What "Set top" box to buy to playback BD-RE disks ?

[Paul W. H]

I bought a Canon XH-A1 for myself and a Canon HV30 for my wife earlier this year and have been playing with HDV throughout the summer.

I am a pure hobbyist and am now ready to take the Bluray plunge and have ordered an LG GGW-H20L writer for the computer.

We have Panasonic 42" "HD Ready" Plasma TV and I am wondering what "box" to buy to put underneath it to playback BD-RE disks of our holidays and grandchildren etc, I cannot see us buying any Bluray films for the foreseeable future and do not need anything that chucks out heavy duty sound.

Any thoughts ?


Paul W. H

[harrier]

sony PS3 or the one ive got is the panasonic BD30 that plays every disc ive thrown at it.

[drgagx]

I second PS3 or Panasonic BD35, which has now replaced the BD30.

[PP]

I've recently bought the Samsung PD 1500. Was on Amazon for £160 2 weeks ago, when I bought it. Comes free with a Sanyo HD projector (PLZ 2000) Was in Marks and Sparks yesterday for £249 !!!!!

Peter

[kingarthur]

Hi Paul. you could do what i have just done. It depends your conections on your computer.
I have just got the LG Blue burner and have connected the DVI OR HDMI ports on the
computer to a HDMI Switcher- splitter box. So one output goes to the Monitor and the other output via an 8m HDMI cable to 42" HD Ready TY at the other end the room.
You will probably have to update the CyberLink software to play BLUE RAY discs.
The splitter box costs £70 and has 3 inputs, one from the computer a one from my
HDV SONY Camcorder and one spare ( dvd player) It all works great.

[Bob Aldis]

The PS3 would seem to be about the same price as the standalone bluray players and has the advantage of being able to store High Def files to play and with the latest tuner becomes a high def PVR as well. It will also play bluray recorded onto -R DVDs.

There is one snag though, it plays games as well.

[Chris Longley]

Bob, where does the tuner get HiDef stuff to record? Is it working with Freesat or something?

[steve]

ISTR the the PS3 Play TV tuner only does MPEG2 HD which is OK for many countries but not here. H264 may appear on a later model.

Steve

[Bob Aldis]

Bob, where does the tuner get HiDef stuff to record? Is it working with Freesat or something?

Yes. I got that wrong, forgot it was just freeview. The rest is right. I am talking as a none owner, indeed I haven't seen my grandsons since he obtained the tuner. The trouble is it is hard to get a look at it doing anything except playing games. :(
They have also got a large hard drive and it is on their network. All in all it is very impressive.

[Paul W. H]

Thanks for the replies, I am still not sure what to go for as I have found this from Panasonic (Australia) http://panasonic.com.au/products/details.cfm?objectID=4337 and would love a UK spec one to replace our current DVD recorder with Freeview.


Paul W. H

[Chris Longley]

Bob, that's a shame, I'm waiting for a viable alternative to SkyPlus for recording HD, looks like the new Humax (if and when it comes out) is going to be the only one.

I nearly had an excuse to buy a PS3 there!

[Steamage]

That Panasonic DMR-BW500 looks just the job. I wonder if they'll bring it to the UK? Fit the same FreeSat & FreeView tuners as the 81-series tellies and Bob's your uncle!

[Bob Aldis]

Bob, that's a shame, I'm waiting for a viable alternative to SkyPlus for recording HD, looks like the new Humax (if and when it comes out) is going to be the only one.

I nearly had an excuse to buy a PS3 there!

I know exactly how you feel Chris, I have a V+ box so even further off having an excuse to buy a PS3. Perhaps I will have to start taking an interest in Video Games :)