you are that much better than us, then you are like one of those creepy pedophilic teenagers that trys to hang out with elementary school kids. Whats the matter, cant fit in in the real world so you have to go show off how cool you are to the video game kiddies? Quit being a buzzkill, we are here to be fanboys and/or root for our "team" and/or have FUN. So go on, GET! You aint welcome here!
@Carl Sagan
Recent reports suggest that PS3 production is 50% less, so that will put it down to $400-$450 to make. It seem Sony will be in profit soon?
@bedislele
I didn't know that it comes down to audio codecs that determines what is and what isn't a bl-ray player. I always thought is was down to the ability to play blu-ray discs, silly me.
@cleaner
Yes, blu-ray movie sales will reach and then surpass DVD sales. There was a time when DVD movies entered the market, it was far superior than VHS and also more expensive. If you can find the numbers for vhs and dvd movie sales for the years 1997 and 1998 you will find the dvd was no where near the sales of vhs.
be realistic now and ask yourself will you see people adopt blu-ray as the standard format over dvd? Doesn't matter when, but you must think that dvd will eventually be obsolete. And the PS3 is a good choice for the consumer very much how the PS2 was a good dvd player.
I really don't think that you ever have valid arguments and are really in here to slam the PS3. You must be really jealous of the PS3 to make you come in here with your bashing of the PS3.
Some people are not happy unless they are complaining and pi$$ing all over everyone else's parade. I'm looking at you Bedsidelee
The reason it is soo much better is basic economics. The PS3 is loaded to the gills with high end cpu, gpu, internet capabilities, audio and video outputs. With such a huge processor and internet capabilities along with a huge hard drive (in terms of home media electronics) the PS3 is extremely powerful and flexible. Add to that the Economies of Scale that Sony enjoys with producing millions of these consoles/blu-ray players they can therefor drive down their costs of production for this unit. The demand for the console greatly greatly outweighs the demand for the ps3 as a blu-ray player and greatly outweighs the demand for all HD players and Blu-ray players combined as far as that goes. If samsung and panasonic and all these other manufacturers had the luxury of being able to produce and sell the amount of PS3s that sony does their costs would be miniscule and therefor could add more hardware in the box or lower costs on their units. But they don't have that luxury. Their products are not designed to be this flexible nor do they have the economy of scale that the ps3 has....therefor inferior products or greatly superior prices....you can't do both unless your Sony.
Why would any bluray player still be more expensive at this point?? and if it is the chances that it has the ability to upgrade firmware are high. But honestly evenif any of this were a big deal everyone knows that Early adopters take the biggest risk on ANY hardware.
Ultimately it shouldnt be a surprise to anyone that the PS3 is a better value, it was even when it was 600 bucks and not only a bluray player but a high def game system with everything you need built in from jump.
Hasn't been that way though? the PS2 spear headed the DVD market dominance and the PS3 is doing the same with Blu.
this article is stupid blu ray players are not meant to be online downloading movie trailers i just pointless and who wants ring tones on their blu ray player ...
I think video stores just need to start stocking blu ray in large numbers and that alone could change it alone the format you see dominating a video store will get the message across to all those who so far couldnt care less about blu rays or hd dvds all they want is to see or rent a movie this will eventurly happen i dont relly care now even if a new format came out n won might as well just sit n watch and what ever becomes the dominant format buy that :
either way blue-ray wins!!!
Take it to the Bank!!
@Soviet-Messiah Are you suggesting everyone here are still getting tucked into bed by their mum? Is everyone here just a mindless fan boy? I dont think so. Grow up buddy. If you dont like my posts - just skip them...
As for me being "soooo much better than you" - Mate you said that not I. If you have an inferiority complex, lack confidence or can't structure an opinion then thats really your problem. When have I ever said anyone here was dumb? Criticised someones post? Never. Im just sharing an opinion or making an observation that relates to the story and backing it up with some research. If that threatens you then go tell your mum or your teacher. Ha ha!
P.S You want a lollie?
PS3 is still going to turn out the better console, Xbox 360 is pretty much already squeezed for all its power for the games it has so the games ain't going to get much better.The PS3 on the other hand developers can't even utilize the whole processor yet and the games are still as good as the 360, so when they figure out the right way to do it then it's going to put the 360 to shame. And I ain't a fanboy I got a 360 with 30 games and will still say that.