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Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

post #1 of 39
5/24/08 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 
Magnavox NB500MG9 Blu-ray Player

These are OEM'd by Chinese manufacturer Funai. I picked one up today. Haven't connected it yet because I'm still waiting for my new Onkyo SR805 to arrive, but the specs look promising. I'm hoping this player will get me through the next couple of years or until more diverse Blu Ray products begin appearing on the market.

John
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post #2 of 39
5/24/08 at 6:11pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

AVS forum seems fairly inpressed with it including the build quality.

It's been reported that the pickup is a Panasonic and the loader is a Sony.
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post #3 of 39
6/4/08 at 6:42pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

How about getting a $100 gift card back when you purchase this player? Promo next week; details here:

Wal-Mart Blu-ray Player Promos a Net Cost Under $200 for Father's Day! - DVD News and Reviews | TVGuide.com
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post #4 of 39
6/4/08 at 7:20pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Lambert
How about getting a $100 gift card back when you purchase this player? Promo next week; details here:

Wal-Mart Blu-ray Player Promos a Net Cost Under $200 for Father's Day! - DVD News and Reviews | TVGuide.com

David. You are the man!!! I'll be boxing mine up and returning it tomorrow unless they'll grandfather me in.

John
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post #5 of 39
6/4/08 at 9:32pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Does this Bluray player have 7.1 Surround Sound capabilities or is it just 5.1?
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post #6 of 39
6/5/08 at 4:36am
Thread Starter 

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by Timothy J Wolfe
Does this Bluray player have 7.1 Surround Sound capabilities or is it just 5.1?

Via HDMI, it should have no problem with properly encoded media, but if you're talking analog pre-outs, it has none.

John
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post #7 of 39
6/5/08 at 4:56am

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

I like Funai made players really well, but I would sure pay an extra $100 at Wal-Mart, get the $100 gift card and a PS3 if the PS3 design works well in your system. I just don't think this player is worth only $100 less than the PS3 comparatively when you consider all the PS3 does.

Chris
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post #8 of 39
6/5/08 at 10:07am
Thread Starter 

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Gerhard
I like Funai made players really well, but I would sure pay an extra $100 at Wal-Mart, get the $100 gift card and a PS3 if the PS3 design works well in your system. I just don't think this player is worth only $100 less than the PS3 comparatively when you consider all the PS3 does.

Chris

Chris;

That's a good point. I returned my Magnavox [Funai] player today and may consider replacing it with the PS3, even though I really don't get into gaming. The only concern I have is the wired remote. I need something that my Pronto Pro can control. I've heard that there are available options for the PS3, but haven't realy researched it yet. Now I have a reason to get on the ball.

John
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post #9 of 39
6/5/08 at 1:19pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Dirk
The only concern I have is the wired remote. I need something that my Pronto Pro can control. I've heard that there are available options for the PS3, but haven't realy researched it yet. Now I have a reason to get on the ball.

I actually addressed that very topic in the comments/feedback area of my TVGuide.com story, responding to someone who complained about that on the PS3:

Quote:
I got around that a long time ago with this little gizmo, the Nyko Blu Wave remote (which I've recently starting seeing at Best Buy stores now). It's an IR remote for the PS3!

The dongle from that package, inserted into any of the USB ports on the front of the PS3, makes my Logitech Harmony 880 remote work perfectly with the PS3 for all basic functions.
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post #10 of 39
6/5/08 at 2:04pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Dirk
Chris;

That's a good point. I returned my Magnavox [Funai] player today and may consider replacing it with the PS3, even though I really don't get into gaming. The only concern I have is the wired remote. I need something that my Pronto Pro can control. I've heard that there are available options for the PS3, but haven't realy researched it yet. Now I have a reason to get on the ball.

John

As mentioned by the previous poster, the Nyko Blue-wave remote is one solution. I use it and it makes programming a universal remote control easy enough.

Chris
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post #11 of 39
6/5/08 at 2:34pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Thanks David and Chris. I'll look into it. I see Amazon has this item for as low as $10.00!

