ALL SCI-FI

[Krel]

I was given an HD TV for Christmas, so I guess it is time for me to buy a Blu-Ray player. But I know nothing about them, so any advice on choosing a model would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

David.

[Brent Gair]

Woo Hoo!

Welcome aboard.

The good news is that BD players are now a mature technology and most of them are pretty darn good. In a sense, they are like digital cameras...people may express a personal preference but they all get the job done.

In my experience, in terms of a good, basic, consumer level BD player, Sony and Panasonic are usually the preferred brands. Samsung is, of course, a huge name but I notice that it does tend to generate a slighty higher number of complaints (often related to the mechanical transport system as opposed to the electronics themselves).

I have a personal preference for Panasonic players as they are extremely experienced and have served me well going back the the DVD days. I've been using the same, base model cheap Panasonic for about 3 years. I think I paid a whopping $80.00 for it. Sony's are, likewise, excellent quality and value for the dollar. My only minor knock against Sony is that they are big into "connectivety" and, if you just want a basic player not connected to the 'net, you may have to fiddle around a bit during setup.

But, generally speaking, you are unlikely to make a bad choice. Over the years, many key features have become standardized so you don't have to make a lot of decisions. Spending extra can buy some bells and whistles but it won't buy better image quality. So my thoughts would be to find a deal on a cheap Sony or Panasonic.

[Robert (Butch) Day]

I, also, prefer Panasonic as I've had one type or another going back to VHS!
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