[LMB] AKICTOT:L Dvd players (was If civilization fell)

[Mark Allums]

Thomas Vinson wrote:
> Does anyone have experience with inexpensive* region-free
> dvd players that also convert television formats (specifically
> PAL to NTSC)?  (See http://www.dvdoverseas.com/dvd.htm
> for examples.)  Any recommendations or dire warnings?
> 
> I'm looking for a way to play obscure Russian videos on
> our venerable TV set.
> 
> Tom
> [*] all right, cheap!
> 

Just bought one.  I got the high-end/cheap model.  Has lots of nice 
features, clearly intended for the international market, etc., but 
doesn't quite have the fit, finish, and/or polish of the usual high-end 
product.

It is an RJ-Tech machine, RJ-100HD, imported from Japan.  In spite of 
the HD in the model number, it is only a standard player, with 1080p 
up-conversion.  I know it plays Region 1 US/Canada and Region 2 
Japaneses discs, so I assume it would play 0, 3, 4, and 5 discs.  It 
came with the label for Region 1 printed on it, and the user's manual 
calls it a Region 1 player, so I assume it has been hacked in some way 
by the importer.

It has CD-G capability for karaoke, 2 mic inputs, a USB port, home 
theater sound, S-video output, comppnent video output, HDMI output, and 
a USB port for playing DIVX files off of flash drives.  It claims to do 
PAL, as well as NTSC, but I can't test that.  Having neither PAL discs 
nor a PAL television set or montior.

All for a mere $95.00 US.  I expect I overpaid.  However, it did come 
with an HDMI cable, included!  That's worth $30 bucks at Wal*Mart by itself.

The video quality is quite good, as good as any I've seen.  The remote 
is small, and dense with buttons.  It has a button for every imaginable 
function.

I like it, but I can't really recommend it yet, as I have only had it a 
week.

Advice/dire warning:  Buy a player pre-hacked, or resettable.  Try to 
avoid one that requires opening the cover, or needs a firmware update to 
make it Region-free.  If you make a mistake and bork it, the warranty 
you voided will be your own.

I got mine from JBOX (www.jbox.com) the Japanese knick-knack and snack 
food importer.  (Not to be confused with J-List, the hentai porn and 
yaoi/bishounen game seller.  Actually, they are the same, but one site 
is R-to-NC17 rated, and the other is PG-rated.) You don't have to buy 
yours from them, reqion-free players are a glut on the market right now. 
  I bought from them because I was also ordering a Domo-kun monster 
t-shirt from them for my nephew.

Anyway, good luck finding what you need.

--MArk Allums