[78-L] Multi-system players (was Jazz Singer Blu-ray set -- my Amazon review)

[Michael Biel]

From: "Thomas Stern" <sternth at attglobal.net>
> Has anyone found an inexpensive (<$150) multi-zone blu-ray player???
> I know of 2 machines, both have problems - the Best-Buy INSIGNIA BRDVD
> [which is no longer available, and in later versions of the microcode
> dropped the multi-zone capability] - this plays some of the
> "extras" on blu-ray disks as thumbnail sized images; and the OREI BRD-M2
> which will not play "zone free" blu-ray disks (how ironic!!).

When the DVD first came out we did a lot of discussing here on the 78-L
about the region coding and how to find machines to easily convert to
Region Free.  So, here is the Blu-ray discussion.

In addition to region coding, there is one other problem -- frame rate.
I discovered when I got the Zone-Free BBC Olympics Blu-ray set that my
Sony would not play it by my LG would.  Samsung is the only brand that
always includes PAL to NTSC conversion, and most LGs are also OK.  But
Sony and Panasonic are not including system conversion -- so even if it
is Region Free it will not play them.  I wish I had known that before I
got my Sony -- I needed a 3D player quickly and only had this or the
Vizeo to chose from at that time.

Many of the European disc companies are producing Region Free discs
because they do not care about protecting Hollywood, but if they are PAL
you still need a Samsung or possibly an LG.  BUT, since there are only
three regions in Blu-Ray, A, B, and C, rather than 7 in DVD, it will be
much easier soon when prices drop down to just get a second and maybe
third player.  They will be down to under $50 very soon, and it might be
easy to get a $35 Region B.  I did that for VHS -- I bought a cheap
machine in London in 2001 before I was able to find good inexpensive
multi-system VHS machines before they left the market.  

As for David Lenneck's question about combo players, WalMart sells the
play version of the Magnavox RVZ427M combo unit I use as my DVD
recorders.  The recorder version will repair some discs that have had
bad tables of contents even from other brand of recorders, so Leah and I
each have 3 or 4.  And they do play VHS-Hi-Fi, NTSC only of course, but
I have three PAL and Multi-system VHS Hi-Fi machines, and Leah found one
in the trash last year that seems to play OK as well.  There are a lot
of Russians in her Building and apparently one was moving out.

> IMO region and zone coding is testament to the fear, ignorance, and greed of
> corporate amerika. Unfortunately, too few people know or care about this to
> bring pressure on congress to outlawthis technological enforcement of these cartels.
> Best wishes, Thomas.

Most Amerikans are not interested in non-Amerikan videos.  In the rest
of the world they need to have machines that will play American coded
recordings, so almost everything is multi-system.  But even here in the
U.S. go into stores in any immigrant area in cities and you will find
multi-system machines.  The only problem is that some may be hacked for
DVD but not for Blu-ray and the dealer might not know about that
problem.  I find that even on web sites -- I see what looks like a great
machine from the headline, but the small  print tells the truth.  

Leah and I are hoping to go to London in the Spring and I'll tell you
what we find.  I am looking at several small portable digital TVs which
record programs on SD Cards!!!    Europe is always years ahead of us!!!!

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com