Just finished reading through the list of some of the upcoming Blu-Ray players announced at CES 2008, and it looks to me like the PS3 is still the best bet. The only one of the announced players that interests me is the Panasonic DMP-BD50, but the price will likely still be too high.

What about video output? Am I correct in assuming that you can play movies over the component video connections as long as the resolution is not 1080p? In other words, will I be able to output 720p to my non-HDMI projector via component?

You should be able to do this. Component will carry the 720p signal.

You can now do Power On/Off with a IR Remote.

Check here:

http://www.schmartz.com/main.sc

yep. I was actually using component to get 1080i before I went to HDMI.

Including, as it says in the PS3 Manual --"Copyright-protected Blu-ray video discs"-- right?

Question: Does the PS3 have any problem in handling Blu-Ray discs with the BD+ copy protection scheme (e.g., Live Free or Die Hard)? I know I read the Samsung player was having trouble with such discs.

I have Die Hard and it played with no problem.

yep. I never had any issues with any Blu-Ray discs while going through component. I upgraded to HDMI for a cleaner install(1 cable) and for the upconversion of SD-DVDs. if not for those 2 things I'd still be using my component cables since I paid so much for them.

Some of those discs take a little while longer to load, but otherwise they play fine. Make sure your firmware is up-to-date. When I tried playing Die Hard, I hadn't updated the PS3 to 2.0 yet and it was really choppy when I tried rewinding or fast-forwarding. After the update, it played perfectly.

Question about the PS3 remote that is available separately. So it's bluetooth and not IR? What does that entail?

It doesn't depend on line of sight, and it can be used in the next room or even all around the house. However, since the PS3 doesn't use have a sensor for infrared (IR) signals, it doesn't work with various universal remotes. Although, as has been pointed out many times, you can buy a dongle that gives the PS3 IR remote capability, with some limitations.

Ok, so aside from the thing costing an extra $25 bucks it sounds fine to me. I'm used to a bazillion remotes anyway.

You might try giving the game controllers a try with Blu-rays first and see if you can get used to that if you want to save a few bucks. It's easy enough to use that I haven't felt the need to get the separate remote since our controllers are lying around anyway.

So ... I just bought a PS3 ... and yes, WB helped me make up my mind to go with BR ...

Anyway, this should be a good hdmi cable to get for the PS3, right?

HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Certified Cable 28AWG - 6ft w/Ferrite Cores (Gold Plated) - BLACK

I also only have one hdmi input on my hd tv... I need to get a hdmi switch for my tv because I already have an hd-dvd player hooked up with this hdmi cable ... do I need to buy another hdmi cable to go out from the switch to the hd tv? Or is it included with the switch?

This looks like a good switch to get:
2X1 Manual HDMI Switch - Push Button Type

Am I overlooking something?

Is it okay to use a switch with a 1.2a hdmi cable and a 1.3a hdmi cable? (I'm assuming yes, but I want to be sure)

Thanks in advance for any and all helpful answers! :up:

Don't have an external switcher so I can't help you there, but I do have that exact cable as well as the $150 Monster one and there is absolutely no difference in signal quality between them.

Thank god the Regza I bought has 3 HDMI inputs. I figured I might eventually need them all. I just didn't figure it would be so soon.

The 40GB doesn't play SACD's? That is so lame. SACD playback was one of the things that attracted me to the PS3 in the first place. I use it all the time for that purpose.

OH, monoprice all the way!Funny last week I had Dish Network come out and install HD and I helped in stall. I had bought a box of monoprice cables including several HDMI cables and I was feeding them to him and he was like "holy shit these are heavy duty cables, but have cost a fortune". I just laughed.

On the switcher I'd suggest getting a 3X or 4X switcher. Not much more money and will allow you to future proof a little. Plus I'm pretty sure the 4X has remote which will integrate with a universal remote. I have the 5X monoprice switcher and love it. At first I thought I'd never use 5X, but I had four filled up for a while (but even tho OTA HD is better then Dish, I didn't think enough so to keep my OTA Tuner, so out it came).

Oh and yea...you will need another cable, none comes with the switcher.

As long as discs aren't flagged with an Image Constraint Token, in which case they would be down rezzed if played through component cables. Not sure if any discs actually contain that token as of yet.

As do I. It was one of the things quietly left out of the 40GB.

I have a 60GB, so it doesn't bother me, but I always wonder what will happen if it breaks and I have to get it replaced. Hopefully the 80GB ones stick around for the long haul.

Is it just DTS HD-MA or all the new codecs?

Are you so sure this fw update will never be? What has Sony's response been?

The PS3 decodes Dolby TrueHD and obviously it can send a PCM track through the HDMI connection. The only track it has issues with is DTS HD-MA.

As far as I'm aware, Sony can offer a firmware update to decode DTS HD-MA tracks. They've just chosen not to thus far. What the PS3 is reportedly incapable of ever doing is sending the tracks over bitstream so HDMI 1.3 receivers can do the decoding.

That's too bad.

I have an XA2 and a Denon 3808, and I love the ability to bitstream all the advanced codecs over HDMI and have the receiver do the decoding. Yea, I probably get a little too excited when I see the AVR display "DOLBY TrueHD", or "DTS-HD MSTR", but it really is state of the art.

I guess to achieve this right now with Blu-ray, I'd need to get the BD30, but there are trade-offs there as well.