Inexpensive Solution of Choice for Video DVD

After a coupon and a rebate at Sears, this unit cost me $24.00. I did not have Craigmoosh's setup problem: Mine came set for S-Video, so I was up and running a few minutes after hooking up.

After my two-year old, overpriced DVD player died on me, my idea was to have something inexpensive and disposable. For playing video DVDs, this unit is just fine. Since it has no cabinet display, one can only find out the track and timing information by bringing them up on the TV screen. The functions controllable by the remote control--which is pretty small and not illuminated--are more than ample, and well thought out. Too bad this unit cannot remember its place on a given DVD for more than a few minutes: one must navigate one's way back to where one stopped.

The ability to handle audio is so limited that this unit is not really convenient for that purpose. If a CD has folders from the computer, this unit cannot play it. It can play home-made CDs if the files have been burned one at a time, and are not in a folder. Also, the file screen stays on while it is playing audio, i.e. the screen saver does not come on. That is bad for a CRT screen.

Sears seems to have many of these in stock, while not having others they advertise. Also, there are many of these for sale from kitchen table dealers on Ebay.

Mine has now run for ten or fifteen hours. It definitely will not be an infant mortality case. How long will it last? Who knows!

Update: 11/19/05. After significant use, the unit still runs fine. I got hold of a Zone 2 DVD, and did the hack described by Craigmoosh. So, the unit now plays European DVDs just fine. Please note that the disc drawer must be open while the numbers are being entered with the remote control.

Update: 8/13/06. Still going strong.