--- Forwarded Message from David Herren <[log in to unmask]> ---
>Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 21:29:23 -0500
>Subject: Re: #6507.12 Code Free DVD Players (!)
>From: David Herren <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
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On Wednesday, February 13, 2002, at 05:32 PM, LLTI-Editor wrote:
> 1. Is this machine VCR friendly?
I'm not sure what this means... you're not supposed to make tape copies of
DVDs anyway... ;-)
> 2. What do you think of the image produced by the converter?
> I've heard that some built-in converters produce inferior images.
Anything which has been "converted" is going to lose some quality, and
particularly since a PAL image is by definition superior to NTSC, then yes,
a PAL image converted to NTSC is inferior. Ideally one would display a
PAL DVD on a PAL monitor for the best quality, but if you don't have a
multi-standard monitor (or like me, can't afford a 32 inch multi-standard
monitor) this makes the content available which would otherwise not be
available...
> 3. Do you have any experience with the reliability and
> reparability of this brand?
>
I've heard of one Malata being delivered DOA which was quickly replaced.
Virtually all of the "region free" players I have used are made in China,
and there's no question that they're of lesser quality than mainstream
brands--look at the price after all--but as long as you trust your vendor,
you shouldn't have too many problems. For the most part, though, there's
no touching them for features. The last region free player I took apart
(not a Malata) was essentially a pentium based machine running an embedded
linux kernal with a computer DVD drive...
And at $335, we're nearly talking disposable anyway...
/david
--
david herren, shoreham, vermont, usa
Hey Osama! Allah would like a word with you...
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