LG's BD300 Netflix / Blu-ray deck ships on October 10 for $349

Contrary to what LG coerced us into believing at CEDIA, its Netflix / Blu-ray-lovin' BD300 will actually be sold a full $50 cheaper than the previously quoted $399.95. Circuit City has the deck up for pre-order right this very moment for $349.99 (okay, so maybe that's not a full $50, but c'mon), and better still, the retailer is listing an October 10th release date. Now that Netflix has inked deals with CBS, ABC and Starz, there's just one question left: are you in for three fifty?

[Thanks, Joshua]

[Bassir @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:46PM]

PS3 is still just 50 bucks away.

Now seriously, when will the PS3 have a price drop? If it hits 299, I'm sold.

[Totalfixation @ Oct 3rd 2008 1:19AM]

You can probably get it used for that price.

I figure why not buy a xbox for $200 and watch it on there. But yes i know no blu ray.

[Galley @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:31AM]

You can score an almighty 60GB PS3 (refurbished) on eBay for about $350. I got one a couple of weeks ago.

[xValentine @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:32AM]

@Totalfixation

Then why bring the xbox argument ?

[davedrastic @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:52PM]

I read in a forum a while ago that one of the reasons why the PS3 won't drop in price is because it has an agreement with LG, Samsung and the others that are a part of the Blu-ray group - essentially it would be unfair on the co-developers if Sony was to sell at a much lower price than them.

So, with this price drop, do you think we can see a PS3 drop before Chrimbo?

[bandigolo @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:31AM]

that would qualify as "illegal," so I doubt you read that - or I doubt the source, anyway.

[SKI @ Oct 3rd 2008 11:19AM]

It wouldn't be illegal, just not legally binding. It might be a gentleman's agreement.

[bandigolo @ Oct 3rd 2008 11:47AM]

yes, actually that would qualify as price fixing. Please read up on your Sherman Act.

[Kevin @ Oct 3rd 2008 11:47AM]

Yeah that would be what we call Collusion and is very much illegal.

[Adam @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:03PM]

Not a bad deal on launch, by Christmas it should be $200 or so!

I will really consider this player when the deals start to roll in next month!!!

[Chuckles McGee @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:46PM]

And by after Christmas it would be $150.

[Matt @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:06PM]

Sparks my interest. Another $100 cheaper and I'd be all over it.

[Historypro77 @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:14PM]

Does this stream high-def content from netflix?

[El Taco @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:28AM]

netflix doesnt have hi def streaming

[Bloobie @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:38AM]

When Netflix is ready to stream HD content, this player will be able to display it (as stated on the LG site).

[)law( @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:14PM]

I don't see how a stand alone unit is better than a ps3. I would think that one would want to cut back on the clutter and get the most for his money but to each there own..

[britboyj @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:30PM]

I take it you've never seen a PS3 in a cabinet, or watched a movie that has any silence or quiet dialogue?

Guess what, you can't hear it over the PS3's fans!

I also take it you've never tried to use a universal remote, because it doesn't work. :P

If you play games, the PS3 is a great, great compromise or a bonus Blu-Ray player. I would question the wisdom of anyone who plops down for an ADDITIONAL stand-alone, but for those of us that don't play games (or just don't find anything that appeals to them on the PS3) then it's just not the right choice.

[arkweld @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:53PM]

PS3 doesn't bitstream, has no front panel display, doesn't have IR, is a pain to have to keep swapping out game discs and movies, has a terrible BT remote, sucks up a lot of power ...

Lots of reasons to have an additional player as well as a PS3 if you watch movies in a home theater environment.

[Dan S. @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:24PM]

I bought my first DVD player (ironically, a Toshiba) when prices for decent players finally dropped to $250.

I'll buy a Blu-ray when prices drop to/below $250 (for a profile 2.0-compatible mode).

[petecomments @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:15AM]

I'm getting one - only question is when is Amazon going to list it so I can pre-order!!

[petecomments @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:17AM]

..never mind, it's now on Amazon (but it's $399 and says it ships in 2 to 5 months!)

[john @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:24AM]

Ooh... Netflix should ink a few more deals (NBC (gotta have Heroes, the Office, and My Name is Earl), Showtime (Dexter), Sci-Fi (BSG), Discovery/Science/Military, and History/HI), and I'd so be there...

