Get a BD-Live-ready Blu-ray player for $169.99

Ready for BD-Live? So is this bargain-price Blu-ray Disc player.

(Credit: CNET)

CompUSA has refurbished Samsung BD-P1500 Blu-ray players on sale for $169.99.

That alone isn't huge news--last month, Buy.com had a Sylvania player for $159.99. So what's exciting about this? The BD-P1500 is the first sub-$200 Blu-ray player I've seen that supports BD-Live.

In case you're unfamiliar with it, BD-Live lets you download movie-related Internet content (trailers, extras, etc.), interact with other users, and more. Very few players (and only a handful of movies) support the technology, but it should become more commonplace in 2009.

Now, here's the catch: The BD-P1500 is only BD-Live-ready, meaning Samsung has promised--but not yet released--a firmware update to enable the feature. It could be months before the update (which will also bump the player to Profile 2.0) is available.

Update: Turns out the BD-Live firmware update was released in October! Thanks to the astute readers who corrected my erroneous info.

In the meantime, you'll get to enjoy all the other spoils of Blu-ray, including HDMI 1.3, Dolby TrueHD audio decoding, and, according to CNET's review of the BD-P1500, "very good image quality on most Blu-ray Discs."

Personally, I can't get that excited about BD-Live, but I can appreciate wanting a player that offers support for next-gen features. (Few low-end players can be upgraded to Profile 2.0.) What about you? Is this the Blu-ray spinner you've been waiting for, or will you wait for even lower prices and BD-Live that's already onboard?

This refurb comes with a 90-day warranty. Ground shipping will you run a very reasonable $5.

[norvabear]

I don't blame you for not being excited about the BD-Live. There's so little content out there so far that it's almost not worth bothering with. I've seen only one film so far that's even had something to look at that's associated with the disc I was watching. Most of the Disney Blu-Ray discs won't even connect, saying the Disney BD-Live service isn't available in my area.

[MakaiOokami]

I've had a BD-Live compatible blu-ray player for quite some time. Actually I have one of the best for over a year and a half. It only cost me 400 dollars. It's a PS3 :P

I don't have an HD TV so blu Ray is moot at the time being. I do have a tip for people though. If you are unable to access a Blu-Ray disk (like Ironman) because it's freezing, try to disconnect your internet connection and then try again as it might just be trying to connect to the servers and was unable to. Just pull the cable or disable it in the menu options before it loads the blu-ray and you shouldn't have an issue.

I think BluRay Live can be awesome but... like all things the bugs need to be worked out and they need to tap into the potential.

[sjong1]

Hey Rick,

Why not offer your readers a great screen to hook their blu-ray players up to? Buy.com has a Westinghouse 26-in widescreen (capable of 1080p) for $269.99, or $259.99 with this $10 off coupon for new customers http://www.buy.com/retail/coupon.asp?prid=82955137

http://www.buy.com/prod/westinghouse-26-inch-widescreen-1080p-lcd-monitor-1920x1200-hdmi-hdcp/q/loc/101/207540840.html

-check it out

[rickbroida]

Not a bad deal! Actually, I've been on the lookout for a larger, Super Bowl-friendly TV to recommend, but just haven't found any killer prices. Where are the $500 46-inch LCDs? Heck, even $600 would be a find.

[bart198452]

That's a great monitor! How could you use it as a TV though... isn't it a computer monitor? What else would I need to make it work?

[UrDaddy]

Costco has a Sceptre 46" 1080p LCD on sale for 699.00 through January 25th. Not exactly 600, but it's the lowest price I've seen on a 46/47" 1080p LCD. (Except during the Black Friday sales)

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11298221

[ggmorton]

The Samsung BD-P1500 is 2.0 compatible with a memory stick added in the back. Unless a firmware upgrade can add more memory onboard it will never be 2.0 out of the box. The firmware update via the web does make it 2.0 ready, but the addition of the memory stick in the back makes it 2.0.

[Rennhack]

I purchased 4 of these units from Amazon before Christmas (3 for presents) for $200 each. After Christmas, I decided I wanted another. They cost $270 on Amazon now.

They all needed a firmware upgrade out of the box to run the 'new' disks I was playing. The "Bonus View" text would display on the screen for entire movies, before I upgraded the firmware. The firmware upgrade is very simple (for me) just connect it to a router via cat 5, or plug in a USP with the downloaded update. -- But I'm sure that's a little too much for my mother-in-law, bless her heart.

After the firmware update, I haven?t had any troubled with my BD-P1500. I?m not a big fan of their remote controls. It?s no big deal, because I took Rick?s advice and got the Refurbished Harmony 880 remote control. I liked the 880 some, and got the Harmony One which I LOVE. It?s way better then the 880.

Bottom line, I?ve used this unit for about a month now, and it is a great unit (after firmware updates). It is essentially the same unit as their more expensive products (P2500) that have BD-Live enabled already, so until they discontinue those, I don?t think they will upgrade the firmware on the P1500 to support it.

[Rennhack]

I just looked at the description of the BD-P1500 on Amazon and the Samsung site, and they do not claim it is BD-Live capable, it is intended to be 1.1 only. Even in the description, it says the network connection is for software updates only.

[rickbroida]

Hmmm. CompUSA's product page references BD-Live-readiness, as does CNET's review. I suppose it's possible Samsung decided not to add the capability. Anyone know for sure?

[Rennhack]

Sorry Rick for the bad info. GGMorton is correct, I just looked at the latest firmware (released yesterday), and the 2.0 functionality was added Oct 03, 2008, if a 1GB USB memory drive into the back. (I didn't try it our with the memory pluged into the back.) Here is a list of the firmware release notes (note the firmware typically get updated every 2 months - that's a good thing):

< BD-P1500 Firmware Ver 2.3 >
Date: Jan.07, 2009
This Firmware update provides the following benefits:
1. Improves playback compatibility of some movie titles.



< BD-P1500 Firmware Update History>

Ver2.1 Dec.2, 2008
This Firmware update provides the following benefits:
1. Improves playback compatibility of some movie titles.


Ver2.0 Oct.03, 2008
This Firmware update provides the following benefits:
1. Supports BD-Live
2. Firmware auto upgrade(automatically notifies availability of new firmware)

NOTE: A 1GB USB memory drive must be plugged in the player to activate BD-Live features.


Ver1.3 Aug.08, 2008
This Firmware update provides the following benefits:
1. Improves playback compatibility


Ver1.1 June 30, 2008
This Firmware update provides the following benefits:
1. Improves playback compatibility

[ggmorton]

It is profile 2.0 with a memory stick in the back and the most recent firmware upgrade.
It works fine for me as a 2.0 player.

[sluggotor]

Rick,

Newegg has a 42" 720p LCD on sale for $499. 4/5 Average rating with 130 comments. It may be worth checking out.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889433001

[Nychocolips]

Rick, they lowered the player's price to $149.99. How cool is that?

[rickbroida]

Very cool...except it's still showing $169.99 at my end. Did you get an e-mail or something showing a lower price?

[Nychocolips]

It says 149.99 again. I feel like the guy who is the only one who hears the singing frog. I cleared my cache to make sure I was not hallucinating.

Chocobro

[Nychocolips]

I've added it to my cart. It still says 149.99. I was thinking of getting this for my 27" in my bedroom but don't know if it is worth it at that size. Check it again, Rick.

[Nychocolips]

Purchased for 149.99. But there is something up. Other people are seeing 169.99. The only difference with me is I am using Firefox. Strange.

[rickbroida]

Might be a regional thing. That's happened before with CompUSA, where the price is different depending on where you live. Weird.