Should You Buy a Blu-ray Player?
Here are 10 pros and cons.
By Swanni
But does this mean that you should buy a Blu-ray player now? Well, that depends on your priorities -- and your pocketbook.
To help you in your decision, we have compiled 10 pros and cons to buying a Blu-ray player now, as opposed to later in the year or, perhaps, ever.
Pro: The Picture
The Blu-ray player, which can display video in 1080p, offers the best HD picture on the market. Better than cable, satellite, off-air antenna, you name it. If picture quality is important to you, there's no point in waiting.
Con: Price
Blu-ray players now cost at least $399 at retail. But if you wait until the 2008 holiday season, the price will likely come down to $299 or perhaps even as low as $199.
Batman Begins is coming to Blu-ray.
Pro: More Movies
With the format war over, the studios are expected to soon release more titles in Blu-ray. Even better, NetFlix and Blockbuster both say they will dramatically expand their Blu-ray selections in the coming weeks.
Con: Less Interactivity
Current Blu-ray players (with the exception of the Play Station 3) are not equipped to handle new interactive features that will be included in future Blu-ray discs. The features will enable viewers to download ringtones, chat with fellow Blu-ray owners and access movie trailers over the Net. If this is important to you, you might want to wait until the new players are introduced later this year.
Pro: Bundling
Some TV manufacturers are now bundling free Blu-ray players with their televisions. If you're in the market for a new set, this would be a good time to come home with a free Blu-ray player as well.
Con: Downloads
While this site believes digital downloads are years away from becoming a convenient way to watch movies at home, some analysts disagree. They say companies such as NetFlix, Microsoft and TiVo will soon enable viewers to watch a new video release without having to leave the house -- and waiting long periods of time for the video to download. If true, the Blu-ray business could sputter and eventually die away.
Pro: Ownership
Unlike downloads -- or cable's Video on Demand service -- Blu-ray enables you to own your movie. Like the standard-def DVD, you can start collecting a library of Blu-ray films that can be watched over and over.
Con: Ownership
Blu-ray titles are still pricey, with some around $30 or more, roughly twice the price of some standard-def DVDs. The Blu-ray disc price is likely to fall later in the year, which could be a reason to wait until then.
Pro: Upconversion
If you have a large collection of DVDs, the Blu-ray player includes an 'upconverting' feature that will enhance the picture on a standard-def DVD. While upconverting does not make your standard-def DVD image as good as a high-def picture, you will notice an improvement. (And despite what some might tell you, the Blu-ray player will play your current library of standard-def DVDs.)
Con: Upconversion
Upconverting DVD players (without Blu-ray capability) can be purchased for under $100, far less than the cost of a Blu-ray player. If improving the picture on your standard-def DVD is what's important to you, there's a cheaper way to do it.
So, the Blu-ray picture is amazing, but is the price right? Do you like to own movies or is just watching it once enough? Is interactivity important to you or do you just want to watch a good flick with a great image?
Your answers to these questions should tell you whether it's time for you to buy a new Blu-ray player.
Need more info? Check out Amazon's Blu-ray store.
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Swanni (Phillip Swann) is
president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in
dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox
News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The
Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The
Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at
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