Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!
I was up until 2 AM putting together a new tv stand and hooking up all of the wiring for my electronics. I bought a flat panel tv off of Craigslist and couldn't be happier with it. I had a budget for buying a new tv, and since I bought this one used, I also had money for a Pier 1 tv stand and a Blu-Ray player. I am so out of it tech-wise that I didn't know Blu-Ray players could play normal dvds. I wanted to get rid of my vcr/dvd combo and thought I should upgrade it, but mentally pooh poohd it because of all of the dvds I own. Looked it up yesterday and d'oh, the dvds work fine in the Blu-Ray player. I have yet to hook up the Wii! But at least now I've halved the wires and the place looks so much bigger without the massive tv armoire.
(Anyone want a Sony dvd/vcr?)
Oh, that reminds me - anyone have recommendations for a Blu-Ray player? Actually, I'm tempted to get a PS3 partially for the Blu-Ray player....
That's that Pete will suggest. I'm still holding out for something I know will support region-free safely. The link Gris gave me left me still feeling nervous.
We use the PS3. Although, since we wanted a PS3 anyway, it was pretty much a no-brainer.
I don't even know what the general price ranges are. How much for a decent non-PS3 Blu-Ray player?
I am so out of it tech-wise that I didn't know Blu-Ray players could play normal dvds.
I didn't know this, either! Nifty.
That's that Pete will suggest.
Hee! It's true. But our PS3 is awesome.
We have the same. Although we still also have a DVD player, because it's better...somehow...It'll play files in many formats from a flash drive, and hooks into the surround sound...is, I think, what it is.
The LG BD390 is amazing, with very highly rated quality and almost every cool streaming feature available (excepting pandora sadly). It is now cheaper than a ps3, about 250. A perfectly decent blu ray player can be had for 150 I think - check cnet. I wanted the ability to play pretty much any video format over a wireless network from a networked hard drive, which the bd390 provides. Older blu Ray players had really slow load times which is annoying, so be on the lookout for that.
I ended up rejecting the ps3 because it lacks an infrared port, making universal remote use tough, and it's shape didn't really work, and it also lacked netflix streaming at the time.
I wanted the ability to play pretty much any video format over a wireless network from a networked hard drive, which the bd390 provides.
In'eresting.
OK, what I now want (in addition to Blu Ray) is the ability to be browsing on my MacBook Pro, so when I find a really cool video I want to easily play it on my TV. IOW, can a computer be used to direct some other device (connected to my TV) to go out and find and play a specific video?
That is certainly theoretically possible, but it doesn't seem practical without the device connected to my TV also being a computer, and with me dong some coding to make it happen. Or am I wrong?
