Digital Revolution

[caddyman]

In taking my mind off other matters, I am torturing my grey cells with other, less important items.

I continue to be plagued by indecision, which I flatter myself is an uncharacteristic trait. I've mentioned before that my hi-fi system is acting up and my DVD player is becoming more erratic. At the same time, the TV is showing signs of age, though I have decided that it will last me until I am sure that I can get a decent digital signal wherever I live and that's certainly not true where I am at the moment. The digital signal is, to put it kindly, variable, so I refuse to dispense shekels on an all-singing, all-dancing TV until I am sure that I shall get my money's worth from it. Plus the longer I leave it, the cheaper they become.

That leaves me with the hi-fi – in particular the CD player – and the DVD player. I can solve the former by taking advantage of a kind offer from rumfuddle, though that will be a midi system rather than a mini. This leaves me with the DVD conundrum. I don’t think that at this stage I want a DVD/HDD machine for the same reason that I am prepared to wait before buying a new telly; I want my money’s worth from the machine via digital broadcasts. What I do want is something region-free (not difficult to get these days as bibliogirl pointed out), but I have decided that it must also have DivX playback capability and that complicates the issue. I have seen a nice one on Play.com that may well fit the bill. The problem is, I should rather like one of these:

Freecom Network Mediaplayer
Freecom Network Mediaplayer 3.5" 320Gb

This little beast would allow me to stream downloaded movies and music direct to my (or anyone else's TV or hi-fi. It's an awful lot more expensive than a new DVD player, mind and doesn't really get rid of the need for a new one at some point.

Oh, decisions, decisions.

Comments

[ash1977law.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see your problem: the shekel is remarkably weak against the quidbuck at the moment

[ladkyis.livejournal.com]

I thought you could play CDs on a DVD player... Isn't that why they are called digital versatile disk player?
Is that a bimbo question? should I realise that guys like to speak gadget and just shut up?

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

No, you're quite right.

The problem is the relative placement of the tech, two floors apart.

[fractalgeek.livejournal.com]

The unit I have mentioned in previous posts is an HD-upscaler, and claims both multiregion and DIVX. It may be had (on slow postage) for around 55 notes, which on performance so far, appears to be a bargain.

Multiregion instructions are even posted on Amazon... though I admit I haven't tried them yet.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's on my list to investigate further.

So far I am managing to restrain myself from making impulse purchases etc, which is very difficult if ye be me!

[fractalgeek.livejournal.com]

Feel free to come here if you wish to trial-view, particularly with Dr Furtle; the increased wine consuming capacity would be useful, and we did promise her some interesting bottles to try...