Took my BD-UP5000 back today because bitch wouldn't play Sunshine (the new 1.1 title). Well, ok let me clarify, it would freeze just about 00:05:00 into the film, i waited a couple weeks for the first FW update, i didn't want to wait another month for the next...

Switched it for the Panny BD30 and just LOVE the change. its smaller, lighter but yeah, i lost the internal decoding for 5.1 analog. Now the plan is to move it (panny BC30) into my bedroom system as i don't need HD Audio there, and pickup the BD50 as soon as it hits our shelfs at work.


...Oh and btw, you want a good sci-fi movie to show deep blacks, bright whites, AMAZING detail and SFX, and great audio. Sunshine (2007) is totally that title. Too bad of it's non PG rating or i'd use it as a video demo on our TV's at work!

I'll do the one at work tomorrow just before i hit the floor, i've got everything i need there to test it as far as gear/media goes. Then, when i get home i'll do mine and test it out here too.

Hmmmm, i'll have to check the info on that Sku when i get to work tomorrow....

HDpurist, Think about it... Samsung is a major player in the BD camp and so is LG. For both of them to make combo players its a good move. What a better way to bring over the people who have already bought HD-DVD players and content after the end of a format war? If we didn't have combo players you know how many pissed off people there would be that "Salesman X" sold them the newest gen of Beta machine?

This way lets say that for the sake of argument it is all over and its going to be a slow death for HD-DVD... it will be a MUCH quicker transition for HD-DVD owners to adopt Blu-ray and still keep the HD-DVD content the bought with their other player. Its a GREAT move for companies like LG and Samsung.

...And yes, i figure your just making your comments to "stir the pot". Specifically with the "Btw, Samsung remotes suck!" comment.

I bought the unit a couple days ago,

I work as a Home Theater product expert for one of Canada's largest electronics retailers, and when i found out about this player i was totally stoked. I've got an older HK AVR245, so i use 8ch analog for the audio and a 60inch Sony SXRD (the 2020) for the video. I love this player. Honestly! In my personal opinion, the Pioneer and Sony BD units we have just don't stack up, and the LG combo is a sad bit of garbage (both of them...). I remember in August seeing info for this at a vendor fair and i've kinda been stuck on it ever since. Ok, so it has a few firmware issues, we've known about them since the HD Guru article. But seriously... do i want an LG combo p.o.s.? Do i want to buy two units when i have limited space left in my HT setup or make people confused when they come over and try to use my setup? Do i want to stand by and wait for the BD-UP5500 to ever come out and watch as my friends buy shiny new HD media in front of me because i didn't even have a player yet? ...No.

So what there are a few firmware bugs. Ok so my free copy of Smokin' Aces (HD-DVD) didn't read in it But everything else i've bought for it has or it would get returned the next day at work. I just bought my AVR in June, and i'm not replacing it anytime soon. I can wait for a firmware update. I'm content. Anyone who knows me would tell you that for me to be content with something is a rare find. I mean, i have a Monster Power backbone consisting of an AVS2000 and an HTS5100, trust me picky is my middle name ("fanboy" is my prefix).

...all tho i might pick up a 5500 down the road when my HD collection gets big enough that i want to start watching the discs on my bedroom system.