I think it depends what kind of setup you want. I was looking for a Blu-ray player but ended up with a fat PS3 (slim version not yet available during that time). It is no doubt a great all in one machine. However, I noticed that the PQ is not quite up to what I expect from a Blu-ray movie.

Then just recently I bought a Samsung C5500 as it's the cheapest Blu-ray player in town. Hooked it up to the same TV, popped in the same Blu-ray movie, and man...the picture is far better than my fat PS3. So now the Samsung stays in my ht room while the PS3 sits outside for pure gaming purpose only.

Cheers!

That deal looks good. But if to add that all up, it's gonna cost quite a lot just to play GT5 eh... I just got my GT5, downloading the the update now. While it's a 3D-Compatible game, my TV is non-3D-Capable. Until the 3D TV price drop to a more reasonable level, I will be fine with my current unit, with Logitech G25.

Back to the PS3 or dedicated BD player discussion, the fat PS3 DOES able to load HD audio. Only that it doesn't bitstream to the receiver, it decodes internally before it sends the signal out. So if you want to hear HD audio, you will have to choose LPCM at the PS3 setting, then Multichannel at your receiver. However, some people like to "see" the word, for example, "DTS-HD" on their receiver display. So it's all up to personal preference.

It's from my experience that my PS3 PQ is less than the Samsung C5500. While I don't know what is the cause (my unit's fault, maybe?), I believe that a dedicated unit is better than an all-in-one machine, if not always. Of course, a BD player is only a player. Features wise, it definitely can't compare to PS3. It's like HTPC or media player.

So, in my opinion, if you play games and watch movies in your bedroom, or you don't want to have too many devices, then a PS3 will be good enough. Otherwise, with the BD player price going cheap, it's no harm to get a dedicated player to do the job. After all, if my BD player optical head rosak, it will be cheap to get a new player. But for PS3...it costs few times of the player.

Cheers!

Yea, darenlks, absolutely. I almost buy a slim PS3 for BD movies...just because it can stream HD audio to receiver (I'd want my receiver to do the job) luckily I didn't.

chokia, so you are saying that all of us here stay under a rock in some kind of a jungle just because we go for dedicated player? Yes, I'm staying in a god damn jungle.

The PS3 slim, for what I believe, is able to stay at the top is because of its multimedia capabilities. I didn't say that PS3 is not a good machine. All I said was, the PQ is not that good compare to a dedicated player. That's what I saw with my own eyes with my own bloody machine on the same freakin' TV with the same god damn movie. It's not like you have to really look carefully on the TV to find the difference. The result is damn obvious. One produced grainy picture while the other one was silky smooth. How hard can that be to notice?

I'm not asking you to do a side by side comparison, nor I'm asking you must go for a dedicated player. Like I said before, it all depends on personal preference. If you are happy with your PS3, then it's absolutely fine. The important thing is you are happy with what you have. And that's good. But IF you ever have the chance, and IF you are really into good quality picture, then I believe there is no harm doing a comparison. I didn't ditch my PS3 either. Instead, it serves me well on my console gaming session and some other stuffs, and I happy with it. But it doesn't mean that I must use it to play BD movies too just because it can perform the job.

Cheers!

Yea, while my god damn PS3 doesn't represent the whole picture, I didn't say that my review is the one to trust, did I? After all, I didn't do a review, I only voice my own experience. So that for newbie who is going to shop for a player can ask the shop for a comparison. But hey, does it sound right to you that, by saying people who go for dedicated player is person who live under a rock in a jungle? Damn, people who paid thousand over ringgit for a Sony dedicated BD player must be a dumb ass then? Should just get a PS3 huh? Because it's on top of the list.

Like I said, I "BELIEVE" the PS3 can stand at the top of the list is probably due to its multimedia capabilities, and I believe, people took every features into consideration when they did the vote. So for person who aren't into gaming, why must he fork out RM1K+ to get the console, when his only purpose is just to watch some movies?

Read the second paragraph at that cnet review. The editor did say something.

Cheers!

Not arguing, dude. Just telling what are the issues I encountered. Anyway, there is no perfect machine out there. So, for people who have never have any problem with their unit, congrat! Back to the starting point, both are able to do the job well.

Cheers!

Definitely the most value buy player in the market now. I bought it last month, and have no regret. I think last year or the year before LG rolled out a BD player too, which cost around RM1K. During that time it was the cheapest (at least in KK market), but top up another few hundreds Ringgit and one will be able to buy a PS3. That's when I bought my fat version due to its multimedia capabilities...game, social connection, media hub, and etc. While it's a good machine (in fact, my 1st console in my life... ) but I found that it's not trouble free when use it as media hub...for one example, it doesn't support HD mkv files decoding despite all the processing power it has.

What made me bought the C5500 was the "mkv" mark on the box. Although it can't compare to PS3 for multimedia purpose, at least it decodes and plays those files fine, except no subtitle...but I guess that's not a big deal.

It's like, while a luxury LC200 can bring you anywhere you want to go, but a Myvi can do the job too if you just want to go to pasar to buy some sayur.

But anyway, enjoy your new machine, Spawnster.

Cheers!

My own point of view:

Only PS3, IF:
1. You are into PS3 games (of course).
2. Most of your friends are into PS3 games, and you want to join in for some fun.
3. You play some PS3 titles, and MAYBE BD movies once in a while.
4. You play some PS3 titles, but you also like its other features, such as the Home social network.
5. You want an All-In-One multimedia machine, and nothing else.

Only BD Player, IF:
1. You don't play PS3 games at all, and you don't have friends waiting for you in PS Home.
2. You enjoy BD movies a lot.

Both, IF:
1. You like some PS3 titles, and you also watch BD movies a lot.
2. You have dedicated gaming section, and movie room.

Cheers!

Hmm...the thread title doesn't state a particular Samsung Blu-ray player bah...so I guess it includes the higher end model...haha.

While it's out of topic...but over here we do have people driving that kind of car go pasar buy sayur, and until you have seen it with your own eyes, you won't believe there are aunties even driving a H2 to pasar to buy sayur...