Hiya, I'm thinking of buying a PS3 for blue ray and want to avoid the high Aust. premiums. I believe that blue ray is non region specific and that if I buy a US console I won't have to worry about region coding. So my concerns are is it a big difference for voltage version (110v or 240v/220v) and what's a good/trusted site to buy from?

I believe that blue ray is non region specific

err - i think that one of the reasons some people hate blu-ray is because of the region coding.

Voltage isn't the problem with the PS3, it's compatible with all of the voltages you listed. Blu-Ray IS region specific, it's the PS3 games that aren't.

I got an Aussie PS3 off eBay for $500. Look there before you go and import one from overseas.

Hrm thanks for the tips, I was hoping it would be a cheap option for blue ray but it seems I was wrong.

I was in a similar position a few months back. I wanted to get a PS3, but I didn't want to pay what the stores were charging. If you do end up getting one from overseas, I'd say go for Play-Asia. They're pretty cheap and reliable.

I guess it really depends on how much you're going to use it for watching Blu-Ray movies. I don't watch THAT many, but I knew that I'd want to be able to go down the road and hire the odd movie rather than having to buy and import all (or most, not ALL Blu-Ray movies have region protection) of them.

I think I also just managed to get lucky, as I haven't seen many more on eBay go for as cheap as mine was.

HD-DVD un-regionalized ... dead

Bluray Regionalized ... the winner


Yay for consumers !

We're on the same region as Europe so maybe check online stores from the UK etc?

Doubt it's worth sourcing a UK/Europe box, as they get rorted as much as we do.

Extending on what Midda said. It really depends on whether you want to buy/rent blu-ray movies local or not. There's only 3 regions for BD movies, America, Europe, Asia. Australia is in the Europe category.

If you don't mind having to import blu-ray movies (probably cheaper/quicker releases/more variety anyway) then you may as well go with a US region import ps3.

last edited by Dan at 00:58:51 26/Apr/08

^^ Actually, there's only 2 regions for BD movies, A and B. We're B.

^^ Actually, there's only 2 regions for BD movies, A and B. We're B.

Check your facts:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc#Region_codes

Yeah, I'm thinking of getting my PS3 from the US when I do get one, and then just importing blu-ray movies from the US as well. Not only would I get them cheaper, but probably get them earlier than they'd come out here.

I typically buy DVD's on impulse when I see them on sale/cheap. Don't know if I could live without that option, or the ability to rent but then if I get a local region PS3 I'd probably be pissed I can't order movies cheap from the US when I want. Region coding truly sucks.

I think I might just go for the US version though since it's the best value for money option at the moment. I'm sure eventually local prices on BR devices will drop and I can pick up a cheapie to play local disks if necessary.

Check your facts:

My bad.

Not all blu-ray movies are region locked.

Here is a good site to let you know which movies are and which aren't.

Link