Philips DVP642 DivX-Certified Progressive-Scan DVD Player
DVP642 - Disposable DVD player
The DVP642 is an inexpensive solution for watching all manner of digital content on your TV without having to mess around with a lot of encoding. However, the unit is very cheaply made, and they appear to conveniently die right after the manufacturer warrantee expires.  <br /> <br />My first one was DOA right out of the box. That didnt inspire a lot of confidence, but I got a replacement 642, and it lasted a couple months. It doesnt play EVERYTHING, either. It didnt like some codecs, or it would play them but the audio or video would stutter.  <br /> <br />At any rate, the replacement unit I got just died one morning. It just flashes the red power light and wouldnt power on or play or open. The philips FAQ says to unplug it for 10 seconds and it should come back on, but it didn't. Its worth mentioning that the unit was not only surge-supressed, but was also on a UPS, so it was at very low risk of getting 'zapped' by static electricity.  <br /> <br />So if you are only looking to watch video content for a few months, this is the player for you. If you intend to use your unit a little longer than that, look at something else. If nothing else, save your box and receipt and just exchange it every three months to stay on the safe side.