Panasonic DMP-B15 hands-on

While we got a quick look at the thing a few months ago, we were finally able to get our mitts all over Panasonic's new DMP-B15 portable Blu-ray player. With its bigger-than-a-laptop size and wild pricetag (for a consumer device), it's obviously a niche product, but that's not to say there aren't hints of consumer friendliness in here. Overall the hardware is light and strong, and while we felt a bit of heat venting out the sides, it's not uncomfortable, and the disc operation is virtually silent. Startup time and disc load times are comparable to most dedicated home Blu-ray players -- certainly not best in class, but passable -- and we couldn't get the player to skip despite our best efforts. The screen is really great, with a good amount of viewing angle and brightness for the category and plenty of resolution to differentiate HD content. We spotted a bit of pixel crunch in menus and stills, but once the motion started we could barely differentiate pixels. Sure, it's hard to imagine a reason for most people to pick up a DMP-B15 over a cheapish Blu-ray playing laptop -- the thing is monstrously thick, and can't even handle a traditional laptop-style screen orientation, only everything but -- but the hardware is reliable enough for kids to handle on the road, and the single-use makes it a good home Blu-ray player for plugging into that second HD-starved TV. Still, we're guessing most will wait to see what next year's (sure to be flush) crop has to offer.

Gallery: Panasonic DMP-B15 hands-on

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[richb93 @ Jun 23rd 2009 3:40PM]

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[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:24PM]

Is that the new sign for first?

[OneLove @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:59PM]

> =/= first

[htd @ Jun 23rd 2009 3:42PM]

portable Blu-ray doesnt seem that attractive when you can use other smaller device to play high-def stuff from flash media or HDD

[DanielT @ Jun 23rd 2009 3:43PM]

I CANNOT wait to bring this on the city bus!

[Joel @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:38PM]

Or even better, let your kids spill frosty all over it... I drive, they are the ones that are going to be using it. For that, I'll just stick with the $99 walmart special.

But, in it's defense, most of my movies are going blu-ray, and to keep the car from erupting into WWIII, movies are the best option. I rarely buy new releases on DVD, so having a portable blu-ray would save me from having to buy the DVD so it can be watched on road trips

[webran61 @ Jun 23rd 2009 3:47PM]

"With its bigger-than-a-laptop size..."

How big is the screen? I'm assuming 15-inches from its product name. Because if that is the case, then no it is not bigger than my near-17-inch HP with Blu-ray playback.

[pball_inuyaha @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:11PM]

Nope, That nets you an 8.9-inch WSVGA display,

from the last article on it

[Tsing Tao @ Jun 23rd 2009 3:56PM]

I love blu as much as the next guy, but on a 15" screen it just seems like a waste, unless they are shoving 1080p screens into 15" LCD's now.

[pball_inuyaha @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:12PM]

just cause i'm bored.

That nets you an 8.9-inch WSVGA display,
from the last post on engadget

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:27PM]

They actually do have 1080 15" laptops now, the Studio 15 for one. But this display is only 1024 by 600.

[Bad Beaver @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:02PM]

1024x600?

[OneLove @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:01PM]

≠

[Shawn @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:31PM]

This should be the giveaway for Engadget's recession antidote!

[dan @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:34PM]

Cool! Throw in wifi with a Hulu viewer (or equivalent) and I'm in. Do'h, I could just use my netbook/laptop...

[Rick @ Jun 24th 2009 9:49AM]

Because you just never know when you'll want to enjoy breath taking detail on 8" screen and listen to full 7.1 digital surround sound on two tiny stereo speakers while in the park during lunch on a Thursday.

[Rob Hendricks @ Jun 24th 2009 10:43AM]

Mwahahahahahaa - Obviously a US branding photograph... We don't really have the name 'Randy' over here in England, the word Randy over this side of the pond means horny (or wanting sex), and Thom is an abbreviation for Thomas.

So it reads 'Horny Thomas'... That'd make for a great sudonym!!

Robsta