PerformanceThe BD-D5500 was sluggish in our lab tests, especially with startup times. The most commonly used media services are free (or paid through the services' individual accounts), but a handful of apps and services are 'premium,' and can cost a few dollars to download or access content, like the Mobiscope webcam browser or Bejeweled 2, both available for $4.99. Samsung offers dozens of online services and apps through its Smart Hub, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, YouTube, and Pandora.

Volume and Channel rockers are located at the bottom of the remote, above that, but below the navigation pad, are dedicated Netflix and Smart Hub buttons that offer instant access to the BD-D5500's streaming media services. The playback buttons glow in the dark, but the remote is otherwise unlit. View all Photos in GalleryThe remote is an 8.5-inch-long slab with large, flat buttons in a logical layout.