PS3 playin blu ray?

Question

I am considering buying the blu ray DVD player in just a few months. (since it may be the future of home entertainment on TV due to HD DVD loosing) Since I enjoy playing video games in my spare time I'm also considering buying a PS3. Now, from my understanding, the PS3 console plays blu ray dvd's right? Well my main question is.... if I was to buy a PS3 console, would it play blu ray DVD's with the same effeciency as a regular blu ray DVD player?( which its sole purpose is to play such DVD's)

Answer 1

Yep, the PS3 seems to be the way to go. So much more bang for you buck. I'll bullet point some reasons..

• PS3 absolutely plays Blu-Ray discs as well and often better then a standalone player. The PS3 has alot of uber powerful hardware behind it.

•  The PS3 is Wi-Fi ready so you can download all the latest updates and firmware that may effect Blu-Ray playback.  The newer model stand alone will be getting similar features as well, but most of the stand alone models that are out already cannnot, thus they may have incompatabilities or issues playing back future Blu-Ray discs.

• The PS3 supports more formats then stand alone players. In addition to what most do, with the newest firmware, the PS3 also supports DivX and XVid (popular formats for internet video), as well as AVI and a multitude of other video, picture, and audio formats. So if a friend downloads something in those formats from the web and burns it to CD/DVD, they can bring it over and you can sit back and watch it on you HDTV on your PS3, instead of on your computer.

• The PS3 is not only Wi-Fi for games and system updates, but has a web browser. This I have not tried first hand, but I have used the one on the Nintendo Wii, and if it's even half has good as that one, then it's an extremely nice feature. Picture WebTV with less suck. Being able to check e-mail or wikipedia (or Yahoo! Answers perhaps) on your big HDTV is very nice. I'm sure the PS3 will support flash sometime in the future too.

• You can hookup a keyboard, certain webcams, and certain printers via USB to a PS3. It's a home entertainent/utility computer in it's own right. You'd will be able to print out photos from a CD or use HD webcam to record or steam video. In fact, while not neccessarily as versatile, it's probably faster then most peoples home/business computers.

• Did you know it also plays video games? ;) *sarcasm*

• Also, if you have the money to spare, you might wanna go with a more expensive (non-40-gig) model. With other models you'll be able to play PS2/PS1 games, use the built in flash card readers (memory cards you digital cameras/etc use), and play SACD's if you want. The 40 gig model can't do this.. but if all you care about is Blu-Ray really then it might not matter for you.

Furthermore, some people may have initially been put off by the fact many Blue-Ray players seem more expensive then the PS3, thus they think more performance. But the fact is the PS3 actually cost alot more to make then you pay for it. Yes it was/is actually a $800+ product that Sony actually losses money on, for the sake of pushing the product, the games, and their format.

So yeah... lot of reasons to consider the PS3.

Answer 2

The PS3 plays Blu-Ray disks better than many of the top-of-the-range Blu-ray players. And its cheaper than most of them aswell. Get a PS3! You'll see why when you get it!

Answer 3

Yes, PS3 is a great value if you plan to use it for both. It does a great job playing blu-rays (as good as the more expensive blu-ray players) and is a video game system, like killin 2 birds w/ one stone

Answer 4

The PS3 is the most up-to-date blu-ray player right now with a console added as bonus and also the cheapest (40GB model), it can also act as a media center for streaming all your photos, music, video etc to your home theater/TV.

It is best bucks for money and would be upgradable to profile 2.0 without any problem.

Answer 5

Yes, the PS3's hardware is more advanced than other standalone Blu-Ray players. PS3 is the best Blu-Ray player to get now as other players will not be able to update to the new profile 2.0 that is supposed to be released for compatibility with picture-in-picture and web enabled special features. The PS3 is the only current Blu-Ray player with the hardware capable of being updated for these new features....so it's the best investment if you are getting a blu-ray player.

Answer 6

Yes it is fine and will update IF you connect it to a web connected network. The only complaints I hear as a home theater designer is the inability to access all functions with a universal remote (due to it being controlled through Bluetooth). Picture is top notch but if you are an audiophile you may be dissatisfied with the sound compared to some of the stand-alone units according to most reviewers (this will only matter if you are connecting it to a very good surround sound system)

Answer 7

Yes it does as long as u use the hdmi cable. I have a sony blu ray player and ps3 and both show great with the same quality. all u need is to pick up the ps3 remote.