The *NEW* DVP642/37 manufactured Oct '06

[handyguy]

There should be a manf date on the back of the machine cabazon.

[would_like_to_know]

I think there we be more significant differences between the 2 versions of 642 than just the manufacturing date. One should post the picture of the backpanel for the new version, and the old one so they could be compared carefully to see if there is anything significant.

[Krispy Kritter]

With the advent of the Philips DVP-5140 and DVP-5960 the DVP-642 is now old news.

I can't believe all you people are still buying that POS!

The DVP-5140 is 20 bazillion times better and costs all of $50 US Dollars at WALMART.

Not only do the newer Philips handle MPEG-4 files better but they also have superior image quality for MPEG-4 and DVD Video and do PAL DVD to NTSC conversion much better (although there are better yet more expensive players if that is a key goal for you).

The DVP-642 is junk in comparison and even "back-in-the-day" it still sucked ass and was only as popular as it was due to how cheap it was and the fact that it was (then) one of the very few MPEG-4 capable DVD players.

I had a DVP-642 and now I have a DVP-5140 so I like to think I know what I am talking about.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

FulciLives I have a Philps DVP 5140 as well but how do I make the .SRT and .SUB subtitles larger please?

Subtitle size, font, color, placement, etc. are controlled by the firmware and are not adjustable without modifying and reflashing the firmware.

[Krispy Kritter]

Considering the poor very support of this unit when it was more popular, I wouldn't hold my breath expecting a firmware update to correct all of its shortcomings. They never did correct the issues in the original firmware, much less this one. Especially when they already produce much better units themselves as Fulcilives stated.

Personally I've upgraded to the Oppo 971 (I've got 2 older 642's sitting in the closet), and it is worth every penny.

[Cwluc]

Considering the poor very support of this unit when it was more popular, I wouldn't hold my breath expecting a firmware update to correct all of its shortcomings. They never did correct the issues in the original firmware, much less this one. Especially when they already produce much better units themselves as Fulcilives stated.

Personally I've upgraded to the Oppo 971 (I've got 2 older 642's sitting in the closet), and it is worth every penny.

See now I can agree wholeheartly with that statement (observation), and am about to buy another Oppo (DV-981HD) cause they are that damn good. Now only if I could find a player that will play my x264 encodes...

Phillips does have a problem with supporting their hardware, and yes there were some issues and concerns that cropped up with the original. But in all seriousness they should've called this a different player. At this point they are really only capitalizing on the name recognition, which is terribly sad these days.