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Choose the best DVD for you

By LAURA COFFEY
Published October 2, 2005

Remember when VCRs seemed exotic and complicated? These days, choosing a DVD player can feel like a job that should be reserved for the likes of brain surgeons and rocket scientists. But do not despair. The following tips can help you navigate the maze of technical options and choose a DVD player that's best for you.

1. KNOW WHAT YOU NEED. As you shop around, you'll encounter at least six types of DVD players, ranging from simple single-disc players to player-recorders with built-in hard drives. If all you want to do is watch rented movies, you can buy a basic player for about $50 to $90. The fanciest recording models can cost more than $800.

2. THINK ABOUT YOUR TV. If you have a standard TV set, then pretty much any DVD player should serve you quite well. But if your TV is high-definition-capable, seek out models designed for use with digital television. Progressive-scan models work well with both conventional and high-definition TVs.

3. CHECK OUT THE CONNECTIONS. Select a DVD player that has the right video and audio connections for your TV set or your audio-video receiver. Some receivers use a coaxial input; others use an optical input. Check before you head out to the store so you can choose a DVD player with the right kind of output.

4. LOOK FOR HANDY RECORDING FEATURES. If you opt for a DVD recorder, make sure it has "time slip" capability, a feature that lets you watch a show or movie you're recording from the beginning while the end of that same show or movie is being recorded. This feature also allows you to watch one recorded program while recording another.

5. INSIST ON INDEPENDENT RECORD AND PLAYBACK. This feature for DVD/hard-drive and DVD/VCR combination models allows you to play a prerecorded DVD while recording a TV program to the hard drive or to tape.

6. BASIC AND VERSATILE TV-PROGRAMMING CAPABILITIES. If you want to be able to record programs with maximum flexibility and ease, select a DVD recorder that can control your cable or satellite box. Then you can program it to record upcoming shows from a variety of channels, and you won't have to turn to the correct channel before each recording starts.

7. HOW IMPORTANT IS EDITING TO YOU? Some DVD recorders record on discs rather than on a hard drive. You may be able to rearrange scenes and make other editing changes on your recorded discs, but your edits might not appear when you pop those discs into other DVD players. If editing really matters to you, choose a DVD/hard-drive model that will allow you to edit recordings on the hard drive and then burn your own discs.

8. GO WITH A RELIABLE BRAND. As you shop around for a DVD player, you'll see well-known brand names that have been around for years and brands you've never heard of before. Check Consumer Reports and sites such as Shopping.com for reliability ratings and customer reviews, especially if you're considering a little-known brand.

9. PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD. If you have a problem with your DVD player, you'll have 60 days to dispute the purchase and report the details of the problem to your credit card company.

10. REJECT EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFERS. Even though they're often called "extended warranties," they're actually service contracts that cost extra. The warranty that's included with the price of the DVD player is likely all you'll really need.

--Sources: Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org) Shopping.com (www.shopping.com)

[Last modified October 2, 2005, 01:57:16]