Bottom Line - which DVD player?

[Brickinnj]

Dear Santa, have a Happy Hannukah.

Hi. Incredibly new Newbie here. I've spent some time reading the forums, reading the FAQs, reading jokes [Definition of Necrophilia: That Uncontrollable Urge To Crack Open A Cold One. hahahahaha - ahem, sorry - won't happen again], and I've gotten dizzy trying to find that one miracle machine. When I think I'm on the right trail, BLAMMO, either the posts are over a year old, or I get the feeling the machine I'm reading about is only good across the pond (ya tricky little Brits!!). HEY! in Harrow, there's this chicken place kind of across from the bus station, YUM!!

I'm not looking for the Mother of all DVD players. I've got a rather good one for the Family Room, this one's for the Wreck Room. Or if the wife comes up with exact change.....

Wuz I wanz is a DVD player to use in PA in the USA, and I'd like it to play my store bought DVDs [this year I'm getting some goodies!!! Small Soldiers, MIB II, LOTR, etc :P ], and MAYBE some CDs I create (VCDs? or SVCDs? I dunno), but what would REALLY thrill me is the ability to play any region - specifically, the UKs, because for some STUPID reason, the Family Guy DVDs are ONLY being RELEASED for their region!!! Who, excuse me, WHOM do I kill??

Oh, and I'd like it for under $100, please.

If it plays music, great, swell. If it doesn't play music, great, swell.

I would greatly appreciate some feedback. Should I be looking at an Apex, or did they truly cripple them? RCA, JVC, I'm so confused!!!

Have a great holiday season!!

did I use too many Emoticons?

[crahak]

If you want features, and a player that is "tweakable" to play every region and all that, then you're basically looking at shinco clones. In other words: Apex and the like. I have a GE DVD Changer (3 disc) that I got for about 100$, and it played everything I've ever thrown at it... Other people will have other favorite picks, but it isn't bad for the money

[Brickinnj]

Thank you for your time and your advice, but may I trouble you for a little more precision, specifically, do you like one model number over another? For instance which Apex or even which GE?

I appreciate your consideration and your time.

[Craig Tucker]

The ability to play VCD has been removed from the new apex models. Dont know if you can get it in the USA but the alba DVD114 is a very good player available in the UK for only £69.95. Plays everything.

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=124504&highlight=alba+dvd114

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=126354&highlight=

[SingSing]

Japan electronics companies built pretty good DVD players. The last models that is popular is Pioneer DV333. The more reason one is JVC 300BK, that is available at BB, CC, and sears at about $110. It officially support a lot of format, including still.

[miketree]

If you want it to play PAL dvds, won't you need a tv that supports PAL, too?

[Craig Tucker]

If you want it to play PAL dvds, won't you need a tv that supports PAL, too?

Yes, unless you dont mind watching it in black and white.

[SingSing]

PAL VCD and SVCD play fine on my NTSC player and TV.
The video miss a few lines due to different vertical resolution,
but you can hardly tell. Thanks to digital format.

Can't play PAL DVD, because it will have a region code that is different region 1 player.

[Craig Tucker]

PAL VCD and SVCD play fine on my NTSC player and TV.
The video miss a few lines due to different vertical resolution,
but you can hardly tell. Thanks to digital format.

Can't play PAL DVD, because it will have a region code that is different region 1 player.

Then you have an NTSC TV which is capable of displaying a PAL signal correctly, not all NTSC TV's can.

[Brickinnj]

STAMPEDE!! RUN!!!

Um, sorry to hit the reset button here, but to pare down and repeat - I would appreciate a solid recommendation for a player to be purchased and used in the US.

And for clarification, whatever format CD I can create that will play on it [translation: I’m not dedicated to any particular format because in the next 3-6 months I’m buying a new PC with the latest and greatest writers, hopefully both DVD and CD] is fine with me. I just want it to be versatile and region-friendly. Or is that what you gents call Region 0?

May I have the envelope, please?