Anyone tried one of thoes $98 BluRay DVD Players? at Walmart?

I have heard that the BR players make a standard DVD look pretty good.
There is no way I'm going to convert my DVD collection to BR unless they are DIRT CHEAP.

The lower end BD players are still pretty darn good with BD movies, but where they generally cut back is in SD DVD upscaling. Since SD DVD is more important for you then you might want to consider a better (more expensive) BD player as your first player. You could also buy these cheap ones for the short term and if upscaling isn't all you hoped then later upgrade to a better model when budget allows and move the cheapo one to a bedroom to still have the ability to watch the BDs in there where the more critical viewing is not as important for most.

I purchased one and owned it for about a week. It was the something something Magnavox 530 model for $98.

While it was actually a very good performer on BluRays, according to my research Magnavox has not (and does not plan to) support these players with firmware updates. When I realized there were BluRays I could never watch unless I played a waiting game for firmware I returned it for a Panasonic BD60.

I should add I'm not just saying this out of theory. My girlfriend's copy of Twilight on BluRay would not play at all, and we had some trouble with features on Coraline as well. If you want to truly enjoy BluRay to the fullest extent, at least get a player that stays current with firmware updates (Sony or Panasonic).

I have no idea how a company can sell a Blu-ray player for $98 profitably with profit margin for Wal-Mart and then support it with firmware updates. The player is very good based on everything I have read but that is an impossible task, it costs money to provide firmware support and that price doesn't provide the margin to do it. I expect Funai to do it anyway but I sure can't say how they can do it.

Chris

I have no idea how a company can sell a Blu-ray player for $98 profitably with profit margin for Wal-Mart and then support it with firmware updates. The player is very good based on everything I have read but that is an impossible task, it costs money to provide firmware support and that price doesn't provide the margin to do it. I expect Funai to do it anyway but I sure can't say how they can do it.

Chris

Because the parts only cost $23, the R & D is paid for with the $300 versions, that only cost $47.

Business decisions are made to have very little profit on one product line, if a similar product line, using most of the same parts, makes up for the loss.

I have no idea how a company can sell a Blu-ray player for $98 profitably with profit margin for Wal-Mart and then support it with firmware updates. The player is very good based on everything I have read but that is an impossible task, it costs money to provide firmware support and that price doesn't provide the margin to do it. I expect Funai to do it anyway but I sure can't say how they can do it.

Chris

Just another reason Blu-ray is so superior to HD DVD, right Chris? No firmware support.

I have no idea how a company can sell a Blu-ray player for $98 profitably with profit margin for Wal-Mart and then support it with firmware updates. The player is very good based on everything I have read but that is an impossible task, it costs money to provide firmware support and that price doesn't provide the margin to do it. I expect Funai to do it anyway but I sure can't say how they can do it.

Chris

The point is that if they do not provide timely firmware updates a BD player is a brick for playing new BD releases. That severely limits it's ability to be used for it's intended purpose of playing BD movies. :hithere:

The point is that if they do not provide timely firmware updates a BD player is a brick for playing new BD releases. That severely limits it's ability to be used for it's intended purpose of playing BD movies. :hithere:

Oh, I certainly undersand that. The Funai players have had very few problems playing discs so far but that is no guarantee they can continue that. Based on personal experience and what I have read, I would say Funai players have a better track record than Samsung players. That isn't saying much, of course.

Chris

I have no idea how a company can sell a Blu-ray player for $98 profitably with profit margin for Wal-Mart and then support it with firmware updates. The player is very good based on everything I have read but that is an impossible task, it costs money to provide firmware support and that price doesn't provide the margin to do it. I expect Funai to do it anyway but I sure can't say how they can do it.

Chris
Not impossible when Wal-mart buys hundreds of thousands. How many people are even thinking about fimrware updates at $98? Not many.

Because the parts only cost $23, the R & D is paid for with the $300 versions, that only cost $47.

