Samsung DVD-HD841 Up-Converting DVD Player
Disappointing but not a complete disaster
I purchased this DVD player a few days ago and I already agree with many of the criticisms posted on this page. Yes, the remote control is poorly designed. Yes, the overall DVI picture quality appears to be fairly indistinguishable from that of a component video cable on my Sony HD projection TV. Yes, the player seems to display dark colors less precisely than many other players do. Yes, the manual is not particularly helpful. Yes, the player has already skipped on a DVD that has always been a flawless disc. Yes, backtracking and fast-forwarding on this machine is an unpleasant exercise in frustration. Yes, the absence of more than one time-display option is unforgiveable. Yes, I may return it soon - but I am undecided about that one for reasons I will describe below.    <br />    <br />There is one extremely positive aspect of the DVI upgrade that I have not seen others discuss here that I think is critically important. When set to its 1080i DVI mode, this player is the first I've seen that gives you the option to properly display Standard/Full-Frame videos on widescreen TV sets. Just like widescreen videos display black bands on the top and bottom of the screen, full-frame videos on widescreen sets should have black bands on the left and right sides. I'm not a video expert, but every player I've seen without the DVI boost has not allowed for this, thereby forcing users to either:    <br />    <br />a) adjust the TV's widescreen controls to distortedly expand the picture horizontally in order to fill the screen; or    <br />    <br />b) watch full-frame videos in their proper narrower aspect ratio, with distracting bright gray borders (which can burn into certain TV sets) on the sides.    <br />    <br />This is a potentially huge issue for people like me who often watch DVDs of full-frame movies or TV shows - so much of an issue that they may want a player like this (available now for under $100) despite all of its comparatively superficial drawbacks. So what to do? Personally, I may return this one and give the newer Samsung HD941 a shot. The HD941 is available for about $150 through one of Amazon's sellers. If the HD941 resolves a lot of the complaints found on this board, IMHO the extra $50 will be money very well spent.