I'm fairly confident this has been asked and answered many many times but I am lazy and swamped at the moment so.....

I need/want a BR player. I don't play games so PS3 is not mandaroty but I have heard the PS3 can be upgraded unlike the stand alone players. Is this a big issue?

If you suggest the PS3, can it be controlled like a standard BR/DVD player? Is there a remote that I can just hit play and be done with it? I don't want the PS3 if I have to go through lots of menus to get to the BR functions. It's got to be easy enough for the wife to use.

If it matters, I would run the BR player direct to the LCD via HDMI and run the sound via optical/digital coax to my receiver. The receiver does not have HDMI. That will be addressed a little later down the road.


Anyway, thanks for any help you can give me.