Despite Blu-ray's early stumbles, the Philips BDP9000 belies the notion that the format is not yet ready for prime time. The player's color and detail are excellent, as is the sound it produces. It's also a fine DVD spinner. And at $800, it's the least expensive dedicated Blu-ray player on the market so far. If you want to see what Blu-ray can do today, the BDP9000 could be your ticket to the high-def experience.