Samsung DVD-HD860 Up-Converting DVD Player
Despite the contrary this device can playback DivX video files
Okay so I just bought this item but I am feeling the need to write up a review so here it goes. I picked this player up from Best Buy after examining all the other players they had, the deciding factor for me to go with this Samsung DVD player is because my HDTV is also a Samsung. I wanted a good HD-upconverter and this was priced for $98 at Best Buy and was the only player I saw of this brand so I figured this is probably the best what Samsung had to offer so purchased it, but it was only until I got home and saw on BB's website that they sale a higher model HD-960, but the only difference I could tell is that the HD-96- can do 1080p and play back DivX which this player (HD-860) is not advertised to do.  Although if you look at the middle of the HD-860 manual you will see in the section it describes the formats it can play by logo it also has DivX logo there.  I later discovered that this player actually DivX support its hidden and has to be accessed a certain way and it doesn't require a hack to do it. Just create a video CD containing DivX files on there, you have to create folders and place the Divx video files in those folders so don't put DivX files just on the top level of the disc.  Burn and close the disc when you've finished and insert it into this player. It will show a menu displaying the content on the disc (the folders), just select a folder you put your videos under and then the menu will display the list of video files it contains. To watch the video move the selection back up to the top in the folder where it will show \\"...\\" and just click the PLAY button on the remote there and it will play back all the videos in that folder. Pretty cool isn't it.  I figure Samsung must have disabled the function to auto-play or playback any video files on disc thats a DivX file when selected, but they forgot to disable the ability to hit PLAY on the \\"...\\" folder itself.  <br />   Now I would have gave this 5 stars but this player like a lot of new players that arestarting to come out I notice wont allow you to do HD (720p/1080i) over Component connection. Usually this feature is there but not openly available in the menus and it has to be unlocked through a hack code with the remote. It seems that the previous Samsung DVD players could easily be hacked to do HD over component, even my last DVD player a CyberHome could do it, but this HD-860 does not, I searched the web but couldn't find any info on how to unluck it, and my guess is that Samsung just hasn't leaked how to do this to the public yet or was forced by the Movie industry to remove the feature. <br /> <br />I really dont see why the movie industry is being so tight on only allowing HD via HDMI. Most TVs only have one HDMI and if they have HD digital cable like I do, then that one HDMI is probably already occupied. Most HDTVs have 1 or more component connection. Component connections can do HD so I dont see why consumers have to go the hassle of this, I just wish somebody would really do something about this cause I see it as a really unnecessary copy protection trend.