Blu-ray disc drive won't play Blu-ray movies
If it's true the first Blu-ray drives won't play Blu-ray movies, then what's the point, you ask? Since it's practically impossible to put a positive spin on this, just roll your eyes as you're spared some of the more technical mumbo-jumbo. If you want to see the explanation by cnet, it's a bit more detailed. Basically, the Sony BWU-100A, the first Blu-ray drive to reach Australian shores, won't play back commercially released BD movies. The drive "will only play user-recorded high-definition content from a digital camcorder." Honestly, a camcorder? Is anyone that into making home videos?
Regardless, the reasoning behind this decision is HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) -- rather, a lack of PC's containing graphic chips supporting HDCP. There are a few Sony computers that have all the necessary components, but no one is going to buy a new computer just for that, really. It's still a good storage drive, especially if you like to make... home videos. Otherwise, Sony, what're you doing? No one in Australia is going to pay $1400(AU) for a drive that doesn't even play movies.
