Hi OSP,

OK, I know this is way off topic but I didn't know where else to post this question. Given the vast experience and creative talents of OSP I know someone here can answer this question for me.

I'm seriously considering purchasing a Blu-Ray player but I also understand that the PS 3 plays Blu-Ray discs.

Is the PS 3 just as good in terms of picture quality as a regular stand-alone Blu-Ray player?

Since this is off topic feel free to PM or email me if that's more appropriate it. Thank you in advance for your help and I look forward to reading your responses.

Don't pm him... cause I wanna know too!

But I suspect it is the same quality.

Well, at risk of branding myself a man-child, I do have a PS3 and watch Blu-Ray DVDs on it. It is a fully functioning bluray player as well as a media hub and game console. The quality is excellent.

The major benefit of having a PS3 as your Bluray player is that it has firmware and software for playing Bluray DVDs that can be updated via a wireless internet connection as the format changes. (There is already BluRay 2.0 which contains functionality unavailable on 1.0 players.) All other BluRay players lack this flexibility.

Plus...well, it plays games. Not that I do that...waste of time, childish....you know....that stuff.

Yeah, what he said....and um maybe we play games...waste of time and all that.

My husband is the king of geeks when it comes to HD and our tv/movie watching capabilities. He went with the 80 gig PS3 right after they made the official announcement that HD DVD's were dead.

Our theatre here is amazingly bad...a special kind of bad...still no suuround sound kind of bad.

Jason fixed us up at home so we never have to go again. A ninety inch widescreen pulls down from the ceiling, a custom box for the projector hangs from the ceiling. We watch Blu-rays on the PS3 regularily. We also have a movie purchasing problem...

Great question. YES...the PS3 is an excellent BR player, particularly for the reason already mentioned: firmware can be easily upgraded. AV Science Forum is an EXCELLENT resource for all things audio/visual. Did I already mention that it is an excellent resource?

Now, let's look at the PS3 from a photographer's perspective. It has a bank of media slots, including a USB port, for you to be able to stick in your flash cards or thumb drives containing images. Then, using one of several outstandingly beautiful playback options (scarily much like a Mac experience), you can go home after a shoot and watch it on the big screen. Or, once your session is ready for the client, make it a special "reveal" event and invite them over to your home, have some java, popcorn, soda, whatever may seem appropriate for the session, play it back for them on the PS3, sit back, and watch them ooh and aah.

Buy a PS3 from Walmart this coming week and get a $100 gift card to the store. If you shop there as much as we do, that's like cash back!!

The PS3 is the ONLY blueray player that will get better with age and constantly support new versions of it. Because of the ps3 firmware updates and the marginal price difference it only makes sense to get it as a blueray player.

Can I come over to watch a movie?

Sounds nice to say the least. I have the projector but without the screen. I use the living room wall for that. At over 10 feet wide it makes for one grand view.

I have one too, and I can't wait to get rockband!! Any other OSPer's wanna be in my band???

Oh yeah, after watching Blueray I don't rent anything Blueray.

Wow, so many great responses. THANK YOU everyone as I now know where to spend my money. PS3 here I come! ;-)I LOVE Rockband, can I join your band?Wow, can I come over to both of your homes to watch a movie? I'll bring the popcorn. :-)Well said!Thank you Matt, I had no idea you could do all of that with your PS3. And, I didn't know about the Walmart discount. I just purchased a wide angle lens so I may miss this special. :-(I believe Sam's Club still has some. I'll have to check Costco too!

I'm not sure if this is what Matt's referring to but it looks like a great deal (it beats Costco's price):

PlayStation 3 40GB w/Bonus $100 Gift Card - $399.00

PlayStation 3 40GB
BONUS $100 Walmart.com Online Gift Card*
*Limited quantities available on Gift Cards. For online use only, Gift Cards are non-refundable.

PlayStation 3 Entertainment Bundle w/ Bonus $100 Gift Card - from $469.00 (final price depends on the options you choose):

PlayStation 3 40 GB
Your choice of Game
Your choice of Blu-ray movie
Sony Blu-ray Remote
*BONUS $100 Walmart.com Online Gift Card
*Limited quantities available on Gift Cards. For online use only, Gift Cards are non-refundable.

Walmart PS3 Deals

And a $100 gift card from WM is as good as cash IMO!!!