Best Way For BluRay

[handscombmp]

Currently thinking of getting bluray and i'd like to know what the best way of getting it is.
So far i've come up with three options

1. Get a BluRay drive for my PC as my Pc is currently connected to my TV so it should be easy. Sound would be from a Titanium X-Fi via optical as my surround doesn acept HDMI.
With the sound though i know i can only get 5.1 but would it be the cyberlink software that converts it or the Creative Dolby Digital Live that doownmixes it. Plus what about getting 24fps support from my pc.

2. A PS3 which i could also use for a couple of games like GT5 and Moterstorm.

3. Buy a dedicated blu ray player.

Which way do you think is the best as i'm not to sure as the ps3 sound tempting but i don't think i'd do enough gaming on it to make it worth will as i use my PC mainly and sometimes my 360.

[Jay]

how much do you have to spend?

[handscombmp]

how much do you have to spend?

Ideally as little as possible but i would be happy to go up to £300 if it's really worth it.

[PeteSmith]

Personally i would go for the PS3, but if you’re not that interested in the games then it would make sense just to get one for your PC surely? Save yourself some notes.

[PeterStoba]

£60 vs £300 is alot better, especially when you've already got a PC and a 360 to game on.

[handscombmp]

My only concern is if the picture and sound quality are going to be as good on a pc as they are on a standalone player.

Also how am i going to handle the sound. Would Cyberlink convert the sound into a normal 7.1 channel and then the X-Fi would convert it into 5.1 via SPDIF using Dolby Digital Li.ve

And another thing is, is it possible to get 24fps using a pc.

[Skinleech]

My only concern is if the picture and sound quality are going to be as good on a pc as they are on a standalone player.

Also how am i going to handle the sound. Would Cyberlink convert the sound into a normal 7.1 channel and then the X-Fi would convert it into 5.1 via SPDIF using Dolby Digital Li.ve

And another thing is, is it possible to get 24fps using a pc.

I've connected my HTPC via DVI to HDMI and straight HDMI and it looks as good as my HD-DVD player which is connected via HDMI.

Sound wise, set Cyberlink to use spdif and it will output the lossy Dolby Digital or DTS track over that, not need to worry about anything tinkering with the sound. It'll sound just the same as a standalone as it's just a lossy track. A plyer would output the track exactly the same way.

24fps is not an issue providing you can set your gfx refresh rate to the right setting, and your tv accepts it.

[Jay]

I use Vista and MCE for my Media Center the DVD Upscale is by far the best I have ever seen and I have linked PowerDVD in to MCE for Blueray / HD-DVD playback. Love it!

[shadowmaster]

I would say number 1. A PS3 would have been my first choice, but since you already have your pc connected to your tv its much cheaper just to get a blu ray drive. Plus you already have an xbox360.

Just to note, a PS3 would not necessarily cost £300, you can pick it for about £240 on ebay.

[Funkstar]

Just to note, a PS3 would not necessarily cost £300, you can pick it for about £240 on ebay.

Zavvi were doing them locally for £270. I'd rather get a PS3 from a company in administration then spend £240 on eBay.

[Aden]

Zavvi were doing them locally for £270. I'd rather get a PS3 from a company in administration then spend £240 on eBay.

Should have got one in woolies

[handscombmp]

I use Vista and MCE for my Media Center the DVD Upscale is by far the best I have ever seen and I have linked PowerDVD in to MCE for Blueray / HD-DVD playback. Love it!

How do you link them into each other as i'm sure that i read somewhere it doesn't work.
Iis it a simple or does it require some registry edits.

Juust a final couple of things before i go out and buy i drive.

I'm think of getting this LG which i know can play both HD DVD and Blu Ray and was wondering if the software comes with it.

Plus i know that i'd have to get power DVD 7 as it supports HD DVD and Blu Ray (as i've got a few HD DVD's) but does it support Blu Ray profile 2 (BD Live) or was it written before this.

And finally if it's included is it the full version or some basic features only one that doesn't have everything.

[Funkstar]

How do you link them into each other as i'm sure that i read somewhere it doesn't work.

Not read the thread, but this was the first hit for "mce bluray plugin" on Google:
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/240762.aspx

[Skinleech]

I'm think of getting this LG which i know can play both HD DVD and Blu Ray and was wondering if the software comes with it.

Plus i know that i'd have to get power DVD 7 as it supports HD DVD and Blu Ray (as i've got a few HD DVD's) but does it support Blu Ray profile 2 (BD Live) or was it written before this.

And finally if it's included is it the full version or some basic features only one that doesn't have everything.

I've got that drive, it comes with an LG branded Power DVD 7 (BD+HD 6CH Version with internal pack(s): Mpeg4 AVC, mobility pack) on the disk. There is no version number supplied, and the part in brackets above is what the About box tells me.

You need to install the variety of junk that it's supplied with too (Cyberlink Hi-Def suite). You can deselect everything except Powerstarter which is a daft front end, and then uninstall the Hi-Def Suite, which will leave PDVD on your system. It wouldn't let me install PDVD by itself, but I didn't try hard.

Out of the box, it doesn't support BD Live AFAIK, but you can patch it, and that should work. I've only installed from the disk just now, so this should all be correct. I'm waiting on the patch downloading.

I use Arcsoft Total Media instead of PDVD as I have an Xonar HDAV HDMI soundcard and you need that card and the Asus version of TMT for full bitrate HD audio formats.

Oh yeah. Once installed & patched up, run MSconfig and deselect:

cyberlink brs
Language Application
PowerDVD

As it's all junk you don't need.

[easyrider]

The Sony BDP 350 for just over £150 cannot be beaten for price and IQ at this price point.

The PS3 used to be the good option when Standalones were very expensive but now they have dropped the story has changed again.

A Nice HTPC setup is also a very good option if you have verything else in place and GFX card that can handle 1080p and 5.1 audio over HDMI.

[Gunbuster]

BTW Sony Style UK sell 40GB PS3s for £250. They are Sony branded, but essentially a seperate company hence the good price.