I wish Blu-ray players would have included ethernet connections as standard in the beginning, that way worrying about standards would not be a problem. Oh well, hopefully they will be sub $200 during the holidays.

@ squilliam

so how about audio?

@ all others

there would be a receiver - so is the audio cables good enough (eg. hdmi)?
i am assuming (let me know if incorrect) that hdmi is enough for the surround sound, etc.

any help would be appreciated.

Only profile 1 but here is one for $230. So sub $200 is possible.

http://www.ecost.com/detail.aspx?edp=41240668&source=EWBBASE&cm_mmc=CSE-_-google-_-ewbbase-_-Electronics&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=41240668

Well if your receiver has HDMI then it should have Digital Optical as well. Both or more than enough for surround sound. I can't think of what you could use that is better.

I use Digital Optical.

Adds more to production costs, making the units more expensive as well.

Of course if a player is priced in the same ballpark range as a $399 PS3, there's no reason why it should be net enabled and firmware upgradable over net connection.

On the other hand, those fire sale A3 HD-DVD players Toshiba was dumping last year were still net enabled I think. Then again, that was a clear case of product dumping for a format that was circling the drain.

If you get a ps3 as a blu-ray player, Id suggest getting MGS4 just for the heck of it..

 i just might..

though i have a gears of war (unopened, in plastic) still sitting there...

so that shows you how much time i have to play.

and Id suggest getting the number of 80%+ games for the 360 according to metacritic in your sig just for the heck it..

Simplest set up uses an HDMI compatible stereo receiver. Either a 5.1 or 7.1, which is becoming more common.

The HDMI receiver then acts as a digital AV signal pass through/router for all your HDMI devices.

You'll have one HDMI cable running to your HDTV to relay the 1080p video signal.

The HDMI connection running from your PS3 sends up to a 7.1 digital audio signal to your receiver, so from there the audio signal goes from your receiver to your 7.1 speaker set up.

It won't eliminate your speaker wires, but an HDMI connection does mean one HDMI cable from your PS3 to your receiver, and one HDMI cable from your receiver to your HDTV.