Philips DVD590MT Progressive-Scan Vertical DVD Player
Good design, good player!
This is actually my very first DVD player, so I can't compare it to anything, merely share my experience!<br />As advertised, it's handled pretty much everything I've thrown at it - DVDs, VCDs, Picture Discs, MP3 CDs, etc. My TV doesn't really have hookups for a DVD player, only a cable input, so I had to run it through my VCR, which is also not so high tech, but at least had some Audio/Video jacks to use. This is not recommended by Philips due to possible Macrovision protection &quot;features&quot; in the VCR, but I haven't run into anything like that. Good picture and sound quality all the time.<br />The remote it comes with is pretty small and light, some might say flimsy. I'm happy that I don't have some 100 button monster to wield every time I need to use it. i have it standing up next tot he TV, but it could also lay on it's belly. It's pretty damn cute, and everyone's who's come over comments on it. Design? A+.<br />The reason I gave it 4 stars is that I think it might be a little sensitive to scratches on discs. With a good number of netflix rentals I get small skips, but on store-bought DVDs in my own care, it works great. I'm wondering if the orientation might have something to do with it, but I haven't done much testing.<br />All in all, a nicely designed, well functioning player that I am happy to have as my first. Now all I need to do is get one of those flat-panel TVs to go with it . . .