$99 Blu-ray Play With Netflix Streaming

I really didn’t think we’d see it this soon but it looks as though before we’re even out of October, the stores are going to try to make this the year that people find a Blu-ray player under the tree.  For a long time now, if you purchased a lower priced Blu-ray player, you weren’t getting much.  It would play the disks and any more than that was bonus.  Looks like Best Buy wants to change the game a bit.

Best Buy is now listing the Insignia brand NS-BRDVD3 for $99 on their site right now.  We’ve seen other sub $100 players hit the market before but never one with these specifications:

• Blu-ray Disc format compatible
  For high-definition movie playback with resolution up to 5 times greater than DVD.
• Delivers greatly enhanced video performance with standard DVDs
  By upconverting their video resolution to HDTV compliant 720p, 1080i or 1080p via the HDMI interface.
• Plays BD-ROM discs
  Backward compatible with DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD and CD-R/RW discs. Compatible with MP3 and WMA formats.
• Plays Blu-ray media
  That can store up to 50GB of high-definition video and audio.
• Dolby TrueHD decoder
  For high-quality surround sound.
• HDMI output
  Provides an uncompressed all-digital audio/video link for the highest quality connection and supports copy-protected HD broadcast content.
• USB port
  For expanded connectivity options.
• Netflix streaming capability
  Via Ethernet. Firmware update required; Firmware available mid October.
• BD-Live ready
  For access to expanded Blu-ray Disc features.

You read that right:  Netflix streaming at this price.  I think this might be the type of deal that could start to push Blu-ray into the mainstream.  Pricing like this on what is admittedly an off brand player could make this holiday season interesting.

via CNet