Sony BDP-S580

Pros: Setup took less than 30min - most of which I spent installing upgraded cables
DVDs look great on this device
Blu-ray picture excellent
Wi-fi included: no "adapter" required
Menu system simple to navigate
Network connectivity for viewing content on PC, net

Cons: (-0.5 stars) Wi-fi signal might be 802.11n, but it is in the 2.4GHz band. I would prefer 5Gz.
(-1.0 stars) Playing flash content over the web (outside of YouTube) was an expectation I had when I chose this model. The "error" message states that the Adob

Summary: I'm normally not the type to buy a model that hasn't been extensively reviewed and tested by experts and consumers, but I made this exception when my old DVD player died recently. This seemed to have the feature set, reliability, and brand strength at a price I was willing to pay. As my first (and only) blu-ray player, it has exceeded my expectations. I will leave it to others to discuss nuances like color depth, contrast, data transfer tests, audio purity, and the like. Suffice it to say that I am very satisfied with the setup and operation of this product, and would be more so if I could view content on sites that aren't present on the unit's "app" list. If that is incorporated into a firmware upgrade, I'll give this unit the 4.5 stars it probably deserves.

Updated on Mar 23, 2011

(continuation of sentence from Cons section): The "error" message states that the Adobe Flash player needs to be updated, but that apparently entails a firmware upgrade - leaving me at the mercy of the manufacturer. This largely leaves me enjoying only the content Sony has provided in the included apps.

Updated on Mar 23, 2011

(continuation of sentence from Pros section): Network connectivity for viewing content on PC, networked hard drives, etc..
Android app is so-so. It's essentially a blank screen that allows you to use your finger to navigate the menu, which I find no faster or easier than using the directional arrows on the remote. One advantage is that if you need to enter text - like search terms within the apps or website addresses, you can use your Android device's qwerty keypad. That is a LOT more tolerable than the blu-ray player's input method, which resembles older style alphanumeric number pads (2abc, 3def, etc.)