Hands-on with Samsung's BD-UP5500 HD DVD / Blu-ray combo player

Got your eye on a new HD DVD / Blu-ray combo player? If you weren't aware, Samsung introduced an all new model here at CES, and Engadget HD has all the shots you crave. Hit it up right here.

[Ruben @ Jan 8th 2008 10:29PM]

Hey, is this the same as those VHS/DVD players?

[DWells55 @ Jan 8th 2008 10:47PM]

I'd say it's closer to a VHS and Beta combo player.

[Paris @ Jan 9th 2008 12:34AM]

I think its exactly the same.

[WiLDcAt @ Jan 8th 2008 10:33PM]

yes! no longer picking between Blu-rays and HD-DVDs.

[boss sauce @ Jan 8th 2008 10:53PM]

game's over anyway, right?

[WiLDcAt @ Jan 8th 2008 10:59PM]

Yeah but, there are still movies I want that are in HD-DVD. So this will help with that now.

[nacho_alex @ Jan 8th 2008 10:46PM]

that thing is huge

[Odimerus @ Jan 8th 2008 10:50PM]

Very niice... a how much?

[WiLDcAt @ Jan 8th 2008 11:16PM]

$799. $400 for the HD, and $400 for the Blu-ray. Cheaper than buying both separate.

[Jeff @ Jan 8th 2008 11:49PM]

HD-DVD players can be had for $200, BD players for around $260.

$200+$260 !> $799

[Russell @ Jan 9th 2008 1:40AM]

I may buy one of these when it drops below $400, but not before.

[holycow @ Jan 9th 2008 2:18AM]

HD DVD will be long gone before that happens!

[Y2Bogus @ Jan 9th 2008 9:56AM]

I think that dual format players will continue to gain traction.

Yes, by now it's clear that HD-DVD is dead, but there are people out there with HD-DVD libraries, some of which are quite large, and they don't feel like having to re-buy those. They can use their current HD-DVD players sure, but it becomes a lot more convenient to have one unit that does both, as opposed to having multiple players stacked up.

From a physical standpoint, the media is a standard sized disc, so there isn't any extra cost in designing a unit to accomodate more than one physical media.

From a software standpoint, both formats use and recognize the same encoded formats for audio and video, so there should be no cost added with extra hardware for decoding the second format.

From a technological standpoint, both HD-DVD and Blu Ray use a short wavelength blue laser (the players also already have an additional laser for DVD or some use a hybrid). From my understanding, the difference between the two lasers is that the Blu Ray laser has a smaller appeture. I'm not sure how or if this means that the laser can or can't read both formats, but it doesn't seem impossible that one laser can be used to read both discs.

So in the end, it only comes down to licensing fees. With one format now dead for all intents and purposes, it wouldn't be a shock to hear that their fees will drop considerably.

I really don't see why, now that one format is set to become standard, that device makers won't just make dual format players, much in the way that most DVD players/writers now read DVD-R and DVD+R

[Gary @ Jan 10th 2008 7:06PM]

I think more time for the format war dust to settle (latest studio moves), to determine the value of a dual format player - but as a Samsung BD-P1200 user, I would like to understand how Samsung can put energy behind a new hybrid player format, when the BD- P 1000/1200/1400 generation players can not even play the latest disc releases (e.g. Pirates of the Carib. 3 / Live Free Die Hard, etc.)!! Sure leaves customers hanging on the Blu-ray decision!

[James @ Jan 13th 2008 9:49PM]

They made the BD-UP5500 combo player cheaper than the BD-UP5000. I wonder if they removed the Reon chip from the player to make it cheaper.

[Doug @ Jan 14th 2008 9:04PM]

I can't believe this crap! I've been waiting for six months for Samsung to release their dual DVD player the bd-up5000 which was original going to cost $1000 and was later annouced to sell for $799. Now they've decided to come out with a better machine in the second half of 2008 (the bd-up5500) that will possibly cost around $599. What guarantee do we have that they won't wait another six months before releasing the 5500, which would put it around Dec. 2008. That would be a year and half of waiting! No thanks Samgung. If LG or another company out there comes out with a dual DVD player for less than $799, I'm buying it.