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How low Blu-ray players need to go

I agree with Rick Broida at CNET's Cheapskate blog regarding Blu-ray players never setting the world on fire until the price drops to $99.

Here's why, based on my own experience and talking with others: the standard definition DVD players are cheap these days (cheap is good in a bad economy) and work just fine, thank you very much.

Now, if you connect a standard DVD player to a high definition TV, I'm hear to tell you people, the images are outstanding. They just pop. Colors are rich. No complaints.

Having said that, a bells-and-whistles 1080p Blu-ray will give you an even better picture.

But stop the presses: there's something else that could stand in the way of Blu-ray's growing popularity: the rising number of people watching TV shows and movies (Hulu, anyone?) through their computers, devices such as Apple TV and video game systems.

That means no need for a DVD player, high definition or otherwise.

We subscribe to Netflix, for example. I'm also an Xbox Live subscriber, which has partnered with Netflix, which means I can watch movies on my high definition TV without a DVD player (or I can simply order high definition movies through Xbox Live).

But if you just have to get your hands on a Blu-ray now, Rick suggests checking out an Insignia NS-2BRDVD Blu-ray player for $129.99 shipped (plus tax in most states), which is Best Buy's house brand. Cnet's review here.

Next closest thing on a budget, according to Rick, is a Magnavox model on sale at Walmart for $128, but it's in-store.
 

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