Bush BD01 becomes UK's first sub-�100 Blu-ray player

We're not even going to front -- prior to this article, we hadn't heard of Bush (the consumer electronics manufacturer) nor the BD01. According to reports from the UK, though, the Bush BD01 has become the nation's first widely available sub-£100 Blu-ray player. At least at Argos, the deck -- which typically sells for £146.80 -- has just dropped to £97.86, and while the specifications aren't anything to write home about, it'll certainly handle the BD basics. You won't find BD-Live support and it won't help those in NTSC territories (PAL only), but it will upscale vanilla DVDs via HDMI and it won't totally demolish your savings. Better get a move on though, as we're told that stock is "very limited."

[Via ITProPortal]

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 28th 2008 3:18AM]

I might be showing my ignorance here, but this is the only thing I've never seen is the difference in HD between NTSC and PAL. I know the difference between SD signals (480 vs 520 IIRC) and refresh rate (60 vs something else)

In terms of HD, isn't 720 or 1080 the same thing? And if it's Blu-Ray, isn't it 24p no matter what?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 28th 2008 10:06AM]

NTSC vs PAL is for the DVD side of things. While it's possible for the SD side of the Blu-ray system to have content in 480i60 or 576i50, I believe (and am open to correction) that all BD players are supposed to play it regardless of whether they support NTSC or PAL. But, in any case, you'd be hard pressed to find the main feature on a BD formatted as 480i60 or 576i50 - those rates are generally used for extras that were originally filmed using a video camera.

Blu-ray Disc supports a variety of framerates and resolutions. Framerates are generally 24/25/30/50 and 60 for 720p and 1080p/1080i. Almost all HD content on BD is 1080p24, but you'll find HD content from TV will often be 1080i60 in the future. 480p is available at 24, 30, and I think 60. 480i is available at 60. 576p is available at 25 and possibly 50 (I'd have to look it up), and 576i50 is also available. Essentially it's most of the DVD resolution-framerate combinations added to various 1080p, 1080i, and 720p variants.

I believe HD DVD went one step further and supported VCD resolutions on top of the above, because it kind of inherited all DVD resolutions, and DVD included VCD resolutions from the start even though they were practically never used. I have no idea of BD also supports VCD resolutions. It would be kind of cool if it did, and somewhat hilarious if you used it.

[DrXym Posted Dec 28th 2008 4:51AM]

Some AVS Forum members think its built around a Broadcom reference design board and does what its supposed to but little more. Considering there are still decent sub £200 deals around Sony & Panasonic which include free BD titles, it might be worth spending a little more.

A note about Bush - Argos bought exclusive rights to the Bush & Alba names so the only place you'll see them is in their stores. But the parent company Alba PLC sells kit elsewhere under the Goodmans & Grundig names so the same hardware could crop up elsewhere with a different name.

Here's a funny fact from all this branding madness. Argos sell 3 HD Freesat receivers - Goodmans GFSAT200HD for £137, Grundig GUFSAT01HD for £195 and the Bush BFSAT01HD for £97. Aside from a few cosmetic differences, they're the same box made by the same company!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 28th 2008 11:29AM]

No way I'm gonna buy this piece of crap made by George Bush. NO WAY!!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 28th 2008 12:22PM]

The sad fact of the matter is 'Bush = the cheapest lowest garbage brand' out there.

Chav-tastic consumer electronics.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 28th 2008 5:04PM]

I picked up a Bush branded wifi music streamer and internet radio receiver in a discount supermarket because of its very attractive price (and because I figured that I could always make use of the components if I got bored of the radio itself) but after about 3 months of daily service in my kitchen is still doing its duty in a simple and reliable way; so much so that I still did'nt see the need for tearing it apart nor tring to hack a touch screen, a SDDmemory with a light linux OS, and maybe MS voice comm, into its chinese innards (an idea I had since day one I brought this thing home).
As for Blue Ray , who needs it? Upscaling technology has rendered this doubious technology totally redoundant, the high cost of discs makes it totally stupid,and if you really want to see the difference (basically unexistent) between upscaled DVDs and so called full HD , you can always stream HD content via PC, or provider's box, or choose from a variety of memory supports or streaming options.
This technology is born obsolete.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 28th 2008 6:13PM]

KilgoreTrout:

If you can't tell the difference between upscaled DVD and HD you need professionel help.

You decide if it is the eyes you need to have checked out or or if it is your TV !

[DrXym Posted Dec 29th 2008 1:45PM]

It is incredibly easy to tell the difference between upscaled content and HD on the sorts of TVs that consumers are buying - namely > 32 inch, 1080p sets. Of course the simpler way to show the difference is to have two sets playing SD & HD content side by side. I can well imagine that some people wouldn't have a clue what the difference was until they could see it for themselves. Fortunately stores seem to have worked this out for themselves.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 29th 2008 7:41AM]

Beats buying barack hussain obama brand..pay more and not know where the profits go.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 29th 2008 11:37AM]

I suppose this is the equivalent of the Memorex blu-ray player across the pond for us yanks.

http://www.jr.com/memorex/pe/MEM_MVBD2510/

It ain't a a Marantz or Denon, but at that price, does it even matter?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 30th 2008 4:45AM]

Jus got a cheap blu ray player, bush ds[bd01, yeah i know "cheapskate!" Does anyone have a region hack for this model?