DVD player advice

[erilyn]

I'm really tempted to buy a divx/xvid compatible dvd player. We have a nice all-region Pioneer dvd, but my sister and I watch a lot of stuff via downloads, and would probably watch more but we get sick of watching them on the computer. So I turn to the source of all knowledge, and ask:
- what features should I look for in a player?
- any specific brand/model recs or warnings?
- best places around Sydney to shop for such things?

Learn me, please :)

Comments

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

Asking questions in myer yesterday, we thought the Pioneer DV383 was pretty good. It plays everything, all regions, plus DIVX. $169 (but you'd get it cheaper elsewhere). Bing Lee is probably a lot cheaper.

Panasonic and Pioneer are all regions by default. LG and others require codes (don't want that).

The shop guy didn't recommend those VHS to DVD recording thingies.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Wanna come down to Chatswood with me this afternoon? *g*

Thanks for the info, very useful.

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sure.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I'll dry my hair and get changed. Pick you up around 2pm, or a bit after? *g*

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

Righto, I'll get ready. For a change I already have pants on.

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

New Toy!

I still want the roboraptor, though.

[ms-nerd.livejournal.com]

I have a Philips and it works great! I know people in Canada and Europe who bought Philips and are very happy.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Excellent, I shall check them out, thanks :)

[lucy-u2.livejournal.com]

I have this Philips:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000204SWE/qid=1127618067/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-3851929-8995954?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846
and it plays xvid too. It's crazy all the shit that player can do.

[crownzeal.livejournal.com]

ooo, i actually might get that one as well. thanks for the rec!

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I shall definitely have to see if it's available here, thanks :)

Actually from erilyn

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

iibnf bought that one today, and I'm very tempted to join you both and buy one too :)

By the way, she mentioned you couldn't remember than name of a book we'd discussed - I think they were Tanya Huff's, including The Fire Stone.

[indybrat.livejournal.com]

I have an LG which I love. It was reasonably priced - only $140. It plays xvid and divx without any problems. I got it purely to play my downloads but I have also played music cds in it.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I shall keep an eye out for it too, thanks!

[lastrega.livejournal.com]

I bought a Pioneer 383 the other day and it's great. Plays divx and everything. I've still got the older model Pioneer in my room, but we needed another one as well. Just whatever you do, don't get sucked into buying a Conia dvd recorder because they're so cheap. There's a reason they're cheap, and it ain't good.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I'm getting so tempted, particularly as I found it at a very good price in JB Hifi. Does it play wmv files?

[lastrega.livejournal.com]

It says it plays WMA/MP3 files, not sure about WMV. Did you end up getting one?

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Not yet (but probably this week). iibnf bought one from JB Hifi while we were shopping, so I went back to her place and checked out how well it worked *g*.

[lastrega.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I got mine from JB as well. We have one just over the back from us, so we're there a lot.

[breny.livejournal.com]

Is the file extension for a DIVX .avi? However, are only some .avi files DIVX and others are not?

And.........my DVD Player is suppose to play Video CD(VCD) and SVCD. How do I know if a file is either of those formats and what is the file extension for vcd/svcd? I haven't found one CD with a video that this plays and am trying to figure it out.

thanks,
Bren

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

The divx codec is a very popular way of encoding avi files (but not the only way). Most tv episodes I have downloaded are divx/xvid (a variation on it) encoded.

VCDs (video compact discs) aren't just a file type, as far as I understand it. It's a way of formatting mpeg files (like a dvd) but on a cd. It's lower picture quality than a dvd. Many burner software packages have options to burn video in vcd or super vcd format. But I've never made or bought one (they're quite popular in Asian markets).

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

I won't be able to go to Gosford on Friday as I'm committed to an all day/most of the night work function. Joy. (Twitch).

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Looks like I'm gonna be working every day this week except Tuesday, oy vey!

[adelate]

I just bought a Philips DVP 5100 and it works great. :)

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip! I'm trying to pick between it and the Pioneer now, people recommend both, so it'll probably depend which I can find cheaper :)