Info and forum posts by 'VinceDVD'

RE: AVI to my DVD Player

My new Toshiba SD-340 DVD player says it plays DivX, and in the manual shows someone navigating a screen with a load of .avi files on it...beinga total dunce when it comes to this sort of thing, I don`t know how it works.....can I just caopy the `raw` .avi files to a Cd and play them, or di I still need to convert them??

Thanks a lot

Vince

LG DVP 3000 portable battery - Same as Panasonic LV75???

Bit of a long shot this one, but the LG DVP 3000 in Richer Sounds uses a battery that looks very similar to that on the Panasonic LV75 etc.

Anyone know if it IS the same, as I have 2 spare Panasonic batteries that I could use on the LG if they DO fit!!

RE: Philips DVDR70 - Response from Philips Support

I`ve got a Philips R75, a replacement for a dead R890.....I along with several guys in my office have bought Philips ans have had trouble with them. A Shame as the +R/RW format is very easy to use with good quality, and high compatibility rates. But the hardware problems ARE a bit of a nightmare.
Being just a Freeview watcher I`ve gone for a Humax 8000T PVR, swapped in a 120gb drive making the Philips pretty redundant....I`ve even piggy backed a Toshiba SD340E on top of the Philips as my main DVD player! The Philips is really only used to record Camcorder stuff these days.

RE: LCD or Plasma

Yes, I think Sky have announced high definition....though I`m not a Sky subscriber! I DO wonder however what the price premium will be on it though....hopefully it will be only on channels that deserve it, I`m not sure if QVC in hi-def is worth the extra money ;-)

As for my JVC being prog scan capable....no I didn`t check beforehand (probably a bit stupidly), my main concern was getting something with reasonable picture quality that didn`t fill up my living room like my Sony CRT did. Not many TV`s I`d seen were prog scan, and at the time I didn`t have a prog scan DVD player, so I was probably a bit Jammy, I could have come well unstuck!!

Mind you won`t HDMI make all this redundant in a year or two, or is it just replacing SCART, Component etc.? Will prog scan still run over HDMI....though I`d need a new telly with an HDMI socket I guess :-(

This item was edited on Wednesday, 4th August 2004, 11:50

RE: LCD or Plasma

I ummed and ahhed for ages, but since size was a bit of a problem, went for a 26" JVC LCD.

To my surprise, for £1400 from RGB direct, found its component input is PAL and NTSC prog scan capable (to match my Toshiba SD340e DVD player luckily), plus its also 1125i, high definition capable...not that we`re likely to ever see it here in the UK!!

This works fine for me, but I agree, if you`re going for a BIG screen, then plasma is probably the way to go.

BTW read an article in one of the home cinema magazines that debunked the `contrast ratio` thing, and said how the ratings used are not "like for like" so a 500:1 LCD is not 8 times `worse` than a 4000:1 plasma

RE: LG DVC 8700 or DVD Recorder

Got one of these for my Mum - top machine, MR from Richer Sounds....though you do it yourself based on a white sticker on the side saying:

1. Switch on Machine
2. Open DVD tray
3. Press Pause
4. press 0000 (all zeros)
5. A screen appears on TV asking for region, press 0 (zero) for all regions
6. Press pause
7. Switch off and on

Box says it plays +/- R/RW, so all 4 formats. I`ve only got +R and +RW and it was fine.

Nice and small as well.

RE: Problems with Phillips DVDR 880

Unfortunately all too common...check out the discussion forum here:
http://www.dvdplusrw.org/
I had an R890 that started doing the `no disc` trick earlier this year. Unfortunately the Philips 880/890 machines seemed to have a basic design problem, and there are legions of people having returned them.

RE: Small LCD Television - Suggestions Wanted

I`ve got the 26 inch version of the JVC, and very good it is too....my mother-in-law has the 23 inch, so I`d imagine the 17 inch is pretty good as well. JVC seem to be good value for money on LCD`s at present. Got the 26 inch for £1400 from RGB in ilford.

RE: bulkpaq discs should they be used or not?

I`ve been using the Bulkpaq`s for a while in my DVD burner. I`ve for some 4X ones with `bulkpaq` on, and some white printable ones.

Only had some playback problems in TV DVD player when I ran the printable ones at 4X. Near the end of the film a bit of stuttering/pixellation. Think I might go back to 2.4 speed to see if I get better results. So far not had any coasters, but I`d rather know the burn is 100% successful if it DOES complete.

