I just bought a Magnavox MDV450SL21 & a Philips DVD724/171. People here had said that these units were identical. The Magnavox cost $89.99 at Blockbuster and the Philips cost $138.57.

I thought some people here might like to know my impressions and the differences/similarities between these units.

Initial impressions:
Both of these units are silver/grey. I think the Magnavox looks slightly better but both look ugly in my opinion. I would have preferred black if it had been an option. The units are the same dimensions and the buttons are in the same places with one exception. The Magnavox has a Picture button where the Philips has a Progressive scan button. I've only just unpacked them both but I'm guessing the Magnavox isn't progressive scan and that's why it was about $50 less.

The manuals are indentical with the exception of the picture on the front and a few extremely minor parts inside. You could use the index from one for the other.

The displays on both units are identical.

The ports on the back are the same. There are the same number of ports and the same arrangement except that the Philips has slighly more space between a few of them.

That's all I have for now. Next I have to figure out which setup is best (coax, S-Video, or RCA jack) and which my old Receiver and TV will support.

If anyone else has anything about these units they'd like to post here, by all means please do so. If you've got any questions or request for tests you'd like me to do, please post those as well. Please note that I don't have a DVD burner so I can't test DVD-R, -RW +R, or +RW compatibility.