Blu Ray Player Deals ?

[bicker]

The OP wants to stream Netflix on his BR player. That requires internet access. My statement was in that context.

Yes, okay: So Blu-ray Disc Players to be used for accessing Netflix must have Internet connectivity. That's true.

AFAIK all currently sold BR players have an ethernet port.

That's not the case.

Here's some that don't:

http://www.magnavox.com/p/index_player.php?id=30
http://www.magnavox.com/p/index_player.php?id=34
http://www.magnavox.com/p/index_player.php?id=53

I agree it's possible to use USB, or even burn an upgrade DVD on a PC to update firmware. That's not a consumer friendly way of doing things.

"Back in the old days, sonny, that's the only way there was."

Insignia is BBs house brand. My understanding is LG is the manufacturer.

It depends on the model. Some Insignia players are made by Funai. Regardless, Insignia players are built to Insignia specifications, and they're lowest tier boxes for a reason.

I've seen some Maganox players sold for under $80. People buying that will probably more then "get their monies worth".

Indeed. They don't even get a box that can connect to the Internet that way.

 

[Lewisc]

I stand corrected. I'd avoid units without at least an ethernet port. The posters in this thread are asking about Netflix. Internet is a requirement. BR players need firmware updates to handle newer disks. Internet is a lot easier then burning a disk.

I'm glad I used AFAIK in my post. I didn't take the time to check but I thought ethernet was more or less a requirement for currently produced BRD players.

I remember there being some question if mfg would be offering software/firmware upgrades, to allow playing of newer disks, on some of the older style models.

Bicker--I suggest checking before gifting your old BRD player with a copy of a movie like Avatar. Either have the upgrade disk burned and ready to go or gift it as an "upgraded DVD player that plays most BRD"

I avoid house brands from places like BB on general principal.

Sometimes the price is lower because the marketing expenses are priced out of the product. COSTO house brand (Kirkland) products for example.

This is a Disney board. Disney movies are likely to continue to use protections that might require firmware/software upgrades before your BRD player will be able to play the movie.

 

[bicker]

I stand corrected. I'd avoid units without at least an ethernet port.

I agree. Purchasers really should consider it an essential, at this point. These cheap Magnavox units are still sold because a lot of purchasers, unfortunately perhaps, are short-sighted. They buy what they need today, without considering how that drastically reduces how long the device they're buying will remain sufficiently useful to them in the future. My big concern is about how many of these folks will be surprised, just two or three years from now, about the prospect that they need to replace something that they purchased so recently, in order to take advantage of features and functions that they didn't realize they were going to want so soon.

Bicker--I suggest checking before gifting your old BRD player with a copy of a movie like Avatar. Either have the upgrade disk burned and ready to go or gift it as an "upgraded DVD player that plays most BRD"

This is, specifically, my "pass-around" player. I only lend it to people, specifically to give them a chance to see what Blu-ray discs look like on their HDTV, but I tell them that I want it back once they get their own, Internet-connected Blu-ray disc player. Then I hand it off to the next family member or friend. I'm slowly but surely converting folks close to me into Blu-ray enthusiasts!

 

[JB2K]

Do any blu ray players come with this piece? (we have a ps3 so no issues with that machine!, love it for blu ray but it runs $299)

Generally, no -- but there are a couple of "budget" solutions:

• The early XBox360 network adapters can connect to a Blu-ray player and, in turn connect to your wireless home network
  
• For those who have AT&T U-verse as their TV provider, all you need is a simple $5 Cat 5 patch cable to connect between the Blu-ray player and the U-verse TV box (I suspect this may also be the case for Verizon FiOS users in VZ territories).