PS3 does a lot more than play Blu-Rays.. So I would suggest that. Also the best thing about PS3 is the fact that there are firmware updates and the Blu-Ray players keeps getting updated to the most new features... This is not available on any other Blu-Ray player meaning if you buy any other BR player apart from PS3, and if Sony comes out with a new Blu-Ray feature, then PS3 will be updated for the same but you BR player won't be able to upgrade..... Best example is 3D. Not many BR players support 3D at the moment, but PS3 will support 3D this year via an update when Sony brings out 3D.
So you see such things make PS3 the best Blu-Ray player in the market. So I would suggest a PS3 even if you find a cheaper BR player. It's better to invest in something that does everything rather than just get a stand alone BR player. Also PS3 comes with Wifi so you don't have to go into all the Wires hassle to connect online (it also has a browser).
I would just buy a blu-ray player because eventually these PS3's blu-ray drives break...Maybe a blu-ray player is more durable at playing blu-ray movies.
If that is all your use it for then I would just save money and get the blu-ray player.
Well it's totally up to you but a PS3 has more features then a stand alone blu ray player. it's also a multimedia center so if you have videos, music and pictures you can also stream this data from the PS3 and you can stream data from your computer to your PS3 as well using tversity. Most blu ray players can update just like the PS3 but you get more for your money.
you probably just need a blu-ray player , however the ps3 has advantages that some don't especially in the price range .
it has easy firmware updates and is future proof for upcoming things like 3-D movies plus it can connect online wired or wirelessly for accessing bd-live online blu-ray features like screenings with the director and actors on some movies
it has one of the best blu-ray drives around and the available bluetooth remote has lots of features
just for that alone it's a good buy ' and if you decide to you can play games , surf the web , store music , movies and photos on the hard drive and access netflix on demand videos on a ps3 plus rent or buy movies and tv shows directly to the ps3 from the playstation store