How good is the M1530 Blu-ray drive, really?

I was originally not going to get it, but as I've decided to buy a 40" 1080P LCD TV and surround sound I started to think about spending the $500. The alternative is I just buy a proper Blu Ray DVD player, instead of using the 1530 to play DVDs. Any of you who have the Blu Ray drive, is it worth getting over a proper Blu Ray player?

 

Well, if you're going to spend $500, you might as well get a Ps3 or stand-alone blu-ray drive.

 

You can get a combo HD-DVD & BluRay 5.25" drive from NewEgg and pop that into an enclosure. Then you have both formats and save about $150-200.

 

Yup get a PS3. Its been said that current blu-ray players aren't upgradeable (dunno if that applies here) but PS3 is way cheaper and more reliable. Are you gonna trust a slot-in blu-ray?

 

I'd buy a PS3 as well for now and maybe upgrade the laptop later if Blu-ray becomes _really_ affordable. Unless you need the Blu-Ray player on the go.

 

Bugger it then, not worth the $500.

 

well if the $500 money off is still on, thats a free blueray player!

 

Panasonic officially unveiled the world's thinnest Blu-ray drive!!! do you think this will be put in to the dell xps models!!

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=11072

 

Why would you not trust a slot loading drive? My PowerBook has worked flawlessly with its slot loading drive..

 

M8

I was going to do the same thing, but blu-ray movies are stupid prices at the moment, and look how much a blank disc is.

I got hundreds od dvd's and no blu-ray discs.

I can get a standalone for about £200.00 = 400.00 US why bother you are wasting your money.

I got a HD Tv as well.

Dont do it not yet.

 

Um... The PS3 is a slot loading drive itself.

I already have the PS3, but will get one as well for the M1330 (if it ever comes out) just so I can watch my Blurays on the go!

 

Blu-ray is a JOKE!

Takes too much battery time compared regular hd cd's
Limited movies for it.
Waaay too expensive!
Does not justify the extra $500.

For ego and bragging rights only.

 

The reason I bought the m1530 with a blu-ray player is more for convenience. With the discount price off it was actually free (system discount was $600 off over the holidays). I have a PS3 but who would want to bring that on trips! And since the m1530 was my last laptop purchase for now I wanted to max out the features. I do have some Blu-ray discs but why make it unusable on trips with just a regular DVD built-in. This way I can watch all DVDs in my collection or rentals, it's just for convenience.

 

I still think a $300 PC drive (which the firmware can be updated!) in an external enclosure is better. If you ever get a new system, or need a replacement, or that slot-loading piece of garbage stops working (I hate slot loaded drives), you'll be glad.

It does need the AC adapter though, so kanehi has a point with regards to portability and convenience. So a BR laptop isn't that bad of an idea...it depends on how you want to use the drive and where you want to use it.

Anyway, just my thoughts.

 

External drives can be a nuisance since you have to carry extra baggage around while on a trip and can't use it until you can find an outlet. If the external drive is usb powered it will decrease your battery significantly. I rather prefer an all-in-one laptop without worrying about lost cords and such. I can even take it to the park and watch. Or in the car while waiting for my wife shopping. But mostly I use it on trips and to watch something when I get bored waiting for a flight or in-flight. Or in long drives, such as L.A. to Las Vegas run. Very convenient. But then again I have my iPod to keep me entertained and converted movies (ripped) works well in it also.

 

Do you have a link to a 300 dollar external BD drive. The cheapest one I found was nearly 600 dollars. There are not that many on the market but the ones I have seen are expensive. Here's one I found for 577.48 including shipping: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822154179&ATT=22-154-179&CMP=OTC-17exta6&nm_mc=OTC-17exta6&cm_mmc=OTC-17exta6-_-Mac+-+Storage-_-LaCie-_-22154179

But I agree, I think this might be the way to go.

 

Well, with HDDVD out of the way, Blu-Ray prices are going nowhere but up.

So much for competition. Be ready to get ****d in the pocketbook by Sony for blu-ray...

 

In the short term your correct. BD is still unfinished and yet to realize profile 2.0 whereas HD DVD was already a finished product. BD cost more to make, and the transition for the studios to put stuff out on BD costs allot more as well. All we can hope for is BD to have some price drops before Christmas. BD has always cost more to make and don't expect Sony to subsidize costs by lowering prices. Now that HD DVD is gone they will surely price the hardware accordingly. But even Sony, as evil as many of us look at them cannot keep this technology from the masses forever. Probably sometime next year they will realize they will have to drop the players at or below 100 bucks and the media closer to where DVD is now or face the possibility of this technology staying at niche levels. Walmart shoppers are not going to pay 300 dollars for BD let alone 200 and 26 dollars for a movie title. Not going to happen. This is not the leap that DVD was to VHS. I'm currious to what Sony will charge manufacturers to license BD on their players. I wonder if they will even allow them to profitably make BD players under a hundred dollars. Time will tell. If Sony gets too greedy it will bite them back.