[Michael Scrip @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:32AM]

You're in luck! Netflix now streams the following:

Heroes
The Office
Dexter

And these networks:

A&E
ABC
BBC
CBS
Discovery Channel
Disney Channel
Fox
History Channel
LOGO
NBC
PBS
Showtime

There's actually tons of stuff now. Lots of TV shows and recent and back catalog movies.

[palehorse @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:38AM]

you spelled "fitty" wrong...

[Calagan @ Oct 3rd 2008 1:55AM]

Looks like I'm a tired PS3 fanboy today:

I'm getting tired to see folks whining about the PS3 not working with universal remotes: IR should already be dead 10 years ago, every remote should use bluetooth by now, it just make sense.

I wouldn't mind about another price drop either, but unless you'd just bought a couple games, given the price per game, the price of the system becomes rather irrelevant.

[Daza @ Oct 3rd 2008 4:54AM]

Bluetooth equals licensing fees and royalties, even though it is a better solution. Maybe things will progress that way, but I can't see manufacturers moving away from IR for a decade at least.

[Bloobie @ Oct 4th 2008 6:07PM]

Ah, decisions decisions. As a Netflix user for several years, and the owner of an LG 1080p LCD TV, I've been anxiously awaiting this from LG for months now. But, with the $200 movie credit from Vudu for their $295 player through Best Buy, I'm torn between the two. I guess I could wait until Black Friday by which my first Blu-Ray title should arrive from Netflix anyway.

[Gary @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:13AM]

I spent $300 on a BIG/HEAVY RCA VCR years ago. Had to order VCR tapes from an outfit in Denver! It was worth it then, and "if" this new blu-ray/Netflix gadget gets access to ALL of Netflix videos, I'm IN!!!

[peestandingup @ Oct 3rd 2008 3:49AM]

Why dont Blu-tards wanna admit that physical media is on the way out? Seriously, what sounds better. Having to re-buy all your media on another format, store them, keep up with them, etc, or having the media stored up in the cloud & accessible at the push of a button?? It's OBVIOUS this is where things are headed.

Save yourself $250 & just get the Roku player.

[Chimaera @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:15AM]

It might be where it's headed, but it's certainly not where things are now. Downloads can't compete in terms of video quality, audio support, or even subtitles/closed captioning in some cases. OTA HD broadcasts are around 19Mbps. Blu-ray 1080p video is around 30Mbps, with support for 40Mbps. Itunes, XBL Marketplace, and the like are offering bit rates around 4-7Mbps. That's DVD 480i territory. DVD is outputting 480i video at 5-8Mbps. Streaming HD video is around 1.5Mbps. You can't replicate image fidelity with higher compression and lower bit rates. And on the audio side, 5.1 is the best you'll do, and you won't see multiple language tracks either.

Vudu's new HDX movies are starting to show us where downloads are headed, with video bit rates between 9-20Mbps, but we are far from the promised land.

[Mark @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:10AM]

Rather than wait for this I went ahead and bought a roku box last week (I love it). One big reason is that the roku box is wireless; my understanding is that the LG player requires a wired internet connection. If you watch old movies, the selection is pretty decent, and the addition of the starz movies brought some much needed recent hits.

[scaught @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:30AM]

Does this connect via WiFi or do I need to hook it up via Ethernet? If it is via Ethernet, than that is a deal breaker.

[2U PS3 Haters @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:50AM]

The PS3's being built in the last year only use 120 watts. Having another IR remote port is not that important, unless you want it right in front of you as a show piece. DVD players don't do Folding@Home 18 times faster than almost all CPU's to help cure Cancer, Alhzeimers, and other diseases. DVD players normally dont let you stream video and music from your laptop, no matter where it sits (as long as it is connected via wi-fi or ethernet cable to a network). DVD players dont let you download demos, which is like renting video games for free, plus of course the PS3 plays Blu-Ray movies. My 46" LCD pulls a current of 240-280 watts (yes, I tested it), and most plasma's pull double this. I had to mention this because of someone commenting that the PS3 sucks up a tremendous current, when it only uses 120 watts... Just turn off another light in your house! Turn off a fan...something. Someone talking about it making noise in a cabinet... If you are able to hear a PS3 reflect any noise at all, either there's a problem with your fans, or you need to get it out of the cabinet. It produces too much heat to be locked up in a cainet, anyhow. I am no big PS3 fan, but when you compare being able to help save lives with software dedicated to stanford university, it is a blu player, and it does have netflix, and has demos, full game downloads, and even some of your old favorites from the Sega and Nintendo days, another Blu Player makes no sense. I have yet to own the 1st game on my PS3, but it does way more than I want it to do for the money in comparison to any existing, or announced as upcoming blu-ray dvd players. I've had it for almost a full year now, and it folds for stanford all day, and streams movies, music, and plays Blu and regular DVD's at night.

