Sony BWU200S DVD+/-RW Blu-ray Disc Serial ATA (SATA) Drive Review

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(More customer reviews)I traded a good working Lite-On Blu-ray burner for this one because it can record 4x (with the right media) and can burn dual layer (with the right media). I archive video clips to Blu-ray disc and this burner is the hub of my archive workflow, so speed and capacity are important. So far the Sony 200S works great. The only annoying thing was having to download an updated software file from Sony in order to play commercial Blu-ray discs. Why didn't Sony just include that software on the driver disc in the first place, like Lite-On did? My first attempt at the download didn't work until I contacted Sony for help (at least they have help). After the second attempt, the download worked fine and now plays commercial Blu-rays.

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Sony's second generation Blu-ray Disc rewritable drive takes a giant leap forward in recording speed, now capable of 4X BD-R recording. BD-R/RW discs can store up to 50GB of video, music, or data on a single-sided disc and can be played back on Blu-ray Disc compatible players and drives. Also markedly improved is DVD recording speeds, now up to 16X for DVD+R discs. The BWU-200S supports virtually all BD/DVD/CD formats, so it eliminates the need to have multiple drives in a system. The internal drive sports a Serial ATA interface (SATA) for easy installation and includes a complete software bundle from CyberLink for recording and playing Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and CDs too. Truly a Blu-ray Disc burner like.no.other

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Sony MZ-RH910 Hi-MD Walkman Digital Music Player Review

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(More customer reviews)This device can be used to:
- Listen to music i.e. instead of an ipod.
- Record audio (with a microphone, not included)
- Function as external disk, when connnected via USB to a PC.
It uses 1GB removable disks which sell for about $7 each (plus shipping). As a audio recording device, it is unique for its capabilities in this price range, and essentially substitutes for a DAT (digital audio tape). The device has a line-in and microphone analog inputs. You can record in one of the three formats: high compression (Hi-LP), low compression (Hi-SP), and uncompressed (Linear PCM). The recording times per disk are 34 hours (Hi-LP), 7 hrs 55 min (Hi-SP) and 1 hr 34 min (Linear PCM). The compressed formats are stored in a proprietary Atrac format developed by Sony, which are basically are only of use on this device. Thus most crucial and invaluable feature, however, is that for audio recordings made from an analog microphone, you can convert the recording to the open .wav format when you upload the recording to your computer. The upload requires the SonicStage software which comes bundled with the device. There is pointless restriction that you can only upload the audio file once to your PC, but then you can convert it to the open wav format (the uncompressed CD quality Windows format), and then you are home free--you can do whatever you want with the audio file i.e. make an unrestricted number of copies, copies of the copies, edit the file using sound software, burn CDs, whatever. The sound is exceptionally clear; I use the ECM-719 Sony microphone (this is great mic, the cable is almost 6 feet long however which is a little too long for my preference). I generally record at the Hi-SP level, and it sounds great. For no loss of fidelity due to compression, you can record uncompressed and still get 1.5 hours on a disc. The manual warns that the device should be plugged in when recording, due to high battery consumption while recording, but I have used it off the battery for short periods with no problem.
This device does incorporate SCMS (serial copy management system), which puts all kinds of restrictions on copying digital files. As mentioned previously, you can only upload your analog-source recordings once to a PC, which is not really a problem as long as nothing goes wrong during the upload, and there is no particular reason why it should. As far as MP3s or other digital music, you can load them onto the device, but you can't copy them again after that i.e. back to the computer. The MP3s are not converted to another format, this device can read them directly so there is no loss of quality. You can also copy uncompressed audio to this device, or you can compress it into the ATRAC format to save space. The highest quality compressed format is ATRAC3Plus, which reduces files size to about 20% of uncompressed, and sounds very, very good. It is supposedly better than the highest quality MP3. ATRAC3Plus is the format used by the Hi-SP recording mode also.
This device also has an extra battery holder which holds on AA battery an can power the unit in the event your rechargable battery fails. This is an exceptional feature; it means that as long as you bring some AA batteries with you, you will be able to power the unit.
The reliablity of the interchangable Hi-MD disks appears to be exceptionally good. They are basically infinitely re-recordable; Sony claims you can re-record 1 million times. They are encased in a well made enclosure, well protected unlike CD-RWs or DVD+RWs. I would guess they are much, much more reliable than CD-RWs and DVD+RWs. They are also quite compact, and make a good replacement for thumb drives, or can be used to back up files.For example, you can use it to back up the wav files from your recordings. Howevery audio files, copied directly to the Hi-MD disks cannot be listened to on the device, you have to download them using the SonicStage software. The songs you download are then placed into the some special files on the disks which contain the song catalog, and all the music--i.e. you cannot manage the songs/audio on the Hi-MD through the Windows file system. This was probably done because of the SCMS restrictions, to prevent from copying audio at will. This is an annoying restriction which means that if you want back ups of your audio on the Hi-MD disks, you must do extra work and consume extra disk space--i.e. backup your MP3 or wav files to the Hi-MD disks as Windows files (which cannot be listened to directly).
When the device is connected to your PC it gets power from the USB cable, and actually appears to even recharge the battery while connected. The LCD screen is adequate but has no backlight, Sony makes a lit version for the next model up from this one, for another $100. You need to basically angle the player reflect off the main light source to see the screen. This is not really a problem for me, but the lighted display is probably more convenient. The fit and finish, as with all Sony devices, is excellent. The battery life when used as a player is quite long, they claim up to 34 hours; reports on the internet report that 20+ hours is common.
In summary, the only downside to this device is the SCMS restrictions, but generally you can still do everything you want to do. In particular, you can record audio from a mic (or from any analog input using the line-in; i.e. old cassettes) and make unrestricted digital wav files out of them.

