Help!

[JakeLipson]

I need to buy my first DVD player in the coming month or two.

I know that sounds nuts because I've been on this board for so long, but up until this point in time the DVD players were my family's and I was just using them to play my discs. Now, however, I'm going to college in August. I realize that college is primarily for my education and I want to go there to advance that. But loving movies is part of who I am and I don't want to give that up completely either.

My parents are providing me with a small TV (17-20 inch or so, I think), but my mother was completely floored when I asked for a DVD player. She was under the impression that I would watch a DVD once a month when I come home for a visit.

For several years previous to now, I got a $10/week allowance which was to cover DVDs, books, music and whatever else I wished to buy. As long as it was not a night show, my parents would cover theatrical movies the first time I saw them. Pretty nice deal, I think. For the summer prior my move to college (August 20), my mother is thinking about raising that to $80/month for June through the early part of August. But I am now required to pay for theatrical movies as well. Not as nice as the previous setup, but I can live with that.

The hitch is that -- since they don't think I should have a DVD player -- they're not going to include that with the TV they've agreed to purchase for me. They said I can have one if I really want it, but it needs to come out of my $80/month too. And that will make much more of a dent in it than $6.50 for a movie ticket.

So I need some advice here. I have never been involved in the purchasing of one of our DVD players before. I want a good one from a reputable brand which I can trust not to have playback problems, and it needs to last me at least all the time I'm in college, which I think will be five years. And, of course, it has to be within my price range. I want to be able to go to some movies this summer and there are one or two must-have discs (though fortunately not a lot.) I would, of course, like to have a Blu-ray player and HDTV, but I know my limits so I'm not going to get that; it's too expensive and, as I said, college is about studying so I need to impose some limits on myself.

I would appriciate advice on a good make/model/brand/etc. for my needs? Thanks.

Edit: I should have given this thread a more descriptive title -- sorry!

[Wirehed]

Can't you just watch DVDs on your computer? That seems like the best choice for school.

[LeChuck]

Just go to wal-mart and pick up the cheapest thing they have. I bought one of those when I moved out. I paid $25 for it, turned off region restrictions and it lasted me four years (and longer since I got rid of it with upgrades). With a 20 inch tv, a dvd player is a dvd player. Also, after the four years and it surviving a house fire, I sold it on ebay for $50.

That is my advice anyway.

[JakeLipson]

Thanks for that. I don't really care what it is as long as I know it's reputable enough not to break down on me before my five years are up. With $80 a month to work with (and I would assume a somewhat simmilar figure at college for spending money, since my food will be taken care of on the meal plan), I really do not want to have to buy a DVD player twice. In particular I guess what I really want to know is wheather or not there are any brands or models with bad reputations which I should steer clear of.

As for watching movies on my computer...well, yeah, I could, but I don't really want to as long as I am going to have a TV. Diluting something like There Will Be Blood to 17-20 inches is going to be painful enough; I can't imagine watching it on a tiny computer moniter.

Edit: I was browsing on Amazon and found this. Amazon.com: Coby DVD-224 Compact DVD Player: Electronics -- it sems to fit the bill nicely, but I've not heard of Coby Electronics. Does anyone have any experience with this unit or manufactuer they'd care to share?

[Buffalo Bill]

There are a lot of quality sd dvd players out there & I wouldn't try to give you a model number since 5 minutes after you buy one a newer, improved model is released. I would recommend one thing though: Extended Warranty. It won't cost much on a standard dvd player but that'll help you be assured your player will last you through your college years.

[limacharliewhiskey]

You should be able to get a non-upconvert DVD player for $60 or less. Upconverters range from $60-100, and then DVD recorders are $100+. Unless your parents are getting you a new widescreen TV (I'm assuming it's a hand-me-down analog TV), you don't need upconverting capabilities.

I just picked up a Samsung upconverter this week, partly because it was what was on sale at Best Buy this week, and I own a Samsung HDTV.

When I was doing reserach over the past week, Coby seemed to be a cheap and unreliable manufacturer, from reviews I read. I would recommend sticking with one of the big names, like Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Toshiba. My previous player is a Panasonic that has run reliably for the last 6 years. Still runs fine. My brother has my old RCA player that is now running strong for 10 years, but I think RCA stopped making players awhile ago.

[brian]

*redacted

[Wirehed]

Yeah, getting at least a part time job is all part of the experience.



I would skip the TV and stand-alone DVD player in favor of a widescreen computer monitor and just watch DVDs on my computer.

