DVD Player recommendations: Discuss DVD player recommendations here

[Miggy]

I think I'll be getting a new player soon, just because I need one that will record DVD-RWs, and my current one (bought 4 years ago) does not. I found the Toshiba DR-5 on-line for a little over $100, and that looks just like the kind I need.

However, before I do that, I realized an issue. If this has been addressed before, I apologize.

The issue: this recorder will be used for timer recordings. So the DVD-RW will have to be in at the time the show comes on. These shows won't be watched until the end of the week. Let's say I wanted to watch a movie, or continue watching Star Trek: TNG episodes at the same time one of these shows comes on, which is something that will happen frequently. Is there a reasonable-cost solution to this? I can't find one with a HD for under $300. Are there unit with two trays - one that can record at the same time you play a separate DVD?

If nothing else, I'll just keep my current player and use it to play whenever a show is being recorded.

Miggy, the Thief

[Miggy]

Okay, I guess this issue has never been thought of before, or that there is no easy solution.

I'll just keep my current player for a backup.

Miggy, the Thief

[Iguana Man]

Reverse Psychology! YAY!

Sorry man..I don't know..but I bet someone does and will reply.

[chlngr1970]

I know there was a DVDR that had TIVO built in. That might be a solution for you...

j

[Miggy]

Tivo... hadn't thought of that. But there'd be a monthly charge involved, though, right?

I think I'll just keep my current one. You would think that with DVD recorders being so much more advanced than VCRs that you wouldn't have to deal with that same issue.

Miggy, the Thief

[chlngr1970]

When I bought mine ( Toshiba ) it came with a lifetime basic subscription. I haven't even used it

j

[Miggy]

Was it something like the RS-TX20?

Stupid question time: we have, or will in a few days, basic cable (after years of just using rabbit ears). Could I just plug the cable into the RF in on the recorder and then use TIVO?

Another question: I see this popping up during my searches of DVD recorders - "DVD-RW Recording in the Video Format only. Playback with VR or Video format." What does that mean? I need to be able to record onto a DVD-RW, finalize it, play it on another DVD player that will play DVD-RWs, then erase the DVD-RW and start over. Is this doable?

Miggy, the Thief

[Miggy]

Okay, at this point I'm thinking of putting down $180 more and getting the Toshiba model with the 160 GB HDD (RD-XS35). I have until this weekend to decide whether to get the basic model, or get the HDD model next week.

Can someone verify that my assumption about HDD units are correct? You use timer recordings to record shows onto the HDD, and then pick the ones you want to put onto a DVD-RW and it high-speed dubs it onto the disc. Then you can finalize it and play it on a friend's DVD player (that plays DVD-RWs) and then erase the disc to start over next week. I'd hate to pay the extra and then find out the HDD can only be used to record and view content on that particular player.

The only issue I'd have beyond verifying that is that the lowest price I can find on that model is from some place called PageComputers, and their seller reviews are very mixed. I wish TigerDirect sold this model, but they don't. For $20 more I can get it from OneCall, which has gotten better reviews and is a place that sounds at least vaguely familiar to me.


Miggy, the Thief

[vidfree]

does anyone out there know where I can find the remote code for a sony SLV-D100? I am trying to program a universal remote and they don't have the right code. I have tried all things sony in the code book but none seem to work. I appreciate any help you might send me, and Merry Christmas too!

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by vidfree

does anyone out there know where I can find the remote code for a sony SLV-D100? I am trying to program a universal remote and they don't have the right code. I have tried all things sony in the code book but none seem to work. I appreciate any help you might send me, and Merry Christmas too!

Are you looking for the code only, or would an actual remote (assuming it's gone/lost) allow you to point them at each other to accomplish the same results?

[MRSMITH]

Originally Posted by MRSMITH

A better option now than before IMO: with the very good but disappointing HD-DVD and Blu-Ray machines(problem may be in the transfer rates of those disks now available), the upconverting players look even better now than before on a 'bang for the buck' basis. Using the B/R version of 'The Fifth Element', and its SuperBit standard DVD as a comparison on the same Samsung machine and display, the difference in image(the Samsung upconverts standard DVDs) is so small as to be hardly worth mentioning. The majority of the nation's professional electronics writers came to the same conclusion with HD-DVD, labeling the image as "unimpressive".

So ----- get yourself a good upcon player now at a fraction of the cost of HD-DVD or Blu-Ray and enjoy virtual hi-def. If you have a display with HDMI/DVI you'll have a wide range of machines to choose from, including those with the latest Faroujda chips. If your display only has component, there are fewer to choose from, but an outstanding image anyway. While the chip may be a little dated(Sigma EM8500), the Momitsu V880 series still produces a knock-out upcon picture for somewhere around $300(the V880N is perhaps still the most sophisticated upcon player on the market in terms of features, but the V880s are hard to come by with many outlets on back-order after some three years on the market). While I have not seen ithem in action, the NeoDigits players apparently do an acceptable job via component as well.

Whichever you choose, make sure you have a good return policy from place of purchase just in case the match-up between player and display does not satisfy your eyes.

