other/off: DVD (was re: recordable CD-ROM's)

[Mark Edmonds]

In article <0008zvvbrvlh.H0000d9900d73422 at igate.sprint.com>, "Allan T.
Grohe, Jr." <AGrohe at IGATE.SPRINT.COM> writes

>What's the scoop on DVD?  I've been told that I should probably look
>into purchasing a DVD player vs. a laser disk player, since I'm thinking
>of getting the latter.

<snip>

I'm coming in on this thread a little late since I was off-line when it
started but maybe this is of interest:

I have a laser disc setup and its a great medium but not without its
pitfalls - the maximum side length is about 60 minutes so unless you
have a dual side player, you have to physically eject the disc and turn
it over. This can be a pain during a movie. Also, some discs are prone
to rotting which I think is where some part of the disc starts to
oxidise due to poor pressing standards. DVD does away with the side
changing problem and if pressing standards are OK, wont decay. (Note
that "laser rot" is not a common problem).

However, my understanding of the DVD standard is that DVD discs are
going to be "area coded". This means that discs pressed for the USA
market will not be playable in the UK unless you illegally "fix" your
DVD deck to bypass the area coding. Consequently, as I live in London
and as the sort of films I am interested in watching are minority
interest, I would have to hope that the film companies bother to release
the titles I am after with the appropriate area coding. Currently, if
you buy a dual format laser disc deck, you can play both NTSC and PAL
discs without any problem (assuming your TV can handle NTSC playback).
If the current catalogue of NTSC and PAL laser discs is anything to go
by, the PAL compatible subset of DVD releases is going to be small. All
of this depends on where you live of course and if you live in the
States or Canada, then DVD will be no problem - go for it.

If you live in Europe though, you will have to seriously consider the
possability that you may never see the film you want made available with
the relevant area code - a problem which already stated, never happens
with laser disc.

As regards CD compatibility, bear in mind that unless you go for a high-
end DVD deck, its never going to be a match for a well designed
dedicated CD player. By this, I don't mean that the CD player in
comparison needs to be a bizarre expensive job - my Rotel 965BX Ltd Ed
Discreet which cost about 400 is miles and miles ahead of my Pioneer
CLD515 when playing CDs which also cost about 400.

Overall though, my advice would be to wait. When I was in North America
earlier this year, it was clear that DVD was beginning to establish a
foot hold, but in Europe it has hardly made any impact at all.
Therefore, let the market establish itself, wait for the prices to drop,
look at the titles being released and then decide whether you want to
commit yourself to the expense.

Finally, there is one more factor to consider but in all reality may not
be worth it. However, keep an eye on the progress of Digital Video - its
prime advantage being that it is recordable which of course laser disc
and DVD (currently) is not.

Hope this helps and if any home cinema fanatics think the above is crap,
then please say so!

Mark