So let’s get this out of the way straightaway. Yes, I’m a baby boomer and we didn’t grow up
with this level of technology. Sure,
I’ve had a flat screen plasma panel with cable high definition service for
about five years, but I have no clue how it works. I’m embarrassed to admit that up until a few
weeks ago I thought resolution and aspect ratio were somehow related.
I’m pretty much old school. I refused to buy a CD player until Natalie Merchant released a record that wasn’t available on vinyl. Multichannel audio? I would be hard pressed to discriminate DTS from a BLT. Perhaps the only thing that trumps my ignorance of audio visual technology is my fear of computers. Yes, that right, I’m afraid of my computer.
Yeah, I know how to browse the internet and I do most of my shopping online, but I don’t really understand how any of it works. I’ll hit something, lose my toolbar, and spend hours trying to get it back. And because my eventual solution is based on trial and error versus actual knowledge of the technology, the next time the same problem occurs, I’m right back to square one. As I write this, my wife, lets call her "Jane," asks which way to set the clocks for the end of daylight savings time and I cannot figure it out. Get it now?
I was vaguely aware of a format war, but really wasn’t paying attention. Then several like-minded pixels converged in a vertical line on my flat panel TV and went on strike. GRR! Tarzan forced to stick his nose into the world of technology. After a little online research, I settled on the Panasonic 46PZ800U, a lovely plasma panel capable of native 24p (24 frames/second) support. Of course, I had no idea what that meant, but it sure sounded sophisticated. Somehow, during the research to buy that television, my brain’s firmware was updated to include the knowledge that Blu-Ray had won the high def format war (did they need to spend ten billion dollars a month to put down the HD DVD fanatics overseas to protect us from video terrorism here?). And somehow I caught the upgrade bug.
Despite my seemingly genetic aversion to technology, I tend to be a
quick study. So back to Google I go and
soon I’m up to speed on the key issues of buying into blu-ray. Oppo has the best upconversion, but their
vaunted BD player has no official release date yet.
Sony’s PS3 play station plays blu-ray well, has pretty good load times
and upconversion, but does not necessarily appeal to non-gamers who want a more
conventionally shaped, rack-friendly product that doesn’t sound like a
hairdryer, heat their house in the winter, or require a proprietary remote. Samsung players are fine for blu-ray,
upconvert pretty well, but have sketchy reliability and customer service. Panasonic players likewise do blu-ray well,
have a better history of reliability and customer service, but their
upconversion lags behind. Most are looking for a player that does it all rather
than having multiple machines to satisfy.
And then, despite having released the BD-30 and BD-50 players less than six months earlier, Panasonic shows up to a trade show with their replacements, the BD-35 and BD-55 (OK, technically, the DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55). Both players feature an improved video processor which appears promising with regard to upconversion and the BD-55 offers an upgraded analog audio section as well as multichannel analog outputs. I somehow wander into a 35/55 pre-order thread on the AV Science Forum where the faithful debate the merits of various players and anxiously await the first reviews. And then it happens. Chris Boylan of Big Picture Big Sound finds the new Pannys have upconversion competitive with the better players. Soon after, CNET confirms Chris’ observations. I don my swimming trunks and dive in, placing my pre-order.
How is it that I was happily enjoying standard DVD for the past 10
years or so, but now the two to three week wait from pre-order to release
seemed like an eternity? Circuit City is the first retailer to have the
player available and the faithful (read the obsessed) scramble to order, cancel
pre-orders, arrange for express shipping or store pickup, etc. My Panasonic DMP-BD55 arrives and due to a
fairly straightforward setup with an HDMI cable (yeah, I don’t know what that
stands for either) to my new 800 and two channel analog out to my pre-amp, I’m
up and running. Everything seems to be
working fine, but I don’t yet have a long enough Ethernet cable to run to the
55 and connect it to the internet.
Having never downloaded data and burned it onto a CD, direct internet connection to the player seemed to be the less aversive procedure for getting firmware updates. Apparently, unlike my cherished 2-channel audio equipment, a new-fangled consumer electronics device in the digital age does not become obsolete the day I take it home - it can be made better, stronger, faster over time just by being connected to the Web and getting its firmware updated (and apparently "firmware" has nothing to do with those Viagra ads I've been getting in my inbox lately).
Three days ago my 25
foot Ethernet cable arrives and the dreaded
Tarzan/technology showdown looms. As I’m
not so interested in BD-Live, I figure I don’t need a permanent network
connection. Tarzan just going to remove
cable from Time Warner modem to computer and plug cable from Blu-ray player
into modem to check connection and get updates.
Yes, I know those reading who are blessed with the technology gene are
shaking their heads in disbelief. Tarzan
make the connection and go to network setup on BD55. Tarzan read manual and leave player’s default
DHCP settings. Tarzan cross hairy
fingers and click player's connection test.
Tarzan fail. Tarzan utters such guttural growls that Jane runs to room to
hide.
Tarzan’s friend shows Tarzan how to find IP and DNS settings on his computer and enter it on BD55’s network setup page. Tarzan click connection test. Tarzan pass! Tarzan, buoyed up with transient technology confidence, move to firmware update page. Tarzan click. "Unable to check for updates at this time. Try again later." Confidence once again replaced with terror.
I turn to my new friends on the AV Science Forum BD35/55 owner’s thread. Those blessed with the gene recommend network switches, routers, etc. Much of the advice I frankly don’t understand. I look online for switchers and routers which has the opposite effect - it actually makes me more confused than I already was. Jane happens to be heading to hell (i.e., the large chain electronic stores) with her son, so I have her pick up a network switch, the cheaper option. I plug the switch into the modem and plug my computer and player into the switch. I’m going to win this showdown, dammit! Back to default settings and click the connection test. Fail. Back to manual settings and click connection test. Pass. Back to firmware update page. I close my eyes and click. "Unable to check for updates at this time. Try again later." GRRRR!
I finally turn to Panasonic. The first technician has apparently never known anyone without the gene and seems somewhat shocked that I am unaware that I need a router. I once again turn to the friendly folk at AV Science Forum. I must sound desperate at this point as several come to my rescue assuring me all will be well if I get a cable/dsl router and use the default network setting on the player.
Tarzan go hunt at Best Buy on 86th street. Tarzan club salesman and drag home Linksys 4 port cable/dsl router. Tarzan tear open box and find set up CD. GRRRR! Tarzan try to break CD in two, then shove in computer. Tarzan follow directions written for morons (read "me"). Tarzan try internet and can browse. Tarzan check for default DHCP settings on BD55 and run connection test. Pass. Tarzan cross hairy fingers and run firmware update check. Firmware found and downloaded. Tarzan cry with tears of joy!
Jay is a life-long audiophile who holds a Masters degree in Psychology as a Certified School Psychologist. He is currently recovering from a career in the New York City public school system.
