LG BD390 Blu-Ray Player

The Samsung BD390 is a very cool machine and I would recommend it. It replaced my Windows Media Extender, a good part of my movie channels from Time Warner and my old non blu-DVD player.

Instead of using Time Warner's extended packaging at another 60 bucks, I am using Netflix streaming video's. Now I can keep my childrens movies much more commercial free and I don't have to buy the DVD's.

I love that I can use this machine to surf Youtube video's. Now I can watch my Alex Jones on TV instead of the computer.

The Software updates are a breeze if you have a wired or wireless internet connection setup. Simply go to the settings with your remote and run the update. You can alternately, download the software update, place it on a flash drive and connect it to the front of the unit. I tried this and it works very well too.

Now for the problems which are not really bad.

I have not been able to get the unit to detect my Wireless N signal. It only detects the Wireless G signal. The support staff didn't really have much to say about this. I'm going to try to move my Wireless Access Point around to see if that helps. Although, it is worth noting that I have been streaming HD content from Netflix over wireless G and it's working pretty well.

No application setup to stream Pandora (thumbs down)

No custom URL entry to go to another site with streaming content if you choose (thumbs down)

No HDMI cable included (thumbs down)

No Nero software CD included to allow you to connect to your other computers and stream media from them. I am working with support to see if I can get a CD for free so the jury is still out on this. However, if I can stream media from my computer, that will totally replace my Windows Media Extender. The funny thing is that I can browse the media on my home computer without Nero but I just cannot stream it from there yet.

The Power button is above the DVD tray and the eject button is on the other end of the player so I keep shutting off the device when I want to open the DVD tray. The system boots fast so it's not that bad and I guess I'll eventually get used to this.

Bottom Line.
I'd buy this unit again but they could have been more flexible with what they allow you to do with this unit.
The setup was fast. I had mine up and running in about 20 minutes with internet connectivity and wiring and it worked the first time.

I am very impressed with the ease of use. The on screen menu is excellent. Updates to the OS are easy to do. The YouTube experience is nice on the big home theater screen, but not as fast to navigate, load and view as compared to a modern computer. The USB interface is easy to use for playing photos and videos from your computer or camera (tennis shoe network), but some video formats may not play (ymmv). There are a number of features that I have not tried since they are subscription based, but the bottom line is that the BD390 is made for interfacing with your home network and the internet so I think this is a big plus-plus.

One drawback that I have is that I have another LG brand DVD/VCR combo player in the same area so when I use the remote to turn on or turn off the BD390, the other LG device will also respond... on a side note, the LG BD390 has options onscreen to play the DVD from a particular time (Hours/Minutes/Seconds), but the remote supplied does not have any numbers! Funny huh? Well the other LG remote for my older DVD/VCR does have numbers on it so I can do a switch if need be. A universal remote may be a solution if it can differentiate between the two.

I also like the HDMI interface to the TV. If you are shopping for an audio amp, be sure to get one with HDMI so it can work with both devices at the same level of quality signal. For me it may be time to upgrade my amp, but the BD390 offers digital audio so most people will be happy.

Check your specs!

What an impressive Player! Not only does it handle Blu-Ray discs and regular DVDs, but it also streams directly from online resources. The popular subscription service Netflix, works well and complements it nicely. For example, one can queue up hundreds of titles to play instantly in near-Blu-Ray quality. If looking for an instant digital library, this equipment comes library-ready with services such as Netflix, Vudu, and others pre-installed on this product.

Another important component to this player, aside from its interactive networking capabilities and its unparalleled file playback support, is its easy-to-use remote. The lower part of the remote conveniently slides out for additional programming. There's never an overwhelming sensation to reach for a user guide for the remote, or the player for that matter.

Bottom line: This player is great for digital playback enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy viewing computer-related content on HDTV sets. That the picture looks great on full 1080p output is only a slight reason to have this Masterpiece. It is simply great with everything that it does.

Enjoy this player knowing that it is currently the best that money can buy in its class. Until its successor hits the market (whenever that may be), I remain another satisfied and happy customer who owns the BD 390.

This unit was the top Editor's pick on CNET, so I thought I would give it a look. After doing my research, I decided to buy one. It was a good purchase! In addition to the quality of the Blu-Ray disc, this unit is also capable of playing on-line Netflix movies (you'll need to be a Netflix member!) I was also impressed with the wireless feature, which let's me access both Netflix and You Tube on the internet without having to route a LAN connection. All firmware updates are also done wirelessly.

The only drawback I see, is the somewhat cheezy remote control. It has enough buttons for basic functions, but I was hoping for a bit more features and lit buttons.

The overall picture quality is excellent! This unit takes full advantage of the 1080p resolution (via HDMI connection.) Loading of disc is also quite fast as well.

I would recommend this unit to anyone looking for a good quality Blu-Ray player!

Pros: After a lot of research, I found that the LG BD390 (or BD390C in Canada) is one of the only Blu-Ray disc players that offers wireless connectivity to a home network via UPnP, thereby allowing access to any personal downloaded video content, photos, music, etc. It creates a home media centre, and in addition, adds YouTube, NetFlix, Vudu, and other streaming media access.

Cons: Wireless connection can be an extreme challenge dependent on what type of encryption is used on the router (i.e., WPA, WPA2, or WEP). The BD390, with all the latest software updates from the LG website, was indicating it could not connect to the router despite all the correct settings. After trial and error, and reading lots of forums where other owners of this product experienced similar issues, I found that manual entry of the wireless settings as opposed to automatic seemed to do the trick. If you are not tech-savvy, this might not be the right product for you.