Philips DVP642 DivX-Certified Progressive-Scan DVD Player
Finally! A DVD player that REALLY plays all discs!!
(***UPDATE:  A year later and it is still working.  Other reviewers state that this is not the case for them, and I'm sorry that is so.  It really is a great little DVD player.)<br /><br />I had a DVD player that wouldn't play burned DVDs, nor would it play mp3s, so I bought this after reading the rave reviews.<br /><br />This unit works so well (and fast!) that I want to buy one for each member of my family.  No other unit works as well as this one for under $100.<br /><br />>>>> Something other than what all the other reviewers are saying:<br /><br />-  Plays my Verbatim DVD-R 8x, Memorex CD-R 52x, Maxell CD-R 40x discs, Princo, TYuden and a no-name brand DVD-R (all white with a small white star at spindle.)  Note: The discs I have were burned on Sony DRU-530A and DRU-810 burners with MANY hours on them.<br /><br />-  Remote must be pointed AT the unit in order for it to \\"see it.\\"  Pro: keeps interference with other Philips unit to a minimum.  Con: you have to point it at the unit, so if you are used to the really sensitive / receptive remotes this might bug you.<br /><br />-  Loads DVDs and CDs quite fast (compared to my JVC, Toshiba and no-name brand.)<br /><br />-  It would be nice of Philips to have a screen saver for when you play mp3s.  Menu may burn into TV / monitor if you don't turn off the TV.<br /><br />-  They did, however, design the \\"Philips DVD\\" idle screen (for when the mp3s are not playing) so that it doesn't burn into your TV / monitor.<br /><br />-  Being a single disc unit, this thing goes from \\"OFF\\" to playing a DVD in under 20 seconds.  Nice for those of us that have carousel DVD/CD players, which take years to turn on and open.<br /><br />-  (other than having to point the remote virtually AT the unit) the response time for the command is pretty fast.  I didn't notice any lag time.<br /><br />-  Buttons (on the unit and the remote) feel sturdy and should last the life of the player.<br /><br />-  Thankfully, the front panel doesn't light up like a Christmas tree - a player for those of us that don't care to read by the glow of a bunch of unnecessary lights and indicators on the unit, but would rather just have it play the disc.<br /><br />-  Great diagrams / drawings in the manual.  Anyone could hook it up according to the pictures and easy to follow instructions.<br /><br />-  mp3s load in a respectable amount of time.  Not lightening quick, but doesn't take all day either.  It's just right.<br /><br />- Comes with one remote, two batteries, one set of RCA cables, and is packed in a non-Styrofoam box.  The box is built to be shipped, and is a better design than others I have come across.  What I'm saying is, the box has some room designed into it for getting crushed during shipping; whereas the Styrofoam-type boxes usually just transfer the damage to the unit.  In short: good shipping box for those worried about a piece of electronics getting shipped.<br /><br />-  The instructions are in English, French and Spanishof unnecessary lights and indicators on the unit, but would rather just have it play the disc.    -  Great diagrams / drawings in the manual.  Anyone could hook it up according to the pictures and easy to follow instructions.    -  mp3s load in a respectable amount of time.  Not lightening quick, but doesn't take all day either.  It's just right.    - Comes with one remote, two batteries, one set of RCA cables, and is packed in a non-Styrofoam box.  The box is built to be shipped, and is a better design than others I have come across.  What I'm saying is, the box has some room designed into it for getting crushed during shipping; whereas the Styrofoam-type boxes usually just transfer the damage to the unit.  In short: good shipping box for those worried about a piece of electronics getting shipped.    -  The instructions are in English, French and Spanish