--- Forwarded Message from Duncan Charters <[log in to unmask]> ---
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 16:55:42 -0600
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>
>From: Duncan Charters <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #6507 Code Free DVD Players
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Just a little more on Code Free DVD Players.
1. We got the video of Amelie from France (it was a Christmas special
there), and it's listed as PAL format, so presumably for DVD discs, unlike
VCR tapes, NTSC and PAL are the only standards used and SECAM is not an
issue.
2. Sampo from Taiwan seems to have been the first manufacturer to have a
code-free DVD player with conversion distributed in this country, which is
why many people have these. The more recent models are more satisfactory
than the earier ones. We have a DVE-625 which works well. However, it
doesn't automatically play a PAL DVD on an NTSC TV, because the factory
auto setting to which it defaults plays NTSC on NTSC and PAL on PAL. The
manual doesn't say anything about how to change the setting, so you have to
ask for tech support. In this case, with the DVD running, you need to
punch in the code "72555" on the remote. Even though a little "stop!" hand
indicates you can't do that, you do anyway and it works after the first or
second entry. If a machine doesn't seem to work as advertised, there is
probably some such arcane recourse available.
3. The World Gift Center in Chicago mentioned a couple of times does have
good service and very responsive technical support by phone or e-mail. The
direct web address for DVD details is <www.world-import.com/dvd.htm>.
Another Chicago supplier that we have had good experience with is
<dvdoverseas.com>. They offer the Daewoo DVG-3000 code-free world player
with built-in converter for an existing NTSC TV for just $199.99. This
model has been replaced by the Daewoo DVD-5700 for $249.99 (World Gift
Center) and is supposed to be better than the Sampo and with no "secret
codes" so an earlier Daewoo model might have had the problem mentioned
here. The quality of the bottom-of-the-line built-in converters is not
quite as good as running the player directly through a multi-standard
projector or a better-quality external converter, but it's adequate for
most uses. Some of the cheaper machines such as the Sampo may have
problems with high-speed animation movies such as Shrek, but that's rare.
Some british, Chinese, and Thai DVDs are DVD-Rs and don't play well, but
again, that's rare. For playing through a projector or external converter,
we have found the Pioneer DV-343 to be very versatile (a consideration if
you are producing DVD's on a Mac superdrive, for instance - not all models
handle all DVDs and CD formats equally well).
4. DVD disc manufacturers first tried to encode their discs so that they
would not run on "0"-region players. Since the manufacturers soon change
their technology (there are no "0"-region players sold now, as far as I
know), the manufacturers usually give up and there are very few unplayable
discs out there. They make the threat to discourage multi-region players,
but they may never be able to control this. It could be safer to purchase
a machine like a Malata where you have specific control over setting the
region, since theoretically it's possible to electronically fool a
multi-region code-free player into misinterpreting the region of the disc
being played. The additional cost may not be worth it, though, since the
current low-end ones play pretty much everything now produced and will need
to be replaced later anyway.
5. On another issue, the legality of code-free players, as far as we have
been able to determine informally there is no problem purchasing one in
order to play a legitimately purchased disc from another region, although
they are probably considered "gray-market.". It would be definitely over
the line to purchase a macrovision-disabled code-free DVD player and then
make copies on to other media (computer, dics, VHS tape). On a warranty,
World Gift Center offers the standard one-year warranty with an additional
year at $29. That is of course an issue if the manufacturer won't honor a
converted player, so you have to rely on the vendor's warranty..
6. It was announced months ago that Sony was going to produce an
authorized code-free DVD player. Perhaps these are available abroad, but I
haven't seen one here or on any of Sony's international web sites. If they
had to negotiate a kickback of the extra charge to the movie producers,
though, that could take forever.
Dr. Duncan Charters
Professor, Language Department
Principia College, Elsah, IL 62028-9799
Telephone: (618) 374-5252 Fax: (618) 374-5465
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
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