Confused about Region-limitations on BlueRay Players

[concisa]

My confusion stems from the conflicting information that I've received from Panasonic and Best Buy.

I'm considering buying a Panasonic DMP-BDT320. Panasonic tells me that this unit only plays Region 1 and A discs. That limitation for me is a no-no.

People at BestBuy on the other hand tells me that the Region 1 limitation applies only for DVDs and that the BluRay part plays A which currently means all BluRay discs. This restriction is not as bad as the previous one.

So, you see my point. The Panasonic Technical Support did not make the distinction the BestBuy people did.

Is there anyone out there that can help me to understand this business of REGION limitations? What is the difference between DVDs and BluRay discs as far as this REGION business goes?

Thank you very much in advance.

[koberulz]

I don't see what the difference is between the two sets of information. The player in question will play region one DVDs and region A Blu-Rays, and nothing else. DVDs from the US, Canada, Bermuda and US territories are region one. Blu-Rays from most North, Central and South American and Southeast Asian countries plus the Republic of China (Taiwan), Japan, Hong Kong, Macau and Korea are region A.

There's no such thing as region A DVDs or region 1 Blu-Rays.

[Noahtuck]

People at BestBuy

Well there is your first mistake!!

the BluRay part plays A which currently means all BluRay discs.

Yeah, if you only buy your Bluray's from the U.S.

[mrswla]

People at Best Buy don't know Jack! Panasonic Tech support was correct: the unit will ONLY play Region 1 DVD's and Region A Blu-rays.

[hech54]

Panasonic tells me that this unit only plays Region 1 and A discs. That limitation for me is a no-no

Well get used to it. The days of easily hackable DVD players are drawing to a close.....and the days of hackable Blu Ray players never was.

[october262]

if there is a hack for your blueray player it would only work for the dvd side of the bluray player and not the blueray side.