I hate my HDMI TV. I prefer my older widescreen TV from 2003 which is not an HD ready TV and, I have read and am told, I cannot hook up a blu ray player to it. I know the picture will look a lot better on the HD, but I really prefer the picture, colors and sound with the older TV. Is there absolutely no way at all anyone can view a blu ray on these older models?
A list of My Favourite 100 Films
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls076253329/
Mine is like that. My TV from around 2003 has a DVI connection instead of HDMI. You can also connect the old fashioned L+R audio and Video cables or the composite to the various inputs. It all depends on what output jacks are on the back of your Blu-ray player. But those old TVs had lots of inputs. Right now I am just using the L+R audio and video connections. If your TV has a DVI input and your player only has an HDMI output, then get an HDMI to DVI converter and use that. You have to connect the audio separately as DVI is video only while HDMI carries both audio and video. So your player would also have to have the L+R audio outputs. Seems like older models of Blu-ray players have greater output options.
Another thing. You said your TV isn't HD ready, but if it's widescreen, then it should be 720 or 1080 HD at least, so you probably mean it's not digital, meaning it doesn't have a built in digital TV tuner, like my 2003 model. I had to get a digital tuner box that they were giving out vouchers for back when the conversion to digital took place. That has nothing to do with DVD or Blu-ray connections.
Maybe you can hook up component video (the Y/Pr/Pb inputs), and probably get 720p. If by some chance the TV has VGA input, there are media players with VGA output (just search ebay for vga media player). Or, there are converter boxes to go from HDMI to VGA (and/or component). Search ebay for "HDMI To RGB + SPDIF VGA + SPDIF YPbPr Video Audio Converter" and you'll find one. Also "1080P HDMI HDCP1.4 TO VGA+AUDIO/SPDIF Mini Converter" or "MINI HDMI to VGA HD VIDEO CONVERTER" which is cheaper but doesn't do component. Don't get taken in by cheap adapter cables that go from HDMI to VGA or component: those ONLY work with particular laptops or graphics cards that have non-standard HDMI outputs. If you look at Amazon reviews for those things, you'll find many angry customers who didn't realize that.
Another option for VGA output would be to use a computer or laptop to play Blu-ray discs or media files.
If you have a dvi in you will have no difference. And cheap hdmi to dvi cable on monoprice should do.
If you have component, not sure you can see the difference with hdmi to the naked eye and should do the work no problems.