Page 1 of Does DVD technology still have a long way to go?

After having several problems in purchasing a DVD player (see link below for more if interested), I`m wondering what everyone thinks? Should I wait another year, for a new generation of DVD, or is the current one reliable and good enough? I`m trying to get a player that has good specs, is reliable - won`t freeze up on the odd DVD, etc. with great picture (flowing movement in action, nice colours) and sound - and handles R1 well. Don`t mind spending up to £200, but live in Belfast.

My concerns:
http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/forums/thread.asp?Forum=211&Thread=156950&Type=1

Thanks for any interest!
Jim

This item was edited on Tuesday, 25th February 2003, 11:32

I have a pioneer dv-525 which is three years old and have never had a problem with it.
It`s not the technology just bad luck with the players that you have had!

It`s the nature of technology I suppose. There is always something better (but more expensive!) just around the corner. If you keep waiting then you end up changing your mind all of the time and buying nothing. The hard part is always deciding what to buy and when. The thing is i always break my own rules and jump in to buy things when i should be waiting 6 months for a more advanced model to appear.

Andy

DVD technology is firmly established. The only improvements you will see are gradually better pictures and sound. You`ve just had bad luck, try again.

DVD is here to stay, so get used to it.

Blu-Ray technology is out later in the year / 2004. This is a new recording technology which can store upto 27Gb on a disc. It uses blue laser technology instead of the current red laser, hence the name.

Either way it is still a DVD format and I believe you get what you pay for in the electronics world. A £60 player is ok and might play every disc ok, but of course you would be less likely to have faults on a more expensive player. I have a 3yr old Pioneer DVD player and have never had one problem with it.

The only thing to put off buying in life is a coffin.

Fair enough, snafu, and thanks for the comments folks. By the way, zipman, will the new blu-ray technology of which you speak be compatible with old DVD players? I`m guessing so, but thought I`d better check.
Cheers.

Hi,

Apparently blu-ray cannot read current CD`s and DVD`s as they require the red laser to read them. Vice Versa current DVD players will not be able to read blu-ray discs because they need a blue laser to read them.

I seriously think manufacturers would be cutting their own heads off if they did not include both lasers in the machine, needed for backwards compatibility.

Heres a link to explain it more : http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci810790,00.html

This item was edited on Wednesday, 26th February 2003, 07:06

So, am I to understand from your replies that, with the exception of Blu-Ray, DVD technology is pretty much sorted? That DVD manufacturers -i.e. Hollywood, etc. have a standardised way of making DVD`s?

-And my experience with a player freezing in the middle of playing a disk was simply a bad one - that I should just try again with a new machine?

I phoned Toshiba not long ago, and discovered that their earlier firmware for the 220E, edition (1.3), didn`t play `The Matrix` correctly (I`m assuming freezes or something), and that subsequent firmware versions are ok. They assured me that Matrix was the only problem film, and that it`s now fixed.

But why would any film be a problem if DVD production was standardised? I guess that`s my question, and it`s nagging at the back of my mind in regards to getting a new machine?

Thanks.

Its the same as saying why isn`t every car a Ferrari !

Its not the disc thats the problem, its the players.

DVD production is standard to a degree, but there are always going to be manufacturers wanting to save a few quid and hence knocking out cheaper budget machines which may have trouble reading a minority of discs.

Like you said, this was a firmware issue within the machine and new players are okay.

If the Matrix is the only film your tosh has trouble playing, i wouldn`t bother buying a new machine.

This item was edited on Friday, 28th February 2003, 17:00