Essentials are:
  • WiFi capable
  • USB port for external HDD
  • SD Card slot That reads camcorder video (MTS)
Non-essentials that I like are:
  • Mirroring (e.g., to see iPad on TV)
  • 3D viewing and/or conversion
  • Panasonic brand
I'm considering the Panasonic DMP-BDT230. It has all of the above for about $100. One area of concern is the video formats that the unit will read from USB HDD and SD cards. I have an older Panasonic that reads my SD card MTS files but that isn't listed in the specs. AVCHD is. The unit I'm considering lists AVCHD capabilities for the SD card but not USB. USB formats listed are MKV, MP4, MPEG2, MPO, AAC, FLAC but not AVCHD. Does that mean it won't read my MTS or M2TS files? How about MOV and VOB files? Are some of these video formats interchangeable?

Another consideration is robustness. User reviews show about 80% high ratings, but about 20% low. The lows tend to center around the unit locking up, especially during streaming video. Is the hardware/software pretty similar with all the brands, or is the Panasonic notoriously poor in this area.

I have a slight preference for the Panasonic brand since most of my other hardware, including two other DVD players, is that brand and there is some compatibility with functions, remotes, etc.

I plan to order the Panasonic in the next couple of days but decided to post here in case there are any comments that would cause me to reconsider other machines in the same price range.

Thanks for your comments.