12/6    I have $650 worth of Sony card points.  I want to get a DVD player
        for my TV.  Does Sony make good DVD players?  Any recommendations/
        URLs?  Thx.
        \_ Many Sony DVD players don't play CDRs. Worth avoiding on that
           alone for me. Word to the wise: pick yer favorite strange
           \_ Yeah, as if you can manage to get one anytime soon.
           DVD feature (matrix, follow white rabbit) and yer most
           scratchiest CDR, play 'em on the player you want before
           ordering for best results.
        \_ Thanks for all the help.  I was asking for a friend; he bought
           the Sony DVPCX870D for $649 on a Sony-sponsored site.  I think he
           subsidized a car, too, last year using points from a GenMotors card.
                \_ I wanna know how you got $650 worth of Sony card points.
                   On my Sony card that would require spending something like
                   $65,000.  Are you buying cars on plastic?  -tom
                   \_ I'll ask him.
                   \_ I got 450 points in a year. Only a few charges were
                      over $1000.
        \_ Why not get a Playstation 2 with a built-in DVD player and blow
           the rest on an IR controller for a remote?
           \_ Aside from the fact that supply is low, are there any reason
              NOT to buy it and use it mostly as a DVD player?
           \_ Yeah, as if you can manage to get one anytime soon. Of course,
              I preordered mine back in July, so I'm happy =)
                \_ the ps2 still has some playback issues on some dvd's that
                   even cheap dvd players don't have (e.g. my ps2 vs. the
                   target panasonic A120 dvd player, super basic model).
                   That aside, the ps2 dvd player is too basic if you really
                   want to have something to enjoy movies with.  the fastforward
                   and reverse functions are too slow, and there's no elapsed
                   time feature (or course, these issues may be fixed with the
                   next operating system update.
        \_ Yes, Sony DVD players are fine. Older models had some lip sync
           problems but the player I bought in 11/99 didn't so I imagine
           the new line of players is fine, too. Great picture, nice
           downconversion, but won't play CD-R. --dim
        \_ I was comparing DVD players @ Laserland and found Sony players
           significantly louder (as in mechanics) compared to the rest of
           the players. Dunno if that makes a difference to you.
        \_ The best DVD player *ever* made is the Apex 600A. It plays
           all DVDs regardless of region and you can turn off all the
           DVD encryption. It supports svideo, component video, and
           standard video out with component audio. Also plays VCDs
           and MP3 CDs (CDR & CDRW) with no problems. If you can get
           one it is well worth the price. All other DVD players are
           mediocre compared to the 600A.
           \_ Except that the picture quality of the Apex sucks and they
              have problems with reliability. Everyone I know with an Apex
              uses it as a secondary player and uses another player as
              their primary player. I could've bought one for $200
              and didn't after seeing what a POS it was. --dim
              \_ I've never had a problem with my Apex. The quality
                 is on par with models costing $300 or so.
           \_ "The makers of Apex recently said future versions of the
              product would disable the features that are making the
              product a hot commodity."  I think I missed out.
              \_ In other words, "We're complete idiots who want fewer sales."
              \_ Some people are willing to part with them for ~ 3x
                 the purchase price. Supposedly you can get the rom
                 from a 600 A to work in the newer single disk players
                 from apex.
                 Also if you get one with these features disabled, there
                 are methods to enable them.
                       \_ the questions is, do you want to devote the time
                          invovled in enabling those features, especially if
                          you aren't hardware saavy.  The apex, if you can
                          get it right now, is ideal.  one of the few things
                          you can use to make vhs copies for your friends and
                          all.
                          \_ would you mod your playstation? would you oc
                             your processor? If yes, the apex (600A or
                             or otherwise) is okay for you.
        \_ http://www.dvdtalk.com
        \_ The Sony S7700 is _the_ reference DVD player.
           \_ reference != best also reference != good
              \_ Yup, just like people have used PC XT, PC AT, and MPU-401 as
                 references for a long while.
        \_ afaik, Sony makes very good DVD players.  It's the brand of
           choice at http://dvdjournal.com.
                  \- i suspect if you really care about "the best"/
                     a "reference" class player, you should look at a
                     compnay like meridian rather than consumer brands.
                     see http://www.meridian-audio.com --psb