John
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post #12 of 39
6/6/08 at 8:12am

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Don't forget about the IR2BT adapter, which also gives you the ability to turn the PS3 on and off with a universal remote.

IR2BT - InfraRed to BlueTooth Converter for the PS3
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post #13 of 39
6/6/08 at 10:10am

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

So it's 55 bucks plus shipping extra just to be able to turn it off and on with a universal remote?

Something to think about when figuring the overall cost of it and what you want it to do.
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post #14 of 39
6/6/08 at 11:25am

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

RE: the remote thing for PS3, I ended up picking up the PS3 bluetooth remote on Amazon's gold box deal the other day (for ~$15) instead of trying one of the IR solutions (for now). I plan to rearrange my HT a good bit over the next few weeks and probably won't have IR access to the gear anymore (plus my universal remote seems to be fried), so not much point in forcing the IR issue for my situation at this point.

For those still wanting IR, is the power on/off really that necessary? I guess it depends a lot on how you use your PS3. If you're just using it mainly for BD/DVD playback, then wouldn't you normally need to get up and swap discs or similar anyway? But if you plan to use its other media hub features (w/out swapping physical media), then I guess remote power on/off becomes more useful...

_Man_
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post #15 of 39
6/6/08 at 12:25pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by Man-Fai Wong
RE: the remote thing for PS3, I ended up picking up the PS3 bluetooth remote on Amazon's gold box deal the other day (for ~$15) instead of trying one of the IR solutions (for now). I plan to rearrange my HT a good bit over the next few weeks and probably won't have IR access to the gear anymore (plus my universal remote seems to be fried), so not much point in forcing the IR issue for my situation at this point.

For those still wanting IR, is the power on/off really that necessary? I guess it depends a lot on how you use your PS3. If you're just using it mainly for BD/DVD playback, then wouldn't you normally need to get up and swap discs or similar anyway? But if you plan to use its other media hub features (w/out swapping physical media), then I guess remote power on/off becomes more useful...

_Man_

I usually remove the disc when done so I have to go to the player anyway and I just it turn it off after removing the disc. Even if I don't remove the disc, it isn't very hard to turn it off without using the remote control, so it certainly isn't a big deal to me.

Chris
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post #16 of 39
6/6/08 at 2:10pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

When I'm paying for a good universal, a Harmony 880, so there is a one button all on or off, it is a big deal for me. Especially when I need to keep things as simple as possible for certain parties in my household.

I'm done watching the movie, I hit one button and it turns off the player and turns on something else.
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post #17 of 39
6/6/08 at 2:29pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Lambert
How about getting a $100 gift card back when you purchase this player? Promo next week; details here:

Wal-Mart Blu-ray Player Promos a Net Cost Under $200 for Father's Day! - DVD News and Reviews | TVGuide.com

I was in my local Wal-Mart today. If they are going to do this, they sure are keeping it quiet. The employees I asked in the electronics dept didn't know anything about it, nor did I see any mention of it on Wal Mart's web site. What I did see in the store was a flyer advertising the $100.00 gift card with the purchase of a PS 3 only, no other Blu Ray players were listed. According to this flyer, the deal ends tomorow, June 7th. Anyone have any different information from Wal-Mart?

John
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post #18 of 39
6/6/08 at 3:16pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Dirk
I was in my local Wal-Mart today. If they are going to do this, they sure are keeping it quiet. The employees I asked in the electronics dept didn't know anything about it, nor did I see any mention of it on Wal Mart's web site. What I did see in the store was a flyer advertising the $100.00 gift card with the purchase of a PS 3 only, no other Blu Ray players were listed. According to this flyer, the deal ends tomorow, June 7th. Anyone have any different information from Wal-Mart?

John

Hmmm... The article does mention "next week" at the very beginning, so maybe it's not actually supposed to be well known and "happening" until next week (though it's coming up fast).

