Re: Oppo's new Universal Blu Deck
With all the HT things that have an ethernet connection, but not wifi, it makes more sense than ever to get a local wireless bridge/router. Why get wifi built into each component? It's not necessary, and a plain ol' ethernet connector will likely be much more reliable in the long term. Let the guys who know how to make wifi make it, and besides it's lots cheaper to just have one good wifi "center" that always knows and controls what's going on wifi-wise. I don't even use the built-in wifi on my PS3, not nearly as good and as flexible/controllable as that on the local bridge/router.
I am REALLY glad this new Oppo will have DVD-A after all. For me, that makes it an almost certain purchase... I know that seems dumb, but it is a biggie for me. I don't have a backup DVD-A player, and my only DVD-A player is getting a little flakey these days. Besides it would be nice to get rid of all those analog cables from the current DVD-A player. If this player is region-free for DVD as well, then I can get rid of (move to backup status really) *two* players I have now.

The PS3 will stay for BD play, until it is proven *right here* that something else does it better (Sony 350/550 have not proven it to me).