DVD player Question?

**Gawain of Orkeny** · 03-15-2005, 05:34

At 40 bucks you cant go wrong

There are many models available at that price nowdays. Just make sure it says it plays everything like MP3s, DVDs, DVDRs and the like. There are players today for as little as 20 bucks. Also make sure its a progressive scan.

**Voigtkampf** · 03-15-2005, 07:17

Beirut, you might also want to research the fact whether or not the DVD player can play home grown DVD’s and backups. I know that Sony DVD players were built so that they couldn’t read those, and sales suffered as well as people who bought those. I always backup my most important DVD’s; to some I add subtitles that are not available on the DVD to begin with. I find it stupid to consider that only bootlegs are the sort of home burned DVD’s that goes around.

Oh, and expect to have some trouble with DVD-R’s with almost any DVD player.

But, on the other hand, to the primary issue, I would not absolve the rental DVD’s from all guilt. If the new DVD from the store runs well, and your rental DVD does not, the answer is pretty much clear; ruined rental DVD.

**Beirut** · 03-15-2005, 11:41

Originally Posted by Gawain of Orkeny

At 40 bucks you cant go wrong

There are many models available at that price nowdays. Just make sure it says it plays everything like MP3s, DVDs, DVDRs and the like. There are players today for as little as 20 bucks. Also make sure its a progressive scan.

I was thinking you would have suggested a conservative scan.

And just what, pray tell, does progressive scan mean anyway?

This DVD is for the cute little 14" Toshiba flat screen (tube, not fancy LCD)we bought for the bedroom for $150. It's stereo and looks nice. It's a decent little TV. Plays Pac-Man really well too. (The only video game my sweetie likes.)

**Fragony** · 03-15-2005, 14:05

Probably an old player, some DVD's have a little pause between chapters.

**Uesugi Kenshin** · 03-16-2005, 04:02

Well Gawain why does my DvD player work fine? It is quite old, but only has problems during rental DvDs, new non-rentals work fine?

I guess it could be only some. I stand mostly corrected.

**Byzantine Prince** · 03-16-2005, 04:06

Originally Posted by Beirut

Plays Pac-Man really well too. (The only video game my sweetie likes.)

She doesn't play TW?

*stands apauled*

**Voigtkampf** · 03-16-2005, 07:55

Progressive scan is a video scanning system that displays all the lines of a single frame in one pass. Every single pixel is being refreshed in order (on your computer monitor) or simultaneously (as in DVD movies).

Opposite to that is the interlace method where you imagine splitting the screen in even and odd lines; first you refresh the even lines, than the odd lines. This causes the screen to appear flickering or shimmering sometimes when you look at TV too closely.

However, progressive scan is IIRC basically a standard these days, you can’t go wrong there, even if you try.

Two examples of interlacing at work, so you might get a "better picture".

**Beirut** · 03-16-2005, 12:27

Ah, thank you.

Well I bought a $45 El Cheapo DVD player yesterday. Seems decent enough. Small size, black case, fits on a shelf in the bedrrom. Has a one year warranty so if it self-destructs I'l just grab another. And it is progressive scan.

Actually, the little b****** is almost too complcated. The remote is tiny and it's got about twenty buttons on. Zooms and slow-mo and angle and light toast and dark toast. So if you're lying in bed with the lights off, trying to find the right button is a bit tricky. The remote should be much simpler. And it doesn't glow in the dark. The Toshiba TV remote does.

**Spino** · 03-16-2005, 17:08

Last summer I bought a Philips DVP-642 for $67 from Amazon, s&h included! It plays everything! In addition to DVDs and DVD-R/+Rs it plays VCD, SVCD, Divx, Xvid, avi, mpeg, mp3s, jpgs, blah, blah, blah!

Best $67 I've ever spent.

Word to the wise, regardless of brand these ultra-cheap DVD players are also known to have less than spectacular reliability records. If you get one that acts up or goes funny on you exchange it immediately! Furthermore, if buying online only purchase your player from a reputable company known for its excellent support and return policies! And if buying from a store always keep your receipts!

The source for consumers looking to purchase from a reputable online reseller....

http://www.resellerratings.com/

Fantastic site for videophiles...

http://www.videohelp.com

Specific link to the DVP-642

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers....y=Name&hits=25