Best of the Blu-ray players
The latest HD movie players create a picture so real, it's as if you're there.
Price: $600
Thumbs up: The 2.0 Panasonic offers impressive Blu-ray playback and the out-of-the-box ability to tap into BD Live features.
Thumbs down: The quality of DVD playback is disappointing for the price. Plus, there's no support for 7.1-channel HD audio. And you may wait a minute or more for the menu to load.
The big picture: Look for the BD50 to be discounted soon when its improved successor, the BD55, shows up. Or save money and get the PlayStation 3.
Grade: B-
NEXT: Samsung BD-P1500
Thumbs up: The 2.0 Panasonic offers impressive Blu-ray playback and the out-of-the-box ability to tap into BD Live features.
Thumbs down: The quality of DVD playback is disappointing for the price. Plus, there's no support for 7.1-channel HD audio. And you may wait a minute or more for the menu to load.
The big picture: Look for the BD50 to be discounted soon when its improved successor, the BD55, shows up. Or save money and get the PlayStation 3.
Grade: B-
NEXT: Samsung BD-P1500
Last updated November 21 2008: 9:43 AM ET