Get a Sony Blu-ray drive for $49.99

For the first time ever, you can score a Blu-ray drive for under $50.

(Credit: Sony)

Two sweet deals from Sony in one week? Mercury must be in line with Neptune. First we got the refurbished PlayStation 3 for $237, and now you can pick up a Sony BDU-X10S Blu-ray drive for $49.99 shipped (plus tax in most states).

Just to clarify, this is an internal PC drive, not a standalone Blu-ray player. So it's really a deal only if you have a PC hooked up to a big monitor or an HDTV. (Sorry, slim pickings on deals today.)

Just make sure you're using a DVI or HDMI connection to avoid copy-protection issues.

The BDU-X10S is a SATA drive with an 8x DVD read speed and 2x Blu-ray read speed. It comes with PowerDVD 8, which is necessary if you want to actually watch Blu-ray movies on your PC.

Drives like these were selling for well over $100 just last year, so 50 bucks is a deal indeed.

Because it's a refurb, the warranty expires after 90 days--no big deal, IMHO, but I thought you'd want to know.

Also, make sure your video card is HDCP-compliant and supports 1,920x1,080 resolution so you enjoy full 1080p goodness on your big TV.

[ducttape36]

killer find! if i didnt already have a blu-ray/hddvd drive i'd be all over this. some advice for people grabbing this deal though, powerDVD 8 is horrible, it will ask you to update repeatedly and is very finicky with new copy protection discs. I recommend upgrading to the latest version or getting something like arcsoft's totalmedia theater (which has the added bonus of integrating with windows media center.)

[Paul Criger]

Cheapskate - Any deals on HDCP compliant internal video cards? I', just asking. ;-)

[ywkhgqo]

This is a great deal:
160 GB PS3 Drakes Fortune bundle for $300:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05896009000P?sid=I0084400010000100383&aff=Y&origin=prod&CustomerMemberID=u0t0f0fp23897c0s599

[EvanSei]

awesome! I am still in the dvd up-conversion dark ages, I might have to move on to the blu-ray promised land.

[xeod]

So either Rick made a typo or Sony fixed an error, but I see it at a 99.99 price not 49.99. That?s stinks as I would have finally upgraded for the 49.99 price. Still not willing to invest more for Blu-ray.

[sluggotor]

Read under where the price is listed as $99.99. "Just $49.99! Savings reflected in cart. Limit 5 per order" Try reading the whole description before complaining.

Thanks Rick!

[xeod]

So I am going to be the first to comment on my above comment..... I am dumb, the price is 49.99 when its in the cart... Should have reviewed the site fully before making a dumb comment :P Buying one now :)

[sluggotor]

Irony. I'll go sit in the corner now.

[jca671]

Rick, you know if this drive is lightscribe capable?

[jca671]

Eh, never mind- it's out of stock!

[wusupjohn]

Out of stock

[texaggie04]

Fry's has the SHARP BDHP21U for $99.90 in store (no online). Amazon has 3 stars on 84 reviews. Not the most up to date player, but Sharp seems a little more recognized than the previous Curtis Mathes and Magnavox you posted.

[genuwine4532]

Found this model on http://theblueraydvdplayers.com/, it's an auction site and there are a bunch of this models and others at $49.99 and less.

[TexasTechie0504]

out of stock :(

[greatpix]

Got my drive in the mail today. Will install tonight when I get home from work. Deciding whether to keep the DVD drive that's already in the machine or do a dual drive setup.

[greatpix]

Install problems. First thing is to go to Sony's site and upgrade the firmware. Reboot. Insert their CD of software. Reboot. Run PowerDVD. Upgrade the software. (here's where I hit the problem, after the software upgrade PowerDVD crashes every time I try to play a Blu-ray disc. Hunting down where the problem lays. (This is where Google and the forums help a great deal.... at least I hope!)

Robert

[Certifiedfryguy]

How did you make out with your problem greatpix?