Samsung Debuts Slimmed-Down Combo HD Player
Sun Jan 6, 2008 5:02PM EST
See Comments (167)
Samsung has just announced its second-generation Blu-ray/HD DVD combo player, and it definitely has an edge on its predecessor in the style department. But here's a bigger question: How much will it cost?
The glossy, piano-black, and just 2.3 inch-high BD-UP5500 comes with most of the older UP-BD5000's features, including full support for Blu-ray and HD DVD interactive features, playback of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD soundtracks, as well as the ability to upconvert standard DVDs to full-on 1080p. Also included is out-of-the-box support for Blu-ray profile 1.1 (which allows for picture-in-picture commentaries on newer Blu-ray discs), an Ethernet port for downloading new firmware and accessing online content, and HQV processing for enhancing HD and SD video.
Overall, not bad, but here's the spec we really want to know: how much? Unfortunately, Samsung isn't releasing pricing info just yet, but hopefully it'll be lower than the $799 sticker price for the BD-UP5000—especially given that the demand for combo HD decks may dwindle now that HD DVD appears to be on the ropes.
Look for the BD-UP5500 to arrive in stores in the second half of the year.
Update: Reports are coming in that the deck will retail for $599—still pricey, but a veritable bargain compared to the $799 BD-UP5000.
Top 5 Posts
More About CES
Comments on Samsung Debuts Slimmed-Down Combo HD Player
Post a Comment
Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
-
7 Posted by hedgefundconsulting on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:18PM EDT Report Abuse
Please let me wake up in the morning and find someone has won this DVD / Blu-ray war !!!
-
8 Posted by lamplan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:56PM EDT Report Abuse
Don't waste your money, just go with the Blu- I mean, read the story from CES.
-
9 Posted by webofhair on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:42PM EDT Report Abuse
It's aboot time there is a more affordable Combo player on the market. Even though I still don't think either format will take over DVD anytime soon.
-
10 Posted by boiiinng on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:11PM EDT Report Abuse
kind of worthless now
-
11 Posted by skimigee on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:26PM EDT Report Abuse
Well I am not sure how HD lost the battle because last i check blu ray has been sinking. Who really cares about the additional features of hd/blu ray dvds? on screen menus are more annoying than anything else.
-
12 Posted by johnowens1311 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:39PM EDT Report Abuse
$799 yeah right. Let me know when you get to $199 and we will get and HD DVD player. No wonder no one buys HD DVD's with prices like these.
-
13 Posted by mikewpaul on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:20PM EDT Report Abuse
I don't see a SMALL market for dual players, unless everyone who bought a HD-DVD player put together constitutes a SMALL group. Who would chuck their current HD library and rebuy Blu-Ray? I realize the online content will end eventually for the HD-DVD titles but that would be expected anyway as the years pass after the title's release. There being absolute nothing wrong with HD-DVD, it is annoying to be told that Blu-Ray is winning based on superiority. It seems more like backdoor deals to split the royalties paid on codecs and such to me, with Blu-Ray besting other offers...
-
14 Posted by superdrawls on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:48PM EDT Report Abuse
Why buy something like that when you can get a Playstation 3 for the same price or lower..... It needs to be in the 300 - 350 price range since anyone I know wouldn't be stupid enough to buy one at anything over 500 bucks
-
15 Posted by babyboo_404 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:01PM EDT Report Abuse
I think this is insane!!!!! At first it was DVD's were only for the rich, now you not even buy VHS tapes anymore and we all know that eventually there will be something better and smaller than BlueRay!!! So small that they will fit in your pocket!!!
-
16 Posted by tbyrd20202000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:57PM EDT Report Abuse
700 dollars!! With cable and dish network having such lousy deals at well I guess its back to the movie theatres again.. In my town it costs an average of 8 dollars a show. It was cost effective to rent in past, but now its not.
-
17 Posted by soldja911247 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse
wow i wish i could aford one =P
-
18 Posted by icemankd1964 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse
I won't be buying that because I get to go kill ----- s in Iraq!
-
19 Posted by quasmo2006 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:24PM EDT Report Abuse
You know...while these companies beat each other up, and make the prices too uppity to buy, the consumer isnt gonna buy like u wish, and ppl will just wait till the movie(s) come out on cable or dish, or just wait ti;; the companies lower those prices for consumers to buy.
-
20 Posted by sapherra on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:04PM EDT Report Abuse
Problem with blu ray is that if you scratch a disc it's shot, can't use it again. Believe me I know
-
21 Posted by kapnkngroo19 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse
dont waist the $ on this crappy item the ps3 has evolutionized the world and everyone is too cheap to realize. the only chance for survival of the hd dvd player(s) is that the get a huge backer and that microsoft and intel step in the make it so. the only other option is to release and xbox with the player in it and they have nothing on their plate to do so within the next 3 years. goodbye HD DVD goodbye
-
22 Posted by scif90 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse
In florida the samsung blue ray was 299.99 already. Prices are on there way down.
-
23 Posted by linintexarkanatx on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:53PM EDT Report Abuse
I currently own the Samsung DVD/Video combo and it has been great! I have never had a problem with it for all the years that I have owned it. The picture and the sound is consistent, no matter what I play! I look forward to purchasing the Samsung Combo HD Player when the price goes down just a little. I think this is good news for all of us who like the versatility of a Combo HD Player!
-
24 Posted by dabigragu2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:33PM EDT Report Abuse
what is blu-ray
-
25 Posted by michael.watkins22 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:17PM EDT Report Abuse
The interior class and instructional software is designed for increasing development of academics and work invention imbibe within instructional user-interface module in appellate has surely maintain clerical and sales opportunities in various employable areas on myspace.com. This user-interface work invention of Monday-Friday in developmental coordination of Chemistry & Molecular Sciences for Wizards and Magicians who are followers of an intercession of. $600 dollars sales tax increase for adult-literature at-home for enterainment value. The instrument of supplement interior rheotoric in supplement home/office entertainment.
Sponsored Links
My Tech
Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.
Also on Yahoo! Tech
| Computers | Home Office | Wi-Fi & Networking | Phones & PDAs | Cameras & Camcorders | TV & Home Theater | Portable Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 Posted by wwicks333 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:51PM EDT Report Abuse
My blu-ray player was purchased from x-vision.net The have a great selection.