Go to the PS3 product listing and scroll down a little ways to the Frequently Bought Together section:
http://www.amazon.com/Playstation-3-...6545374&sr=8-1

$460.91 for the PS3, Blu-ray remote, and extra Dualshock controller

Buy any Sony Blu-ray Set Top Player or PS3, and any 2 Sony Blu-ray discs, and receive any 2 additional Sony Blu-ray discs free:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...d_i=B001COU9I6

While it says 'any' Sony Blu-ray, they only list about 1 page of Blu-rays. I don't know if it would really work with 'any' Sony Blu-ray or just the ones listed.

Stupid question of the day:
In terms of Blu-ray playback only, is there any difference between the 40GB and the 80GB PS3?

No. All PS3s play back BD titles the same. There is no difference in quality.

Thanks. Just checking. I have one PS3, but I'm considering buying one more. I use it strictly for BD, and I really like the look and feel of the PS3 over a conventional standalone player.

The 20GB and 60GB play SACDs if that matters to you.

What are SACDs?


<small>(hehe j/k. I hope ... no ... I know BDs won't go down that path!)</small>

Well, I finally pulled the trigger on a Blu-Ray player. Picked up Best Buy's Insignia branded player (newest version with ethernet and USB). It's hooked up via HDMI direct to my television (Sony 51" LCD Projection) and coax to my receiver. I also picked up Wall-E (2-Disc).

Now, my set is 1080i, and while it looked great I wasn't wowed like I thought I would be. Looking at Blu-Ray demos in store the image looked almost 3 dimensional. Now, those were were all live action movies-Iron Man and Pirates of the Caribbean specifically- being displayed on the latest LCD screens.

Now I am planning on picking up Tropic Thunder this evening to compare. Now, don't get me wrong, the image is crystal clear and at times during Wall-e it did take on an almost 3d look. Is the difference I think I am seeing due to my display resolution, projection type or am I just nuts?? Also, I've been watching hi-def content since the first set-top boxes came out years ago, so maybe I am just used to it.

Just out of curiosity, did the motion look smoother on those in-store sets? Like a video game that runs at 60fps instead of 30fps? I'm wondering if what you saw in the store was the motion interpolation feature that 120Hz LCDs have.

I always thought it was best to ignore the in-store demos, since they're played off a hard drive and not considered an accurate representation.

I've yet to go Blu, but I did get an HD-DVD player last year. My plasma is a 1080i, and I've been wowed by some of the HD titles (Transformers and Sky Captain, for example). But, just like standard DVD, not all transfers are stunners I guess, but I would think Wall-E would be impressive. I know I'm floored by the SD quality of Finding Nemo on my set.

I plan on picking of the Sony 550 within a couple of weeks...

While your picture is good, my assumptions for your poorer than expected video quality is:

1) 1080i set
2) Insignia player

Well, maybe I'm explaining it wrong. The picture is nowhere near poor. It is crystal clear and extremely detailed.

I'm wondering if the live action stuff just looked better because I'm not used to seeing that much detail on regular DVD (and face it, aside from MGMHD and HDnet Movies, most movie channels crop their HD movies so you might not be seeing them at their best). I expect crystal clear from CG animated movies, not so much from filmed content.

It sounds like you experienced what I did - I've had HD Cable for about 4+ years, and I wasn't blown away by Blu-ray as much as others who previously didn't have HD in their homes. I remember the first time my cable company installed my HD cable box, and just being amazed by the visuals.

You know, like I said earlier, that must be it. I'll have a better idea after I give Tropic a viewing tonight.

Edit:

Well, picked up a Samsung 46" 120hz 1080p set...and now...WOW! Hated losing the extra size of my Sony set, but I'd say it's a good trade-off.

Received my $75 check from LG today. Took a week after they called me last Monday to confirm the info I had emailed them.

Ok guys, I need some help here. I have a PS3 for a player on one TV but now I'm looking to get a stand alone for my other tv. Being the Sony whore that I am my choices are the 350 and the 550. At $305 is the 550 worth it over the under then $200 black Friday deals on the 350?

I don't currently have use for all the audio decoders but the load time would be a factor for me.

Depends on what You want. I don't have a surround system so sound isn't really a factor for me either. Load time: hey disc watching is leisure time - what's the hurry? I like everything about the 350 - especially the small size (a factor for me) and the comparatively reasonable price (sorry, but anything over $100 is a lot). I'm holding off tho because:
A) no DVIX
B) no region hack

Those two things are also factors for me. My TV is 720p, so I really haven't been in a MAJOR hurry to switch (especially with the ridiculous player/disc prices of BR). That said I'm already starting to grab some BR discs when I find good deals. Hope there's a player on the market soon that fits my price/size/DIVX/region hack requirements.

I think my main problem with getting the 350 is that I'm having a hard time picking it up knowing that it's essentially on it's way out.

Is there any reason why you won't try Panasonic? The reviews that I have read all favor the 35 over the 350. Costco will have the 35 on sale for $199.99 December 5 through the 14th. It includes an HDMI cable and you would get Ratatouille and Nightmare Before Christmas via a mail-in rebate. Good luck.

What do you mean? The 350 just came late summer.

Or am I missing some sarcasm/inside joke here?

Honestly I haven't even looked at the Panasonic because I'm one of those people that like my components to match. I'll check it out though. Thanks

I'm waiting for a good price on the Panasonic 35 (Missed out on the Sears sale) and I don't have a Costco membership, does anyone know if Best Buy, Walmart, Circuit City will price match Costco?

The $80 off deal applies to item numbers 359646 and 301111. Someone at AVS stated that item number 301111 is the Panasonic DMP-BD30 player(makes sense-30xxxx for this player, 35xxxx for the 35 player). If true, the price for the DMP-BD30 player will be $119.99($199.99 regular price less the discount). I know that this is last year's model and is Profile 1.1, but 120 clams is damn tempting! To answer your question, I'm pretty sure that those stores won't match a membership wharehouse store like Costco.

Don't know if it's earlier in this thread or another, but the only difference between the 350 and 550 that stands out for me:

350: HDMI connection
550: 7.1 Analog connections

If you have a receiver with HDMI - go 350. If not, go 550.

So I'ma be at Sears bright & early to get a 350. No KMart in Dallas that I can find. Where else is it rumored to be under $200?

Picked up the 350 at K-Mart this morning for $179......

Got there around 6:30, and was number 16 out of 30. Looked like the big items were Wii/Guitar Hero/Rock Band stuff

Per SlickDeals... http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665368427

Sony S350 for $200 - $50 with coupon code DISCOVER50BR = $150 plus free shipping.

(sorry to rain on your parade, 12thmonkey )