[Skeptic @ Oct 7th 2008 8:27AM]

Does Folding@Home save lives or needlessly blow tons and tons of CO2 into the atmosphere? As someone who works in oncology, I can tell you the idea of 'curing cancer' in such a way is every bit as realistic as finding a signal from space from an alien civilization. It's a nice idea, but probbaly not worth the cost.

[Ivan @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:36PM]

I'll stick with using my GPU for folding@home which beats the crap out of the PS3 =]

[ChrisM @ Oct 3rd 2008 9:39AM]

So because it ships on my birthday, does that mean I get one for free?

[fosin @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:22AM]

Ethernet only. Demo I saw had an access point plugged in for wireless. Also worked with a powerline adapter.

[d0n0vAn @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:41AM]

Not sure I want or need a blue player. I mean my TV is only a 720p LCD. I'll probably get one when they hit the sub $99 price mark and save my pennies for a 1080p display.

[bandigolo @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:38AM]

Your current DVD player is also - at most - 480p. There is a HUGE difference between 480p and 720p - a much bigger difference in fact than the difference between 720p and 1080p (visually to the human eye at normal viewing distances).

I also have a 720p set and no Blu-Ray - but that's b/c the prices are ridiculous and I'm not sold on the PS3 being a good BR player or a good gaming system. As soon as this technology gets out of the "ha, I stole your money to pay my initial R&D costs you stupid consumer zones," I'll buy one even if I don't upgrade my set (which I love by the way - 50" Sammy DLP).

[bandigolo @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:41AM]

btw, $99 prices are not something you'll see for Blu-Ray, maybe ever.

[Kevin @ Oct 3rd 2008 11:53AM]

I think you claim that Blu-Ray will NEVER be less than $99 is a joke. Who knows what advancements will me made in production, not to mention price cuts in licensing fees in the future.

[bandigolo @ Oct 3rd 2008 1:06PM]

1. I didn't say "never," I said, "maybe ever." To me that means "it won't happen for a while and if it does, it's a long way off."

2. For all intensive purposes, Blu-Ray, as "new" technology, will never be sub-$100. Sure, there will eventually be some bargain models at Wal-Marts across America, but by then Blu-Ray will be old hat, possibly even inferior technology. If this guy wants to wait 3-5 years for the $99 models, so be it, but he'll not only have purchased a 1080p set by then, he'll have owned it for years. I doubt that anyone reading this blog is going to hold out that long for $99 models, wasting their HDTV's life on upscaled DVD's. By the time Blu-Ray players are sub-$200, most people with HDTV's will own one.

[coffee @ Oct 3rd 2008 11:02AM]

Throw a blu-ray drive into your PC for $120, if your video card can't handle it, you can get a decent HDMI video card that plays blu-ray stutter-free for $50.

Just an alternative.

[Dave @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:37PM]

True!

[c64 @ Oct 3rd 2008 3:28PM]

PS3 is still the one to have if your considering a Blu-ray player, especially now that "PlayOn" will be providing access to Netflix.

[Patrick @ Oct 3rd 2008 7:49AM]

The "PlayOn" access is seriously gimped. No search and no viewing your queue or adding to it. You must add the movie to your instant list from your computer in order to view it. The same is true of its Hulu and You Tube access. I guess it's better than nothing though.

[Bharat Jhaveri @ Nov 24th 2008 4:37PM]

Does lg BD300 have a debug menu similar to Roku player for overiding bitrate? I normally get 1600 kbps, but I do know that I can maintain 3000 kbps from my ISP.