_Man_
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post #19 of 39
6/6/08 at 4:39pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Well, here's the link to the original Wal-Mart press release:

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Wal-Mart Boosts Volume of Blu-ray and Hi Def Among More New Electronics Enhancements


So it's really gonna happen. My experience is that most Wal-Mart employees only know what's current promo-wise. I think they try to keep the upcoming weekly flyers under wraps until the flyer becomes "active".
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post #20 of 39
6/7/08 at 4:38pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Lambert
Well, here's the link to the original Wal-Mart press release:

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Wal-Mart Boosts Volume of Blu-ray and Hi Def Among More New Electronics Enhancements


So it's really gonna happen. My experience is that most Wal-Mart employees only know what's current promo-wise. I think they try to keep the upcoming weekly flyers under wraps until the flyer becomes "active".

Thanks David. This puts my mind at ease. I visited another Wal-Mart today and was told that the Magnavox player and a Sony model [the 300 I believe] are the only eligible players. The Playstation deal ends today. They also said the units had to be ordered through Wal-Mart.com and the gift card would be redeemable only for online merchandise.

Since that's clearly not what the article you referenced says, I am assuming Wal-Mart wants to keep this quiet since quantities are limited. I'll be first in line tomorrow morning, God willing. This is just one of many reasons I love this forum.

John
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post #21 of 39
6/8/08 at 8:25am

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

I jusst got the Samsung BD-P1500 at my Walmart it was the last one they had and it rang up for $248 instead of the $348 and the register automatically told sales clerk to run the gift card through for the $100 giftcard back so after I got the giftcard back it only netted $148 which I used $140 Walmart Gift card to pay for part of it so definatly worked out as a pretty sweet deal. Thanks for the heads up on the sale David.
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post #22 of 39
6/8/08 at 9:19am

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Dirk
I visited another Wal-Mart today and was told that the Magnavox player and a Sony model [the 300 I believe] are the only eligible players....They also said the units had to be ordered through Wal-Mart.com and the gift card would be redeemable only for online merchandise.

By the time I got to my local Wal-Mart around 9AM, they were already sold out of all but two of the $15 movie titles (of those two, I already own one and didn't want the other).

I did get the player, though, as a second unit for the bedroom. Hooked it up in 5 minutes; it's very nice. Can't complain a bit for the 10 minutes I've used it. Yes, I got the $298 unit. The "wrong price" post on the Samsung kinda gives me a bit of a pang, but it doesn't matter...they were out of that model anyway.

Besides your note here, I've also had a couple of e-mails this morning with reports from people who tried to buy that unit, saying the same: the electronics dept. manager told them the offer was only good on the two units pictured in the weekly ad flyer. Again, the flyer specifically says "all Blu-ray players", as does the Wal-Mart press release.

When they rung up the $298 unit, it came right up in the employee's face on the register display that he needed to issue us a $100 gift card. We turned around and immediately spent that gift card on groceries, no problem...there's no restriction on what you can use it for.
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post #23 of 39
6/8/08 at 11:05am
Thread Starter 

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Lambert
Besides your note here, I've also had a couple of e-mails this morning with reports from people who tried to buy that unit, saying the same: the electronics dept. manager told them the offer was only good on the two units pictured in the weekly ad flyer. Again, the flyer specifically says "all Blu-ray players", as does the Wal-Mart press release.

When they rung up the $298 unit, it came right up in the employee's face on the register display that he needed to issue us a $100 gift card. We turned around and immediately spent that gift card on groceries, no problem...there's no restriction on what you can use it for.

I had a similar experience today. I re-purchased the Magnavox unit and the computer told the cashier to issue the gift card. She completely ignored it and when I brought it to her attention, she called a manager. She was completely polite, but just had no idea what to do. It took 20 minutes of backroom whatever, but I did get the gift card. Since I rarely use these cards, I immediately forgot I had it and purchased Con Air, The Fifth Element, Dejavu, and War with my own cash. I may return them and re-purchase them with the card, or I may just keep them. As you said, the card is good for anything Wal-Mart sells.

I don't know why they don't better educate their employees. It took me showing them a printout of their own add before they believed me.

Again, thanks for the great tip!

