help needed for choosing a blue ray player

[Buddafly]

I am considering a new dvd/blue ray player... my dvd player is pretty frigging old, though it still works like it just came out of the box.

the reason I'm considering is because I came across the fact that these new players can stream my amazon prime account so I can watch free movies on my TV instead of my pc. thing is, the reviews are all over the place for which ones are worth my time and which ones aren't.

I would like to spend less than 200 on one, which I know will limit me - but I'm not spending more when I already have a player that works 100% fine. does anyone have one that they've had longer than a year and can vouch for performance?  OR - do any of you have a suggestion for something smaller I can purchase that would effectively do the same thing?  I tried hooking up my laptop to my setup once, but unless I just hook the laptop up directly to the TV, I can't get it to work - and just hooking it directly to the TV bypasses the surround sound, which I don't like.

my current home theater set up includes a wide screen tv, yamaha receiver, 5 point speakers, verizon fios tv service, an old VCR I used to hook up old gaming systems (genesis, super nes), assorted game consoles, and my new Wii.  (just in case any of that could be of assistance in suggestions for how to stream amazon prime)  sadly, the Wii's internet won't let me use the amazon prime instant viewing

[teresat]

Sorry can't help. But I'll bump up for you.

We use the PS3 for Blue Ray. Apparently it also does Amazon Instant viewing too.

[StoryDreamer]

If you don't get a blu-ray player, you can use your amazon prime account on a roku (79.99) plus hulu, netflix, and a lot of other streaming channels (some free). I saw Big Lots had a blu-ray in their flyer this week around 45.00.   

But I LOVE my roku. I have two. Both work flawlessly. I don't even have cable. I run the roku while online (I'm streaming itunes podcasts on my tv with it as I type this) with no problems.

www.roku.com.

Preview of channels: http://www.roku.com/roku-channel-store

Small box, no bigger than a box of cards. Has two cords (can do HD) a video/audio one and then ac adaptor. That's it.

[rybett]

PS3 here too.

[Buddafly]

If you don't get a blu-ray player, you can use your amazon prime account on a roku (79.99) plus hulu, netflix, and a lot of other streaming channels (some free). I saw Big Lots had a blu-ray in their flyer this week around 45.00.   

But I LOVE my roku. I have two. Both work flawlessly. I don't even have cable. I run the roku while online (I'm streaming itunes podcasts on my tv with it as I type this) with no problems.

www.roku.com.

Preview of channels: http://www.roku.com/roku-channel-store

Small box, no bigger than a box of cards. Has two cords (can do HD) a video/audio one and then ac adaptor. That's it.

that's pretty neat.  I'll have to talk to my hubby about that and see what he thinks of it

[kaoskat]

I wouldn't even know where it start! Good luck though!

[LuvlyMelody]

I say PS3!! Plays DVD, Blu-Ray and even video games! Not to mention it has Netflix. As for Amazon, not too sure...

[Eviecorn]

I pretty much agreed that DVD was the last thing I was ever going to do, so I don't have a Blu-Ray. 

[Skeen]

We use the PS3 for Blue Ray. Apparently it also does Amazon Instant viewing too.

We do too, and for everything else I'd normally have to use a PC to view.  Mr. Skeen gets sports from Oz that we watch on it.  Plus, games! 

[Yurusumaji]

The wireless and 3D blu-ray players will run the highest. I have one that does wired internet and it cost me, I want to say, $120. The Samsung and LG blu-ray players are nice. Mine works fine, though I have only had it since February. I would check those out and see what you think.

[Buddafly]

I wound up buying this one

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDP-S185-Blu-Ray-Disc-Player/dp/B005NEZDUA/?qid=1335733777&ref=sr_1_5&ie=UTF8&sr=8-5

a friend recommended it.  said she's had hers for over a year, and they haven't had a single issue with it

[Moony]

That looks like a great choice I have a pS3 as well xD I never play games on it... just movies and Netflix lol

[RAMChYLD]

I'd also say PS3. Since it does internet browsing, blu-ray and DVDs, video streaming, netflix and Amazon Instant Video (though I can't use them because I'm neither in the US nor in the UK )and of course games. And it handles BD+, and 3D content too if your TV supports it.

Too bad DVD and Blu-Ray playback is region-locked to the country the player is for tho. No big deal if you never import DVDs and Blu-Ray discs, but for me that's the only major flaw of the device.

[ZennaBug]

We also use a PS3.  It works just fine and plays games too.  Very handy