Anyone else had similar experiences?

RE: Whose your favorite Carry ON Actor\Actress

Sid James or Kenneth Williams, though Frankie Howerd was good.......a few years before FH died, a group of me and my friends saw him at the Queen`s Theatre in Hornchurch (they were selling `Frankie Says` T-shirts with a picture of him on it, to give you an idea of how long ago this was!).

We p***ed ourselves laughing for nearly 2 hours, but in the pub afterwards you couldn`t remember a SINGLE joke, it was just his delivery that had you in stiches!

RE: Mp3 player or hi-md

When I was shopping around for my MP3 player, I considered the Creative`s, but they`re just a bit too bulky (though good value). Having used the Philips` own MP3 management software, I personally wish I`d gone for an iriver, which just uses Windows Explorer to manage the music.

The non-removable battery is a bit of an issue, if you expect to he a heavy user, I recharge my machine once or twice a week at best, as I`m a fairly light user, in 3 years or so when the battery does go, I`d imagine the Philips will be a bit of an antique anyway!

RE: Mp3 player or hi-md

I`ve been into MD since the original MZ-1 came out....1992 or so??? I`ve eventually given up and got a Philips 15gb MP3 player for just over £200 earlier this year, as its just so convenient. Things like the Creative Zen`s are a bit too clunky, but the Philips is fine (and doesn`t lock up if you install the v6.6 software on thewir website!).

Sony were so busy hamstringing MD as a format to prevent piracy (no fast uploading from MD, the `check-in / check-out` process for netMD), they basically missed the boat. I don`t want to have to buy a new CD/MD deck, MD player for my car, AND portable MD player to handle this new format!! It`d cost me a fortune. (£500 to £600 and £7 a disc!)

Most people in the MD community see this as all a bit too little too late, and after this last Hurrah, it`ll gradually be phased out. A real shame as for years I was championing with my mates, who all have either ipods, iriver HD120 or something like it now....if I was recommending anything, I`d go for an iriver HD120 (£249 on Amazon UK), 20gig and 16 hour battery life (probably 12 hrs in reality).

As I say, a real shame, but again Sony`s stubborness has stopped any real development in increasing capacity etc (LP4 doesn`t couint in my opinion)), and MP3 players which didn`t exist when the MZ-1 came out, have come along and taken over.

Vince

This item was edited on Saturday, 10th April 2004, 20:10

RE: Sweeney Series 2 Delayed Again!

Isn`t the series 2 boxset in the shops? I`m sure I saw it on Monday.

RE: Forthcoming Batman, the American Right, politics and Hollywood - your thoughts?

Ra`s is a long term Batman foe....I`ve got a Neal adams Batman strip with him in it from about 1974, the situation is complicated by the fact that Ra`s Daughter (Tanya - I think??), fancies Batman and he fancies her, so she never knows where her loyalties lie, and he has to apologise to her for trying to stop her mad Dad.

Ra`s also has some gizmo that lets him get brought back to life Lazarus stylee.

How much of all of this will be in the film is anyone`s guess.

RE: Soprano`s Season Four...where is the cheapest place you`ve found it?

I got an R1 version from DVDSoon for 89CAD, works out about 36.60 GBP at present including postage.

X-Men 2 - R1 and R2 two disc versions the same?

Hi Everyone,

From what I can see, the R1 and R2 two disc sets of X-men 2 look the same, does anyone know the specs for sure?

If so, it looks like one of those occasions where R2 (13.99 at cd-wow), will beat the R1 version.

Vince

RE: Simpsons season 3 R1 shipped!

Got my Simpsons Season 3 today - postmark Sweden. I guess done as items over £18 would get hit for import duty. I guess my Band of Brothers box set (£32) will go down the same route.

RE: Temple Of Doom definitely CUT

If anyones interested, CD-WOW have both R1 and R2 up for pre-order at £32.99, so you can take your pick!

RE: Pre orders from CDWow

I`ve just ordered the latest X-files box set duew out in a month or so crom CD-Wow....this is over the magic £18 import limit....has anyone had import problems with them for large orders (i.e. had to pay duty)? It was because of this that I went off Amazon.com, the big `AMAZON` on the box was obviously a magnet for Post office employees!

