Panasonic BD50 - A BD player worth its salt?

[Ruined]

http://www.electronista.com/articles...c.bd50.player/

A finished spec Blu-Ray player!

This one actually intrigues me quite a bit. Finally something from Blu-ray that gets me excited!

It looks like it will be in the $700-$800 range, since Panasonic said "slightly more expensive than the BD30." And its supposed to be out in the springtime apparently.

[jbat31]

Originally Posted by Ruined

http://www.electronista.com/articles...c.bd50.player/

A finished spec Blu-Ray player!

This one actually intrigues me quite a bit. Finally something from Blu-ray that gets me excited!

It looks like it will be in the $700-$800 range, since Panasonic said "slightly more expensive than the BD30." And its supposed to be out in the springtime apparently.

Aren't you the same guy who said, even if blu ray wins, i will never go blu?

All kidding aside, no one would expect you to stick with that

You now will openly embrace sony drm though

[bembol]

Not sure if I would pay $200+ for Ethernet, BD-Live


But I'm very happy with my BD30K and IMO it's the SA to get.

[dugpa]

Yeah, I just don't know if BD-Live is really worth it. Somehow downloading ringtones to my phone isn't exactly something I'm ready to line up for. I have online features now with HD-DVD and aside from firmware updates, most if it is useless fluff. Granted, it's a catch22, because if they start putting quality stuff (like interviews and such) online only, then I'll be pissed it wasn't on the disc in the first place where it should be. Really, I think the whole interactive online bit is just a cheap gimmick and fairly worthless. But studios are convinced it's absolutely necessary to offer them to give people a reason to upgrade over SD DVD.

[Derb]

BD-Live = Facebook

Seriously, just get the game console, everyone else is buying it.



http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news...2_Million/1343

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by jbat31

Aren't you the same guy who said, even if blu ray wins, i will never go blu?

All kidding aside, no one would expect you to stick with that

You can criticize me all you like, but while others around here would flip-flop with the wind based on the positive/negative news and/or content dealings of the month - going one side, then the other, then back to the first side, etc, I stuck with the same side and only that side for 1.5 years even while it was losing (sometimes badly) for the majority of that time.

I didn't even blink an eye at dual format until HD DVD was officially dead and buried. Not sure you can say that about many others here except maybe chlngr1970.

You now will openly embrace sony drm though

No I won't. There is no other choice so I will take the steps to deal with it. I already talked to MS a bit about proper Windows Vista security settings to avoid a rootkit-like scenario with BD+.

The key is not to give PowerDVD adminisitrative privleges when playing a BD+ title EVER if it asks for them. While that won't avoid some basic anti-piracy filesystem changes it will avoid the Sony rootkit (which I confirmed with AVSFORUM insiders is possible based on BD+'s specs if you DO allow PowerDVD to get administrative privleges).

[jbat31]

Originally Posted by Ruined

You can criticize me all you like, but while others around here would flip-flop with the wind based on the positive/negative news and/or content dealings of the month - going one side, then the other, then back to the first side, etc, I stuck with the same side and only that side for 1.5 years even while it was losing (sometimes badly) for the majority of that time.

I didn't even blink an eye at dual format until HD DVD was officially dead and buried. Not sure you can say that about many others here except maybe chlngr1970.



No I won't. There is no other choice so I will take the steps to deal with it. I already talked to MS a bit about proper Windows Vista security settings to avoid a rootkit-like scenario with BD+.

The key is not to give PowerDVD adminisitrative privleges when playing a BD+ title EVER if it asks for them. While that won't avoid some basic anti-piracy filesystem changes it will avoid the Sony rootkit (which I confirmed with AVSFORUM insiders is possible based on BD+'s specs if you DO allow PowerDVD to get administrative privleges).

Not trying to criticize. I just remeber when you said you would go back to sd if HD DVD fell, and I remember thinking at that time, no way will he stick to that. I don't blame you or criticize you at all. You love HD on films and this will soon be the only way to get it, aside from downloads, so i understand. I just always get a kick out of people who speak in absolutes.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by Ruined

The key is not to give PowerDVD adminisitrative privleges when playing a BD+ title EVER if it asks for them. While that won't avoid some basic anti-piracy filesystem changes it will avoid the Sony rootkit (which I confirmed with AVSFORUM insiders is possible based on BD+'s specs if you DO allow PowerDVD to get administrative privleges).

Just curious what benefits there are for burned HD media? That & why bother?

[Ruined]

Some more details leaking in. Launch windows is May-June and MSRP will be at or below $499.

[Astrakan]

Originally Posted by jbat31

I just always get a kick out of people who speak in absolutes.

The irony drips off that sentence. I'm talking pure semantics here, but it's still funny.

KM

[Sehnzeleid]

I imagine once this player debuts, a PS3 update for BD 2.0 won't be far behind...maybe even DTS-HD MA decoding as well...

[SilentBob]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

I imagine once this player debuts, a PS3 update for BD 2.0 won't be far behind...maybe even DTS-HD MA decoding as well...

PLEASE!!!! Live Free or Die Hard is awesome with Core DTS but Full Blown DTS-HDMA would be awesome to hear

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by Astrakan

The irony drips off that sentence. I'm talking pure semantics here, but it's still funny.

KM

Only a Sith deals in absolutes....which in itself is an absolute....

[Ruined]

http://panasonic.net/pavc/blu-ray/dmp-bd50/

Officially released in Europe today... Hope it gets here soon!

[Taxi]

I think it's funny that this player has only been released in Europe, but in their "Connects to the Internet" Flash video, North America is featured prominently.

[videoworx]

The SC-BT100 HTiB came out as well, with full support for all the losless audio codecs. The rear-panel photo shows that it's a region A/1 device (obviously a screw-up, but still indicates the device will ship in the US).

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Taxi

I think it's funny that this player has only been released in Europe, but in their "Connects to the Internet" Flash video, North America is featured prominently.

Maybe they are waiting until they have firmware ready to fix the LFE bug so the BD50 doesn't get torn a new one in AVSFORUM when it comes out

[DiscViewer]

Originally Posted by videoworx

The SC-BT100 HTiB came out as well, with full support for all the losless audio codecs. The rear-panel photo shows that it's a region A/1 device (obviously a screw-up, but still indicates the device will ship in the US).

Supposedly in May.