Is Blu-ray worth the effort/cost

Repost from general board:

I have posted and read numerous threads requesting advice on laptops where the primary requirements are Blu-Ray as source for HDTV + typical laptop functionality.

I haven't seen any real in depth responses or discussion regarding the feasibility of the application (Blu-ray as source for HDTV).

Please, if you have knowledge on this subject take a minute to respond, I think that your advice will help a lot of potential consumers on this board with their decisions.

Questions:

1. Is a BR player in a laptop a viable source for external HDTV? (ie: will overhead and resource limitations of laptop effect picture and sound quality on HDTV
2. Does a BR player require additional or upgraded resources on a laptop to be worthwhile (ie: faster processor, better GPU, more memory, vista v xp? In other words is an inexpensive laptop with an expensive BR player a waste of money?
3. Are the quality of BR players for laptops similar to a separate dedicated BR player for HDTV? (ie: what standard supported, quality of the decoders, scaling etc?)
4. What is the effect of the BR player on battery life? This appears to be a serious issue that has not been publicized.
5. Can a BR player be added later as an upgrade, when cost come down, technology improved?
6. Would you buy a laptop with BR player at this time, considering all of the above?


Thank you in advance for you input on this subject, I think this is going to really help some of us

 

Ive had a blu-ray read and write laptop for approx 5 months now and ive not once watched a blu ray on it so far, with things like cable and sky tv you don`t really feel the urge to go out and buy a blu ray film condsidering what they cost buy. When i buy things i want the latest gimmick so to speak hence blu-ray, personally i doubt you will ever use a laptop much to watch blu ray films.

I would buy a psp if you want to watch blu ray and that way you gave a games console as well, i only got my blu ray laptop to future proof me so to speak just incase blu ray films come down in price and then i may buy some.

 

1) A laptop with a Blu Ray drive is a fine source for a HDTV as long as the laptop has a HDMI connector.
2) You can playback Blu Ray in just about anything, although there will like be stuttering unless your laptop has a decent GPU.
3) Blu Ray playback software is now mature and the equal of stand alone BR player.
4) Eats battery faster than DVD, not because of the disc but because of the horsepower needed to decode the video.
5) Yes, you can upgrade a DVD laptop drive with a BR drive, but your GPU is the key component. If you don't have a strong discrete GPU in your laptop or integrated graphics specifically designed with BR playback in mind (like the Intel 4500), you'll drop frames during playback.
6) Depends on the cost difference between DVD playback and BR playback. If I could get a BR drive for only $50 more, I would go for it. If it was $200-$300 more, probably not. It also depends on how long you are going to have the laptop. If you plan to keep it for 5 years, yes, if only a year, no. I would not try to upgrade a laptop that did not come with a BR drive.

 

Questions:

1. Is a BR player in a laptop a viable source for external HDTV? (ie: will overhead and resource limitations of laptop effect picture and sound quality on HDTV

No i play games and do everything on my HDTV and it is the real deal NOTHING will be affected the sound comes out crisp from the TV
2. Does a BR player require additional or upgraded resources on a laptop to be worthwhile (ie: faster processor, better GPU, more memory, vista v xp? In other words is an inexpensive laptop with an expensive BR player a waste of money?

no not necessarily though you may wanna have a low end dedicated GPU and any Core 2 for good quality these are very easy things to get in a notebook and you can get it for cheap
3. Are the quality of BR players for laptops similar to a separate dedicated BR player for HDTV? (ie: what standard supported, quality of the decoders, scaling etc?)

Yes the Quality is the same PLUS on notebooks you can update all the drivers something that cant really be done with dediated blu ray player
4. What is the effect of the BR player on battery life? This appears to be a serious issue that has not been publicized.

Hmm this is hard to answer i would seach the forums for the best information.
5. Can a BR player be added later as an upgrade, when cost come down, technology improved?

Yes it can as long as it fits the notebooks drive.
6. Would you buy a laptop with BR player at this time, considering all of the above?

I wouldnt, only because im not a Movie watcher plus PS3 has one of the Best Blu Ray's but all in all if you want it go for it but i can see blu ray drives being HALF the price they are now next year mark my words.


Thank you in advance for you input on this subject, I think this is going to really help some of us

You're very welcome

 

Awesome responses!!!!!

Thank you both, this is the information I needed.

I think I will pass on the Blu-ray for now. Seems like a better idea to get the latest and greatest CPU + GPU for the least cost and wait for BR to come down in price.