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Sony has created a great, compact digital music player with the MZ-RH910 Hi-MD Walkman Digital Music Player. Music is stored on Hi-MD discs -- one GB of storage equals over 600 songs (depending on file format). You can easily expand your music storage with additional discs. They are available for only a few dollars, so increasing your storage capacity is affordable. The MZ-RH910 is also backward compatible with the standard MiniDisc media discs.
The five-line LCD screen lets you know what's playing -- the display provides album, artist, and song title. Music on the go has never been better with Sony's Skip-Free G-Protection technology which provides virtually uninterrupted playback of your music.
Sony had the digital music lover in mind when they built this digital player. It is highly compatible with your PC. With the included software you can transfer files from your PC to the MZ-RH910, and vice versa, at a break-neck, 100x transfer speed. And while you're doing this you won't have to worry about your digital music player's battery life -- the USB cable will power the unit when transferring music. Speaking of battery life, you can expect up to 34 hours of continuous playback with the included nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery plus one AA battery.
If you already have extensive music libraries, use the included software to store and play back your collection of MP3s. On the other hand, if you're just getting into digital music and downloading, Sony's ATRAC format provides higher sound quality with smaller sizes than many competing formats. This enables you to store more music and have longer listening times. The system also allows you to play back the most popular Internet audio formats, including WMA and WAV files, with quick, easy conversion to ATRAC.
Sony just keeps on bringing you the hits with this device. Another great feature is the self-recording upload function. Use the line-in jack on the Hi-MD player to transfer and archive your favorite, old tapes to low cost Hi-MD discs. The mic input is a perfect solution for self-recordings, school concerts, or meetings. With your music or recordings stored on Hi-MD discs, you can transfer the files to your computer and covert them to WAV format. A file saved in WAV format provides you with the flexibility to import the file into a music burning software program where you can burn the file to a CD-R/RW. The MZ-RH910 from Sony is not only a digital music player, but also a mini-recording studio in the palm of your hand. You can capture and digitize almost any sound or old-school recorded format with the mic input and line-in jack!
What's in the Box MZ-RH910 Hi-MD Walkman, nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery, charging stand, dry battery case, AC power adaptor, digital cable, Walkman earbuds, SonicStage software, one GB Hi-MD disc, and USB cable.

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Targus PAPWR005U Mobile Power Inverter Review

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(More customer reviews)I successfully used the Targus PAPWR005U power inverter on a 400+ mile trip to power my Mac PowerBook G4 (to watch DVDs) with the kids. Unfortunately it only made the one trip. The next week, on another 400+ mi car ride, the inverter started beeping constantly and then went into shutdown mode, I'm assuming because it was drawing too much power and was overheating. At 90 Watts, the power output matched the power draw from the Mac PowerBook, but didn't have enough umph to spare. I'd caution everyone to check the power rating on their laptop power bricks first before using it with a power inverter. Get an inverter that is at least 1.5-2x the power rating of the device you want to use.

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Targus PAPWR005U Mobile Power Inverter