John
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post #24 of 39
6/8/08 at 12:21pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

My Wallyworld insert in today's paper pictured a Panny BRD deck and the PS3, stating "you'll get a $100 Wal-Mart gift card when you buy any Blu-ray player". Flyer gives valid dates 8 June - 15 June.
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post #25 of 39
6/8/08 at 9:44pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Dirk
I had a similar experience today. I re-purchased the Magnavox unit and the computer told the cashier to issue the gift card. She completely ignored it and when I brought it to her attention, she called a manager. She was completely polite, but just had no idea what to do. It took 20 minutes of backroom whatever, but I did get the gift card. Since I rarely use these cards, I immediately forgot I had it and purchased Con Air, The Fifth Element, Dejavu, and War with my own cash. I may return them and re-purchase them with the card, or I may just keep them. As you said, the card is good for anything Wal-Mart sells.

I don't know why they don't better educate their employees. It took me showing them a printout of their own add before they believed me.

Again, thanks for the great tip!

John

Probably can't blame them too much about having employees not being well informed about such things. Afterall, I can't imagine the cashiers, sales clerks, etc. at Walmart are getting paid enough to learn about (and memorize) every promo special they come up w/ on a regular basis. Seems like as long as they (hire and) train their staff to be courteous, helpful and "polite" (as you mentioned) and handle all such matters accordingly, then that's probably the most you can really expect from a discount chain like Walmart I imagine.

Besides, even if they do a good job of keeping their staff up-to-date and such, there's bound to be an occasional case like this anyhow where human beings are involved. Heck, you couldn't even remember to use that $100 gift card you received at the store that very hour or so, LOL.

Anyhoo, zzzzounds like a great deal for y'all. Enjoy!

_Man_
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post #26 of 39
6/9/08 at 9:55am
Thread Starter 

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by Man-Fai Wong
Heck, you couldn't even remember to use that $100 gift card you received at the store that very hour or so, LOL.

_Man_

Touche!
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post #27 of 39
6/9/08 at 3:39pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Yesterday I was in Nampa and stopped by the Wallyworld there. No dice - out of stock on the Magnavox deck. Didn't bother me much as I was undecided on whether I really wanted to buy now.

Today I went by the Meridian Wallyworld. Their A/V department was all torn up for remodeling. Stock for the Magnavox deck was over in some other department, and since it was so hard to find few of them were sold. They had about 10 in stock when I got there.

So far so good. I've been running a film in it for a half-hour or so and it hasn't burned up on me yet.
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post #28 of 39
6/9/08 at 4:38pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Has anyone located a build date or firmware revision marking on one of these units?
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post #29 of 39
6/10/08 at 7:22pm

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

I have another question about this player.

Most DVD players have a setup selection of "video/film/auto", which either forces 2/2 framing, 3/2 pulldown framing, or automatically sets via the 3/2 pulldown flag.

The Magnavox only has "auto" and "video", both of which sound ill-named. See page 34 of the manual.....

Quote:
Auto DEFAULT : suited for playing back video material discs (TV shows or animation)

Video: the progressive mode will detect 24-frame film material (movies) and automatically select appropriate progressive mode

Boy this sounds backasswards. Sounds like their "video" mode is what most players call auto, and their "auto" mode is what most plyers call video.

Can anyone shed any light on this?
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post #30 of 39
6/10/08 at 8:12pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Wal-Mart Selling 1.1 Profile Blu Ray Player for $298.00

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis Nicholls
I have another question about this player.

Most DVD players have a setup selection of "video/film/auto", which either forces 2/2 framing, 3/2 pulldown framing, or automatically sets via the 3/2 pulldown flag.

The Magnavox only has "auto" and "video", both of which sound ill-named. See page 34 of the manual.....



Boy this sounds backasswards. Sounds like their "video" mode is what most players call auto, and their "auto" mode is what most plyers call video.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Dennis;

I'll check my manual and try to answer your questions, but if you're in the market, why not just buy the unit? If you don't like it, you can always return it, but this deal is quite temporary. I've been happy with mine, but have only had limited time to spend with it to date.

John
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