Q Any idea when there is going to be a good Blu-ray player at a reasonable price? The industry should be ashamed if the PlayStation 3 is still the only player that makes sense.
SCOTT MCCRACKEN, MOON TOWNSHIP, PA.
A Things are definitely looking up on this front in the form of the Insignia Blu-ray player.
Manufactured by Funai, the underlying hardware works extremely well and is showing up in new players such as the Philips BDP7200 ($399) and Wal-Mart's Magnavox NB500MG9 ($298.) The Insignia NS-BRDVD ($299) is identical to the Magnavox, but has a superior one-year parts and labor warranty, an extra digital output and $100 in Blu-ray movie coupons in the box.
The Insignia is a well-made machine with solid, reliable performance. Picture quality is fantastic, and the well-designed remote is responsive. An SD card slot allows you to show digital photographs directly from camera to television. I encourage you to try this feature if you get the player.
Blu-ray movie startup times lag behind the PlayStation 3, but are far speedier than the stand-alone players of just a few months ago. Many of these primitive, slow and glitchy players are still on the shelves and are to be avoided. I cringe when I see the obsolete Sony BD-PS300 and Samsung BD-P1400 selling for $399 or even $299 next to the much better, much more capable Insignia.
The PS3 ($425 with Blu-ray remote control) is a more advanced machine. It is compatible with Blu-ray's Web-enabled features and can play games and downloaded content, but there are scenarios where the Insignia or a comparable stand-alone would be a better choice.
Besides the $125 savings, many consumers would not bother exploring all of the PS3's capabilities if their sole purpose is watching Blu-ray movies. A stand-alone's form factor is familiar and simpler to set up, and the Insignia's infrared remote is easier to use than the PS3's Bluetooth remote.
