Choosing a DVD Player

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   Choosing a DVD Player? DVD now totally outsells VHS videotapes here in the UK and worldwide. DVD players are now cheap enough (£50 or less), and the DVD's themselves are getting cheaper too, so now is a good time to buy a player if you haven't already done so.
Before you buy your DVD player, here are some hints to help you make your decision.

HINT

No. 1

 Don't spend too much

The lowest cost DVD players (£50 to £100) are now full of features, so why pay more?
If you want to spend more, then buy a DVD recorder, but the same hints apply.

HINT

No. 2

 Buy a multi-region DVD player

DVD's sold in the UK are marked or coded as 'region 2', and those in the US are 'region 1'.
Most players you buy here are set to play region 2 DVD's only, and won't play lower-cost region 1 DVD's that you might bring back from the USA, or buy by mail order.
Because of this, you might think that the UK/US systems are incompatible.  In fact they are identical, and the use of regions is simply a marketing restriction, to stop you viewing films before the distributors want to release them here.
Because there are really no technical differences, most players can be easily modified to play DVD's from any region.  Some can even be reprogrammed from the remote control to play other regions, using 'secret' codes (not so secret when they are available on the internet!).
As region 1 (US) DVD's come out sooner, are often cheaper, and give extra choice, wotnext recommends that you buy either a multi-region player, or a UK player already modified by the dealer.

HINT

No. 3
Buy the player by mail order

You can save money, compared with Dixons, Comet, and Curry's, even after allowing the cost of carriage, but more important, you can buy multi-region players much more easily.

Click here to see a range of multi-region players from Amazon.co.uk

HINT

No. 4

 Buy the DVD's by mail order

Once you have your player, the last place to buy is at stores like HMV and Virgin.
You may be able to get bargain prices at Asda and other supermarkets, but the best source of cheap DVD's is mail order.

Click here to see the range of DVD's from Amazon.co.uk with about 20% off store prices.

HINT

No. 5

 

Be prepared for some extra cables

If you already have a VCR, and a Sky box or DigiBox, you are going to have to work out how to connect up your new DVD player!!

If your TV has 2 Scart sockets, then you just need to plug the player into the spare socket, but if your TV only has one socket, then you will have to put your Sky box on standby while watching DVD, or else unplug Sky from the TV, unless you like watching two programmes at the same time!

So a last hint... if you are buying a new TV, do make sure it has 2 Scart sockets (and some even have 3 now), to save the hassle with the plugs and cables.

 
Once you have bought your player, you need to buy some DVD's!
wotnext's suggestions for three really good DVD's are:

   Chicken Run

A video for all the family, with rave reviews at the box office.
The story line is "An animated feature film that depicts chicken's struggle for freedom outside their farm.", and the stars (voices) include Mel Gibson and Jane Horrocks

    for more information, or to buy it

    Minority Report

If you like action movies and special effects, then this Steven Spielberg film, starring Tom Cruise, is for you!!
A typical viewer's comment on Amazon: "Everything is absorbing and exciting, its Brilliant, it will keep you on the edge of your seat!"

    for more information, or to buy it

 

    Bound

If you like Tarentino-style action movies, then you will love 'Bound', starring Gina Gershon.
Two women decide to take the Mafia for two million dollars; adding considerable interest to the plot, they develop a steamy relationship on the way!
Not for the children to watch...

    for more information, or to buy it
  


A final thought:  If all this advice worries you, then don't let it put you off altogether.  DVD offers much better control, and a better picture than VCR videocassettes, and many DVD's contain extra material, eg. interviews with the director and stars, or background footage of the making of the film.  So it really is a worthwhile purchase.

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