I need Blu-Ray Player w/ Wi-Fi(for NetFlix) advice...

21 May 2011 | US Navy Vet

[Wonder Warthog]

"Really, I was shocked that blu-ray would never remember where I was in a movie to resume watching later. It seems like such a simple thing to be able to do instead of starting over each time."

I think this MUST have to do with some specific players. I play BRD's from my home-built "home theater PC", and it does "pause and play" just fine.

[Domandred]

Playstation 3. Latest firmware also allows for 3D Blu-Ray.

[GreenLanternCorps]

I have a Samsung BD-6500.

Highs: Good overall performance, good Netflix picture

Lows: Does not support Hulu Plus, which I thought it did; Loud sound at power on, which I finally found the control to turn off, but cannot be turned down.

Overall I am happy with it, I just wish had a better TV to connect it to. (32in Panasonic 720p).

[Dallas59]

Have an old $100 Emachine with a Pentium 4, 2 gig ram and a 512 MB vid card hooked with my wifi and connected to my 47 inch LCD with a HDMI cable. Works great.

[jospehm20]

I bought two of those. I like them.

[KoRn]

Get a PS3.

With it, you’ll have a Blu-Ray Player, Wireless net access, Netflix, a great gaming console. It’s a one stop shop for all media in the house. It’s also a fully functional computer. The Wii and Xboxes are for kids.

[NavyCanDo]

I have a ROKU in the living room and a PS3 in our media room. I actually prefer the cheaper ROKU.

[antiRepublicrat]

That’s a PS3, and it does Hulu as well.

Oh yeah, it apparently plays games too.

[Blennos]

No, it is not the player. It is the disk format. The newer format, called BD-J (Blu-Ray Java), does not allow resume, on any player. Some of the older blu-ray disks were created before BD-J. The great majority of all BD disks are BD-J. You must have gotten lucky and used an older BD disk.

Here is one site which explains this. http://www.sony-asia.com/support/faq/432547

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Why can’t BD-J resume play?

Resume play won’t work because BD-J application in the disc disables the resume function. The Java software controls playback plus all the interactive content (like what Windows OS does on the computer). When you hit stop, or turn off the player, the Java application on the disc reboots in the next playback. This results in resuming playback from the beginning of the disc. Therefore you should use pause instead of stop for Blu-ray disc that supports BD-J application.

[sportutegrl]

I like the PS3. You get blu ray/dvd player, wifi link, usb ports, hdmi and other connects. Plus, you can play games with it. Amazingly easy to set up/use. Wirelessly connect to computers/printers on the network, do slideshows, etc.

[Theo]

I use an older Mac Mini. I connect it to my TV using a DVI to HDMI cable, to my stereo using a digital/optical cable, and to my network via ethernet. I’ve installed the Plex media server, which I can control with my Logitech remote and my iPhone/iPad. We can access iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, NBC, ABC, Fox News, CBS, PBS, PBS Kids, MTV, and so on using freely available plugins.

[FreedomNotSafety]

Odd Lots, Ollies, Meritline, Ebay...I never pay more than $3 for a 4 ft cable.

[Captain Peter Blood]

We have a Magnovox at WalMart, Blu Ray and Wireless ready for $68.00. You can’t beat that price.

[ctdonath2]

I’m pretty happy with a Sony with integrated WiFi (built in is important, if it’s not it will cost you money and annoyance) for BluRay and Hulu+ and Amazon Video, and an Apple TV for Netflix and podcasts. $250 total.

The Sony will do Netflix, but sucks compared to the Apple TV.

[Wonder Warthog]

"No, it is not the player. It is the disk format. The newer format, called BD-J (Blu-Ray Java), does not allow resume, on any player. Some of the older blu-ray disks were created before BD-J. The great majority of all BD disks are BD-J. You must have gotten lucky and used an older BD disk."

Could be. I just play what NetFlix sends me.

It might also be that I am succeeding because I am "not" using an actual "player", but a real Windows PC running software to play BRD's. Perhaps the folks who programmed that software know of the "java idiosyncrasy", and programmed around it. Certainly software packages are upgraded far more frequently than BRD player firmware.

I'll have to watch and take notes to see if I can tell which it is. Is there a way to specifically identify a disc as BR-J (trademark on disc, for instance)? If that question is answered at your link, then my apologies in advance, as I haven't yet read your link's info.

[Future Snake Eater]

We got a Best Buy open box for under $100. Blu-Ray 2.0, built-in Wireless-G card, and Netflix app. Works pretty well. It likes to hang sometimes and requires the occasional restart, but it’s for the kids mainly (I use my PS3 in the main room).

[Mike-o-Matic]

>> Wii won’t play DVD and is only 720P

It's actually worse than that, North American Wiis only support 480i/480p.

[usconservative]

I have a Samsung BD-C5500C. I suggest you avoid this model - very slow menu response time and most DVDs require multiple attempts before the system can play them.

Have to slightly disagree. I have the same model, bought it for $99 at Tiger Direct before Christmas, so we've had it awhile now. Mine's performed flawlessly with every DVD/Blu-Ray disc we've put into it, and the NetFlix option works well also. The menu's are a little slow, but it's not terrible.

By the way, the Wi-Fi works fine, but you'll get less streaming interruptions running a CAT-5 to your router. I haven't experienced a single streaming interruption since I did that.

I've also really liked the fact that I could connect it directly to my Stereo Amplifier and use the 7.1 surround well with this player. Pandora is good on it too!

[Blennos]

I'll have to watch and take notes to see if I can tell which it is. Is there a way to specifically identify a disc as BR-J (trademark on disc, for instance)? If that question is answered at your link, then my apologies in advance, as I haven't yet read your link's info.

As far as I know, there is no way to identify a disk as BD-J or not. They are not stamped as such. It is quite frustrating. I rarely watch a movie straight through in one sitting. Sometimes I will watch one over 2 or 3 days. I hate to sit through previews and titles and warnings again and again. And then FF to try to find where I left off last time. For this reason, I have given up on blu-ray and just play my DVDs (or use Netflix streaming play).

[Mike-o-Matic]

>> Odd Lots, Ollies, Meritline, Ebay...I never
>> pay more than $3 for a 4 ft cable.

Wise move!

It's unreal what some of these retail outfits want for an HDMI cable. $60 or $80 for a six-foot HDMI cable? They're insane. I guess there's still a sucker born every minute. Geez... A digital signal is a digital signal!! It either gets there or it doesn't.

On the other hand, if "Monster Cable" and its ilk aren't fancy enough, you can always order one of these $2,594 wonder-cables I suppose! (BONUS: the shipping is free!!!)

Yeah, sure the construction quality of a pricy cable might be a bit better, but how much flexing and moving around does an HDMI cable get?

Personally, I like Monoprice for an online vendor. They have lots of specialty computer, networking, and A/V items for cheap (price) and superb quality, too. Half the time you can get your cable for less than the cost of shipping. They cost a ton less for LCD panel mounts (TVs and monitors) too. Those are another A/V item whose price brick-and-mortar outfits jack way up. Link: http://www.monoprice.com