MagnaVox started selling a 1.1 profile Blu-ray player for 298 bucks, which has been spotted at Wal-Mart. This is definitely the cheapest option out there…Is this what many people have been waiting for to take the plunge and invest on a Blu-ray player? Maybe… MagnaVox is a second tier brand from Phillips but this player has been manufactured by the Japanese Funai, which also makes a few products for Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Sharp, Denon and others. Also hitting the market is the Sylvania NB500SL9, which can be pre-ordered at amazon.com at an affordable price of $349.99. This Sylvania player is also manufactured by Funai and basically the same as the MagnaVox NB500MG9, only different brand. If you are looking for a “entry level” stand-alone player, these two are a great affordable option but think twice if you are looking for more performance, you are still better off with a Playstation3!

Specs

- Profile 1.1 BonusView Picture-in-Picture
- Video Output Resolutions: 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p (1080p/24 and 1080p/60)
- DVD Upconversion to 720p, 1080i, 1080p
- Support for HD Audio Formats: (bitstream output, no internal decoding)
- HDMI Ver. 1.3
- Weight 9.5 pounds

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Here is a diagram of the MagnaVox Blu-ray Player:

Popularity: 100% [?]

Dell just released probably the cheapest computer you will find with a blu-ray player. Granted, it’s definitely not the best you can find but for only $800 what did you expect?? The new Inspiron 1525 comes with a Blu-ray player (not Blu-ray burner! You can burn only DVDs and CDs) and will enable you to watch HD up to 720p. For those people who like to be different or unique they come in a variety of colors and just like any other Dell computer, you can customize your machine with better capabilities. Obviously that comes with some more “$$Franklins$$”. The $800 version also comes with a HDMI output so you can hook up to your big-screen TV and experience the real Blu-ray high definition.

According to Dell, the new Inspiron will start shipping on April 7^th. If your hands are itching for the new toy, hold your horses cowboy. I am sure prices will plummet very soon now that the format war is over more and more computers will be available with Blu-ray players and burners. The consequence? The prices will drop!

Popularity: 6% [?]