Venturer HD-DVD player

[musicman1999]

Saw one of these new players today at Walmart, $199.95 and there were 2 movies in the box.It was rather cheap looking, all plastic front and remote looked cheesy as well.Weight was next to nothing, easy to handle with one hand.


bill

[PeruvianSkies]

Yeah, it's junk, I played around with one a bit and it doesn't look like a very good move for the HD-DVD camp.

[L.J.]

I'm not familiar with venturer. I read somewhere that the design of this unit was similar to the A3. But why go with one of these when you can get 10 free discs by going with Toshiba?

Not to mention that the A3 was going for $159 on Amazon a few days ago plus the 10 free. Will probably go on sale again soon.

[bobsticks]

Failed Marketing Slogans 101:

"Now available in a store near you, VENTURER--from the people that brought you Apex!!

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Failed Marketing Slogans 101:

"Now available in a store near you, VENTURER--from the people that brought you Apex!!

LOLOLOL.

I think the Venturer HD DVD player is going to go the way of the RCA HD DVD player which was a rebadged A1 HD DVD player. The major problem with HD DVD players right now is a lack of variety. Every player out there is rebadged from one of Toshiba's players. Manufacturers are just buying the liscense to the design rather than creating a design of their own like they did with DVD players. That is not a sign of confidence in the format IMO.

[PeruvianSkies]

Failed Marketing Slogans 101:

"Now available in a store near you, VENTURER--from the people that brought you Apex!!

You forgot the byline: "you know the company that makes a DVD player that is so cheap they can't even put a display on the front console."

[bobsticks]

You forgot the byline: "you know the company that makes a DVD player that is so cheap they can't even put a display on the front console."

Yes, you are correct sir <bobsticks doing phil hartman doing ed macmahon>

You know you make a crappy player when you get thrown in jail for it...in China no less.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/18/bu...partner=rssnyt

[musicman1999]

I believe that the remote for my Calypso was heavier than this player.

bill

[pixelthis]

None of the cheaper DVD players have a front display either,
and this is a GOOD thing. Who needs irritating lights when your watching a movie?
Front panel displays are left overs from the days before onscreen displays.
As for the venturer being a cheap knockoff of a tosh product...DUH!
As soon as they got the plans on the boat coming from taiwan to China, probably.
Anything will help, toshiba needs all it can get

[johnny p]

But why go with one of these when you can get 10 free discs by going with Toshiba?

.

LJ, do you have a link? I wanna check this deal out! I got my first DVD player 12 years ago or so, and it was a Toshiba, and it was still working a few years ago when I gave it away.

[L.J.]

LJ, do you have a link? I wanna check this deal out! I got my first DVD player 12 years ago or so, and it was a Toshiba, and it was still working a few years ago when I gave it away.

Seems like the sale is over. The price is back up to $232 or something like that. You still get the 10 free, but I'd wait. $159 plus the 10 free was a sweet deal. Maybe it'll pop back up soon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...rd_i=193642011

[Rich-n-Texas]

I still see Apex TV's in my local grocery store. My niece, poor mis-guided child that she is, bought one maybe two years ago. I'll have to ask her sometime if it still works.

Shopping at Wal-Wart just gives me the creeps!

[pixelthis]

I still see Apex TV's in my local grocery store. My niece, poor mis-guided child that she is, bought one maybe two years ago. I'll have to ask her sometime if it still works.

Shopping at Wal-Wart just gives me the creeps!

My buddy had an apex tv AND DVD and loved both.
Still has the tv.
REGRETS GETTING RID OF THE DVD THO.
Apex dvd players were basically computer units packed in a box, my friend has NEVER
found a dvd player that played everything he put in it the way the Apex did
(which is what computer based drives do)
He has a mitshubishi that cost a 100 bucks and wont play near as many discs as the 30 dollar apex did.
As for wallmart giving you the "creeps" well I'm sure they love you too

[drseid]

I believe that the remote for my Calypso was heavier than this player.

bill

Too funny... but not too far from being true. ;-)

---Dave

[johnny p]

what's the deal with "upconverting" players..... I want the 400+ DVDs I already have, to look better on my T.V. (I think it's only 720p but I could be wrong, I can't find info on the model online) It's an older Sharp Aquos.... anyways.... I found this http://www.overstock.com/Electronics...6/product.html and although I hate that brand, if it's a big jump from my 2-3 year old progressive scan sony.... I'd buy it while I wait out the HD/Blu-Ray war (which I think Blu-Ray will prevail, but that's me)

thanks!

[pixelthis]

what's the deal with "upconverting" players..... I want the 400+ DVDs I already have, to look better on my T.V. (I think it's only 720p but I could be wrong, I can't find info on the model online) It's an older Sharp Aquos.... anyways.... I found this http://www.overstock.com/Electronics...6/product.html and although I hate that brand, if it's a big jump from my 2-3 year old progressive scan sony.... I'd buy it while I wait out the HD/Blu-Ray war (which I think Blu-Ray will prevail, but that's me)

thanks!

"upconverting" is one of the biggest cons EVER.
You dont get extra resolution , you cant get more resolution than whats already there,
at least not without a scaler costing thousands.
DVD isnt "progressive" btw, it has 480 ntsc interlaced.
By deinterlacing the picture, and using a larger color palete you get a vastly improved
picture, but it will never exceed the 380 lines or so that NTSC maxes out at.
I have an "upconverter", same as peruvians, b tw, a samsung, but I got it to listen to my SACD and DVDAUDIO.
My Sony dvd recorder usually blows its pants off in the picture dept.
It cost 400 bucks, theres no subsitution for quality.
It falls under the first law of the universe, the 2nd law of thermodynamics, I beleive,
which states,
THERE AINT NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH

[johnny p]

Seems like the sale is over. The price is back up to $232 or something like that. You still get the 10 free, but I'd wait. $159 plus the 10 free was a sweet deal. Maybe it'll pop back up soon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...rd_i=193642011

man.... I'm checking daily!

[johnny p]

Man, I keep checking, Same price, but it's up to 12 Free DVDs now...... thinking about pulling the trigger!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[L.J.]

The A2 was $198 with 10 free at Walmart today. The sale may still be going on. Basically the same player.

[johnny p]

FYI, DVD player at that link is now $199 12 free HD DVDs, Free shipping, and probably no tax, depending on where it's coming from..... only problem..... Wife got mad when I asked..... I've gotta enjoy the kid, the speakers, new car, etc. for awhile..... I guess I've asked for too much!