Enjoy!

Milt R. Smith
mrsmith2002@yahoo.com

In the intervening months has been the independent Oppo study which confirmed most viewers could not tell difference between upcon and native. Toshiba gave Paramount/Dreamworks 150-million reasons earlier to go HD-DVD exclusive, Sony allegedly gave Warner Bros 500-million reasons to fo BluRay only, and hi-speed movie downloads are coming later this year. Net result? Sony won nothing but bragging rights, and Joe Sixpack had little or no input into which format won, having been decided by a very mundane pay-to-play arrangement. Business as usual. My guess is, if genuinely competitive, hi-speed downloads will just eliminate on-disk distribution, sooner rather than later. Makes sense both from a convenience and economic standpoint.

Milt R. Smith

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by MRSMITH

My guess is, if genuinely competitive, hi-speed downloads will just eliminate on-disk distribution, sooner rather than later. Makes sense both from a convenience and economic standpoint.

Milt R. Smith

How could it possibly be sooner rather than later? I am ten times higher tech than my circle of J6P friends. I don't see myself downloading movies for some time and therefore envision my J6P friends waiting even longer. Not saying it wont happen, but I feel it's going to be far longer than you elude to even with 'genuine competiveness'.

Convenience? What is required for that? True convenience that is.

How ya been by the way?

[videoworx]

Originally Posted by Iguana Boy

I am ten times higher tech than my circle of J6P friends.

This cannot possibly be true...

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by videodick

This cannot possibly be true...

You don't know my friends. Hehehehe....

[MRSMITH]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

How could it possibly be sooner rather than later? I am ten times higher tech than my circle of J6P friends. I don't see myself downloading movies for some time and therefore envision my J6P friends waiting even longer. Not saying it wont happen, but I feel it's going to be far longer than you elude to even with 'genuine competiveness'.

Convenience? What is required for that? True convenience that is.

How ya been by the way?

Been enjoying the ride, and enjoying 'business as usual' with the movie studios. Toshiba gave Paramount/Dreamworks earlier 150-million reasons to go with HD-DVD, and more recently Sony allegedly gave Warner Bros 500-million reasons to go with BluRay. So, instead of a purely technical decision on BluRay vs HD-DVD, we have a rather mundane pay-to-play deal no different from any other industry.

A sign of the digital era: L.A. Times front page story 4/4/08: "Apple Inc. has surpassed WalMart to become America's No. 1 music store, the first time that a seller of digital downloads has ever beaten the big CD retailers. Apple sold more albums in January and February than any other U.S. retailer, market research firm NPD group said Thursday, underscoring how the music industry is on the front edge of a digital media shift that is upending businesses as diverse as bookstores and video game makers." The packaged media industry is in a FRENZY to stop this from happening with video, but it's coming anyway.

From yesterday's Verizon full page ad in the L.A. Times: "Experts call it near flawless - CNET. Get Verizon FIOS TV, internet and phone and get the most amazing TV picture quality. Period. Version FIOS TV makes HD and non-HD channels look better than anything you've seen before, including 10,000 titles available instantly On Demand." To me, if true, this is the very definition of 'convenience'. The problem is the PRICE. In this case, the bundled cost is $104.99 a month for FIOS TV, internet and unlimited calling. So to my way of thinking if not available unbundled, that is NOT competitive. As to the claims of FIOS, they'll have to deal with the issue of advertising liability if their claims are untrue, and that could cost 'em way more than the revenues. We'll see as this all starts to play out over the next year or so. My guess is, it's just a matter of time.

All together now, SAY BYE-BYE TO BLU-RAY & HD-DVD !!!

[Sehnzeleid]

What the hell does that have to do with recommending DVD players?

[MRSMITH]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

What the hell does that have to do with recommending DVD players?

Read between the lines as well. This has EVERYTHING to do with recommending DVD players. Specifically, Netflix in its hi-speed download announcement stated that one or more of its models would include a built-in BluRay/HD-DVD player from LG. Current DVRs, like the one I have(the non-HD version) from a satellite provider specifically provides instruction on how to download from the box to VHS or disk for those who just GOTS to have a disk. My post is trying to tell the individual inquiring to wait til later this year and find out what may be needed to connect specifically to one of these boxes, which in turn may have a major bearing on what kind of player/burner you want. We're betwixt and between eras right now, and the Verizon Fios ad in yesterday's L.A. times(if accurate) as an example will have a major bearing on all of this. One thing's for damn sure, as far as trudging down to the store to rent or buy movies on disk, we can all confidentlly SAY BYE-BYE TO BLU-RAY & HD-DVD !!!

[Wirehed]

Originally Posted by MRSMITH

One thing's for damn sure, as far as trudging down to the store to rent or buy movies on disk, we can all confidentlly SAY BYE-BYE TO BLU-RAY & HD-DVD !!!

Um, no. No we can't "confidently" say that. Not at all.

There are better places to discuss this, including the thread you were pointed to just a few minutes ago for doing this in another thread.