Odd pattern on R1 Usual Suspects Disc

Wonder if anyone else has seen this.
Just got my R1 Usual Suspects disc from CD-Wow today, and on the outer side of one of the discs is a whitish swirly pattern. Its only on one half of the disc...is this a case of dreaded "disc rot", or just a minor flaw in manufacturing ? Never seen it before....any help appreciated.

vince

RE: Connecting Philips 890 DVD Recorder to a PC

I`ve got a DV camcorder and an 890 and its works fine. Apparently the MICRO MV is MPEG 2 encoded or something and is incompatible with the ilink in!! I raead about this on www.dvdplusrw.org

RE: Anyone bought the Philips DVDR880 Multi-region recently

I got an 890 from Richer Sounds London Bridge for £440. Only difference between this and the 880 is the DV in and the extra play modes (6hr etc.).

The DVD+RW discs are supposed to be compatible with around 75% of DVD players out there, I haven`t found one yet, but I`ve yet to try my Dad`s recent Tosh 210. However, finalized DVD+R`s (compatibiity listed at 90%) seem OK on virtually anything. My 18 month/2 year old Panasonic portable (LV75) will play these OK even though it cannot read CD-R`s etc.

In London, I`ve found KVJ Fairdeal in Aldgate selling DVD+RW`s for £4 each , and DVD+R`s for £2.50 each. Both Verbatim brand.

Tried out the EP+ 6 hour mode last night, and it looked like a standard VHS recording (slightly soft), anything above is an improvement until around SP+ mode (2.5 hours) it becomes difficult to see the difference between the TV and recording! DV in from my Canon camcorder at HQ mode is astonishing!!

Hope this helps those who are (like I was a week or so ago), "on the edge".

RE: WARNING:- DO NOT BUY REGION 1 BACK TO THE FUTURE ***UPDATE***

I`ve got the R1 version, and it seems OK to me....although I read mine DOES have the errors...I guess you`d need to do an a-b comparison to spot it. Over at Home Theater forum, they are showing the differences, and apprently it affects ALL releases (R1, 2 & 4), which is why the R1 boys are in a stink, as they seem to reckon Universal would have known about this since August, and done nothing about it.

Here`s the link:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=112569

RE: indiana jones dvds any good?

I`ve got the Star Wars ones from www.videongame.com and The quality seems OK to me, I`ve only got a 29" Sony TV, no "home ciema", so I can`t say how good/bad the 5.1 mix is, but its fine for normal watching. I don`t tend to switch on the Thai subtitles that much....

Interestingly I`ve also ordered the Indy ones as well now...so I`ll let you know in a few weeks how they are! No doubt when Georgy boy gets around to doing REAL Star Wars and Indy DVD`s I`ll get them as well, but since it could be a 4 year or so wait, and these discs are only about £10 including postage, it`ll do for now.

RE: Die Hard - The Ultimate Collection Trilogy Box Set From Play.com

I got walloped by customs for this when it came out, so did several other people from previous threads - AND it took over a week to arrive as the customes sat on it for ages.....I now order all my ``over £18" jobbies from movietyme who re-post in the UK.

RE: ICE AGE DVD

Got this yesterday....definitely only a 1 disc set...but it SEEMS to have everything the US will have...anyone know what happened here.? Was it simply the 2nd disc would be so light on extras it didn`t seem worth it? Personally if it`ll all fit onto one disc, that fine by me. No point in a second disc if its not required!

RE: R1 pulp fiction CE, Jackie Brown CE canadian?

Go my Pulp Fiction from Play yesterday, and indeed it says `fiction pulpeuse` under the title in brackets. Since I take all my DVD`s out the packages and keep them in TDK sleeves in a CD box it doesn`t bother me.
I think CD-Wow are based in Hong Kong BTW, but as others have said they may well source their R1 stuff from Canada.

RE: They Live?

I saw a report that a UK version is to be released in September (I think), I keep looking around for it, but nobody has it listed. Apparently it will have a Carpenter Commentary track, but little else in terms of extras. There WAS a US version which is no longer available. Its an absolute cracker of a film that has WWF wrestler `Rowdy` Roddy Piper as the main lead.

RE: Shaolin Soccer

Thanks a lot, can`t wait for the film to arrive now!
I was sent a clip of the film as a mail attachment and wondered where it came from. When this thread pointed out the originating film, I thought i just HAD to get it!

RE: Shaolin Soccer

I`ve just ordered this from dddhouse....I take it the `horrendous` subtitles are English ones? I`d like to have SOME idea what`s going on!!!
Nine quid with postage to the UK. Ordered last night, got the postage confirmation this morning saying it should take up to 7 days.