Business decisions are made to have very little profit on one product line, if a similar product line, using most of the same parts, makes up for the loss.

Ha, go ahead and provide some evidence the parts are only $23. Of course that doesn't include labor, packaging, licensing, warranty costs, and customer service but I always like the way people just through out bogus numbers as if they are fact. The parts are in fact much more than $23 and the parts don't come close to being the total cost.

At $98, there is no way for Blu-ray players to be manufactured and support, warranty, customer service, and firmware to be provided.

Chris

Not impossible when Wal-mart buys hundreds of thousands. How many people are even thinking about fimrware updates at $98? Not many.

Yeah they likely don't even know that other mfg BD players actually get them either. Doesn't mean they will not need them and possibly not get them as new BD releases come out that require them. Who wants to learn the hard way? Firmware updates for BD players are not just a "nice feature/option". They are necessary to play the new releases when the studios change the DRM (copy protection) of BD-Java version encoded on the BD disc. It is not like SD DVD where the copy protection was static. With BD the DRM is dynamic and they have already changed it a few times and all players required firmware updates to even play the movies.

That is why we try to provide this type of info here and then people can make informed decisions.

Oh, I certainly undersand that. The Funai players have had very few problems playing discs so far but that is no guarantee they can continue that. Based on personal experience and what I have read, I would say Funai players have a better track record than Samsung players. That isn't saying much, of course.

Chris

Time will tell if they ever provide updates and provide them timely so you do not have to wait months to play new releases in them if ever.

At this point i just do not feel comfortable recommending these brangs without stating the possible/likely pitfalls of saving a few bucks.

Then with all this DRM crap, BD is not ready for the Joe Six-pack mass market. If Holywierd can't get thier collective butts together on DRM, they wont have a market to sell to.....................

Then with all this DRM crap, BD is not ready for the Joe Six-pack mass market. If Holywierd can't get thier collective butts together on DRM, they wont have a market to sell to.....................

Exactly...

Yeah they likely don't even know that other mfg BD players actually get them either. Doesn't mean they will not need them and possibly not get them as new BD releases come out that require them. Who wants to learn the hard way? Firmware updates for BD players are not just a "nice feature/option". They are necessary to play the new releases when the studios change the DRM (copy protection) of BD-Java version encoded on the BD disc. It is not like SD DVD where the copy protection was static. With BD the DRM is dynamic and they have already changed it a few times and all players required firmware updates to even play the movies.

That is why we try to provide this type of info here and then people can make informed decisions.
When I visit my dad I always check for updates on his BD-35. He asks me why it would need a update anyway it's just a damn disc player. I don't go into the reasons with him because he will just start in about how his DVD player didn't need this update shit. :lol:

When I visit my dad I always check for updates on his BD-35. He asks me why it would need a update anyway it's just a damn disc player. I don't go into the reasons with him because he will just start in about how his DVD player didn't need this update shit. :lol:

If I knew about the firmware fixes to play certain BD, I would not have bought a BD Player untill they hashed DRM out. I would have bought a 1080P upconverting player instead..............

If I knew about the firmware fixes to play certain BD, I would not have bought a BD Player untill they hashed DRM out. I would have bought a 1080P upconverting player instead..............

The DRM will always be in flux as this is how the studios want it with dynamic/changeable DRM. They want to be able to change it anytime to try to keep pirates at bay, and are willing to make things more difficult for 98% of the people who follow the law.

The least they could do is come up with a universal DRM update system that works with all BD players and is independent of mfg. Make the studios provide this update as well since THEY are the only benefactor of dynamic DRM THEY demand.

Why should player mfg be shouldered with this financial & technical burden? Why should consumers be at the mercy of player mfg conituing to provide such updates so their BD players don't stop working with new releases?

Another issue that might be just as big is the different versions of Java being used by these companies as well and another reason why so many updates are continually needed. They need to freeze the Java version ASAP and require ALL participants to use that version. What good is a "standard" if everyone has a different version and they do not freeze ONE version to be used? :banghead: