Sony PlayStation 3 (80GB) Blu-ray Disc Player

From the outset, Sony has billed the PlayStation 3 as more than just another game console. And this machine lives up to its promise: It's one of the most capable Blu-ray Disc players available today. The 80GB PS3 ($400) has built-in gigabit Ethernet and supports BD-Live content that can be delivered via the Internet. It also supports Blu-ray Bonus View, for playing back picture-in-picture content.In our jury evaluation of image quality, the PS3 was less impressive than it was when we judged it last year. Several dedicated Blu-ray players bested it this time, rendering sharper images with superior color and contrast. In particular, images from the PS3 seem especially bright compared with those of the best dedicated players out today.

Nevertheless, the PS3 remains quite a deal if you want to play high-def Blu-ray movies and you aren't wedded to buying a stand-alone, home-theater-style device. You get a versatile, reasonably priced Blu-ray Disc player that can handle all of the latest Bonus View and BD-Live content. Plus, you can use the machine to play games, browse pictures and surf the Web, too.