I kept waiting for the Aspire 1100 DVD to reappear at Buy.Com. While I was waiting, I decided to try a number of low cost DVD players...
Here is what I found:
Cyberhome 300 (~$37.00 at Sam's Club) Almost a great player, but will not play Standard RTV files directly burned onto a CD-R. Pixellates and sticks horribly. Medium and HighQ RTV files play OK. Plays all DVD+/-R and DVD+/-RWs. Will also play a CD-RW. Cannot directly play an ISO CD or DVD without remote (displays root directory and not first file on root).
Norcent DP-313 (WalMart) A horrible player for RTV files. MQ burned on CD-R Plays with serious skipping and stuttering. most SQ - won't play at all; displays "Wrong Disc". MPGs in root directory of CD-R; displays "Wrong Disc". MPGs in root directory of DVD-RW; displays "Wrong Disc". MPGs in root directory of DVD+RW; displays "Wrong Disc".
Apex 1225 (WalMart) Won't play SQ RTV files!
Apex 1130W (WalMart ~$27.00) Plays just about everything, albeit with some occaisional hiccups at dvd-lab chapter points when playing a miniDVD (CD-R) Without chapters, files play fine. Will play edited and non-edited SQ and MQ RTV MPGs on root directory without using the remote...first file in root directory is selected, can just hit play. Plays miniDVD, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, ISO and DVD formats. Even played a miniDVD that was overburned (703MB)
Bottom line is that I purchased a second Apex 1130W for $23.00 over eBay and installed it in the home stereo, replacing a $150.00 Sony and a $150 Panasonic (Sony played DVD+R, +RW, Panasonic played DVD-R,-RW).
Any others with similar experiences?
Here is what I found:
Cyberhome 300 (~$37.00 at Sam's Club) Almost a great player, but will not play Standard RTV files directly burned onto a CD-R. Pixellates and sticks horribly. Medium and HighQ RTV files play OK. Plays all DVD+/-R and DVD+/-RWs. Will also play a CD-RW. Cannot directly play an ISO CD or DVD without remote (displays root directory and not first file on root).
Norcent DP-313 (WalMart) A horrible player for RTV files. MQ burned on CD-R Plays with serious skipping and stuttering. most SQ - won't play at all; displays "Wrong Disc". MPGs in root directory of CD-R; displays "Wrong Disc". MPGs in root directory of DVD-RW; displays "Wrong Disc". MPGs in root directory of DVD+RW; displays "Wrong Disc".
Apex 1225 (WalMart) Won't play SQ RTV files!
Apex 1130W (WalMart ~$27.00) Plays just about everything, albeit with some occaisional hiccups at dvd-lab chapter points when playing a miniDVD (CD-R) Without chapters, files play fine. Will play edited and non-edited SQ and MQ RTV MPGs on root directory without using the remote...first file in root directory is selected, can just hit play. Plays miniDVD, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, ISO and DVD formats. Even played a miniDVD that was overburned (703MB)
Bottom line is that I purchased a second Apex 1130W for $23.00 over eBay and installed it in the home stereo, replacing a $150.00 Sony and a $150 Panasonic (Sony played DVD+R, +RW, Panasonic played DVD-R,-RW).
Any others with similar experiences?