[Slimbus]

Jake,

You sound really, really sheltered. Are you sure you'll be ok in college? Cheap DVD players (like a Coby, which is an older, generic brand) are extremely unlikely to last you 5 years. Most of them will die in 6 months. In a few years, even Sony will have players under $50, so there's no shame in going cheap now, especially with a smaller, non-HDTV. Also, if they really switch over to digital next year, you'll have an issue with TV watching, so you'll have to invest in a converter on top of that. I think the widescreen monitor idea is best.

From the sound of it, you haven't spent much time in the outside world, so if you're living in a dorm, everything will come as a complete shock. Have your parents never allowed you to have a job? You seem both mature in your writing and so naive as to be revolutionary, like a fictional character who seemed designed by a overprotective soccer mom makes her child live in a bubble, not because he's sick, but because she wants to make sure he never falls down and cuts or bruises himself. I was actually stunned to read that you'd seen "There Will Be Blood," an R rated movie. You're nearly 20, and it seems you haven't been given the opportunity to learn the most important lessons in adolescence and your teenage years, namely that in order to gain knowledge, you must be allowed to screw it up first. Making mistakes when there's little at stake is key to not doing it when you have kids and a mortgage, when it really counts. The other thing is, people, in general are selfish and lazy. This, in turn, makes them take advantage of others, and you'd be the number one candidate for their sloth-like wrath if you're this sincere and nice. There's a fine line between being a genuinely nice guy and a complete pussy, who everyone walks all over, and that line is going to be repeatedly trampled while you're in college.

[Pirate]

Slimbus,

Let's keep personal assessments and life coaching to PM, please.

[JakeLipson]

I maybe should have addressed this point sooner. A job is not something I have persued yet for personal reasons, but that is as far as I will go with that topic herre. I know that leaves some stuff unsaid, but I do not wish to elaborate further. However, I do know that college is going to be a big change and am (mostly) really looking forward to it. But anyway, back to my DVD player, which is the point of the thread.

My parents are getting a new 20 inch(ish) digital TV which will work when the digital switch occurs for my use. I went to Circuit City today and looked at them. Obviously it is not as amazing as our 46 inch one at home, but for college it will do nicely.

Amongst the DVD players, there were a lot of upconverting models which obviously I don't need, but I also saw a Sony for $50 and a Phillips for $45. I am inclined to buy one of these a little later on as my move approaches. The Coby one looked nice at first glance, which is when I posted about it. However, upon further consideration, I would rather buy from a more established brand which I know will last even if it costs more. This is not a purchase which I want to skimp on. (Also, a graduation check for $50 arrived in the mail from my aunt yesterday, so that is what I will use to pay for the player and the rest of my money can remain for other things.

Thanks everyone for your advice; more would be appriciated if you have it, though I feel good about the players I saw today. I will post again to let you all know what I get. Even though it won't be Blu-ray, I'm kind of proud to be getting my own personal player.

[Pirate]

There’s really no way to guarantee that a player will last you for 4-5 years, but Philips and Sony (I’ve owned both) make pretty sturdy players. I’d actually recommend the Philips over the Sony as I’ve had a working Philips player for 3 years.

Does your new TV have HDMI?

[brian]

Originally Posted by JakeLipson

Amongst the DVD players, there were a lot of upconverting models which obviously I don't need, but I also saw a Sony for $50 and a Phillips for $45. I am inclined to buy one of these a little later on as my move approaches. The Coby one looked nice at first glance, which is when I posted about it. However, upon further consideration, I would rather buy from a more established brand which I know will last even if it costs more. This is not a purchase which I want to skimp on. (Also, a graduation check for $50 arrived in the mail from my aunt yesterday, so that is what I will use to pay for the player and the rest of my money can remain for other things.

Even established brands can have mechanical problems. I really can't see you being satisfied unless you get an extended warranty, however at a $50 price, I don't see it being worth the effort or cost.

[Slimbus]

Here is the answer. Cheap, all-region, xvid, usb (with the ability to connect an enormous hard drive), and upconverting up to 1080P.

[chlngr1970]

Jake

There are a lot of models from brands like Toshiba, Pioneer, Sony, Panasonic...pretty much any of the recognized brands in your price range. I think I will echo the sentiments of picking up an extended warranty/service plan to make sure that your investment lasts the 4-5 years you want. DVD Players are pretty much at their zenith, so even the $50 models have good performance/reliability these days. spending an extra $20 to make it last beyond the 90 Days/1 year warranty they typical come with is not a bad idea.

Anywho, the more expensive models have HMDI, upscaling, built in decoders, stuff you don't really want, so no need to spend the money. Heck, for the upper end of your budget, you could probably get a DVD recorder

anyway...that is my thoughts...

j