The 3 disk set arrived yesterday and Disk 3 will not load on my Panasonic BD60 but it will load on my slim PS3.

Loading the disk on the PS3 prompted some sort of download so I wonder if there is some routine that is being omitted on the Panasonic: it loads the disk, connects to network, and then nothing.

I have not yet tried Disk 2, but Disk 1 loads on the Panasonic. I rarely use the PS3 for disk watching since (as far as I know) it still does not upscale SD BD content.

A Sony customer service rep suggested that the loading problem might have something to do with the fact that I don't have an external USB memory card/device. Does that sound reasonable?

This. An external USB memory stick is crucial in these players. I know, I've got a Sony BDP-S350 and the addition of the memory stick vastly improved my loading times; it's practically essential.

They have the original of this poster on the wall at Melrose Mac in Hollywood, CA.

again...w/ the PS3...no problems.

I'd be curious to know how many of those having problems loading Apocalypse Now have (or don't have) the memory device. Anyone care to chime in?

I consider no front display a major problem.

I don't, what do you need to see?
I just press the display button on the remote for any info I need.

Major? Really? Why?

yeah....like...how is it a big deal?

The PS3 can't handle Region free 50hz/PAL though the s350 can't either.

I have a 4GB SD card installed on my player updated with the latest firmware and it is connected to my network. Still, Disk 3 does not play on my BD60 (but it loads and plays on the slim PS3.)

And the biggest problem with the PS3 is that it does not upscale SD content on BDs. (I don't know how much that impacts the content on the 'Apocalypse Now' BD.)

Nevermind -- I finally got Disk 3 to load on the BD60 by pressing STOP and then pressing MENU.

Ok... major? Maybe not, but it bothers me because I like having a display to show me how much time is remaining in the film.

Also, I'm not a gamer so I wouldn't have much use for it outside of being a BR player. My Sony standalone functions just fine, no reason to get a new player when I don't need one. Now, should it crap out... then maybe.

Fair enough. Personally, I like the fact that the PS3 has no front display. The less things shining in the dark to distract from the screen, the better. (In fact, in my upcoming home theater room, all the components will be behind me). If I need to see how much time is left, it's available at the press of a button on the OSD.

I play very few games, but the PS3 is still the media centerpiece of our den thanks to the robust local streaming capabilities, hi-def Netflix, built-in wireless, and top-notch Blu-ray performance. Now, you may not think you'd use any of that extra stuff, but it just might surprise you how useful a PS3 can be even if you're not a gamer.

All that said, there are less expensive players on the market now that do pretty much all of that except for gaming, so those fully-featured standalones are arguably a better option.

So, I finally get the 3-disc Full Disclosure set during the BN sale ... and wouldn't you know it's defective!

Panny BD35. Freezes at the 1:15 mark in the original cut, which is exactly the problem point identified in this thread.

EDIT: I also tried this disc on a Samsung blu-ray player in the bedroom (wife purchase, don't know the model offhand) - froze up in same spot, but was able to pick up the action a chapter or two later.

Interesting, I bought mine through B&N when it was first released and just checked on the Panny BD35 with no problems (just the point you said and what that thread said). So I guess there were bad batches out there that wouldn't play on the Panasonic or Pioneer rather than the entire line?

I think that's the general consensus. I'm getting it exchanged, so hopefully I can report back with a working disc in a few days!