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OPPO OPDV971H Digital HD-Ready Up-Converting DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I just got this player thru Amazon, and ran two region1 DVD disks: LOTR Return of the King Platinum and Dying Young. The short review: The wife is so impressed with the Oppo's picture quality (that's probably the most important consideration when buying anything like this). I was expecting the quality, since I was able to demo a Samsung earlier that could do DCDI/Faroudja/upconvertion. ADDED: I also tried Star Wars DVD. WOW!! The picture quality really blew me away. I can see details in the movie I have never seen before on a TV.
Our Oppo/HT setup: Panasonic AE700 widescreen lcd projector hdmi, ht=61" x wd=108" diy "blackout" screen (viewing distance=3.5meters), Yamaha RXV2095 receiver, Pioneer DV515 (old non-progressive dvd player via 12meter sVideo, 1.5meter fiber optic audio), Oppo DV971H (via dvi-to-hdmi adapter, 5meter hdmi cable, 3.7meter 75ohm component video cable, 10meter 75ohm coax audio), Speakers: Wharfedale Diamond 8.4 L/R/C and Bose AM10 L/R/C/Surr, Wiring AWG12. Home Theater PC setup (6meter VGA output, 1.5 meter fiber optic audio, Asus Pentium 4-2.67GHz notebook, ATI Radeon 9000-64MB, 512MB, 40GB HDD, ZoomPlayer, FFDShow, PowerStrip, WinDVD6, PowerDVD6). (1meter = 3.28ft)
I have observed a significant video improvement over our old pioneer DVD player. I also tried a 1970's movie (I won't mention the title) that was so poorly transferred to DVD (region3), and I noticed a significant improvement in the video playback over the old player. The noise artifacts were minimized, and the sharpness had a significant improvement. I guess that was the DCDI/Faroudja chip doing its work.
I've tried the 480p,720p,1080i upconvertion using the "dvi" button on the remote and although I couldn't really notice the difference in quality between the three modes even on such a large screen, the lcd projector saw the difference and reported the corresponding "input source signal". I may have to observe some more and change the projector's picture mode, we usually leave it at "Cinema1 mode".
ADDED: okay, I've now looked A LOT closer using Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon region3 DVD. Basically, as I move up the DVI resolution from 480p to 720p to 1080i, I did noticed that less and less horizontal lines were becoming visible (a good thing).
BUT, since our projector uses hdmi, the picture does suffer from hdmi cropping issues (varies with the resolution being used). Using component/analog gives the largest picture that can occupy the screen (unfortunately there is no upconversion using component, only the Oppo's DVI output has the upconversion). At the projector side: Using hdmi input, the picture appears cropped (black bars at the left and right, sometimes at the top and bottom, sometimes a combination of both). I also cannot change aspect ratio using hdmi, while you can using component/analog inputs of the projector.
ADDED: The Oppo I have can play DVD-Audio, something not stated in the manuals or the unit's array of logos. The DVD-Audio sampler disc I used came from Creative Lab's Audigy 2 for the PC.
ADDED: I also compaired the Oppo's component output vs. the dvi-to-hdmi output, basically, there's a big difference in the picture quality, you should connect using the dvi output if possible.
I also noticed that the subtitles on the movies are much easier to read now when compaired to the old dvd player, but on one brief moment the subtitles on Dying Young were garbled -that's never happened before on the Pioneer.
ADDED: Okay, this has now happened to a bunch of other DVDs, sometimes it garbles one single line of subtitle per entire single dvd I watched. That is still an acceptable problem to me.
I also heard no apparent difference in audio quality between the Oppo and the old Pioneer despite the length of the coax. Naturally I set all audio sound effects to off when compairing audio CDs.
I also compaired the Oppo to our HTPC. Basically, the HTPC could output better video than the old Pioneer, but when compairing with Oppo, I prefer the Oppo. I don't want the hassle the HTPC is giving me. I saw no significant video quality difference between the HTPC and the Oppo. So my take on this is if you're happy with your HTPC, stick to it. If you want convenience then Oppo is something to look at. If you can't demo an Oppo, try looking at anything with DCDI/Faroudja.
Bottom line: I am happy with the purchase. Good value for the money. It's region free and can upconvert, and that's what's important to me. I chose Oppo vs. Momitsu V880 because I prefer Faroudja over Sigma Designs. BUT, BUT, here are my Oppo gripes....
1. I don't like the remote's key layout, it also seems flimsy, it could use a backlight.
2. I don't like the el-cheapo plastic disc tray. It looks like it will break easily. It's weird having to insert a disc if the tray doesn't comeout 100% all the way. I just hope this is the design, not a defect.
3. I don't like the bright blue light which is distracting in a completely dark home theater room.
4. The player's buttons are a little hard to press, well, maybe because it's still new. As with other players, not all remote functions can be found on the unit itself. So take care of the remote.
5. I wish the unit was color black instead of silver.
6. I don't like the OSD font, could use a better readable font.
7. The setup menu could be more descriptive, the manual helps but not enough...
8. I wish it was HDMI rather than DVI, but the adapter solved that issue.
ADDED: 9. Subtitle display is sometimes garbled (sometimes happens once on a single line per DVD watched).
ADDED 05/28: Okay, after 3 months and almost 200 hrs of use, I am still happy with this purchase. However, not all DVD titles appeared fantastic thru the DVI upconversion output (hdmi input on our projector), such as Top Gun r1. I had to watch it thru the component output. It appeared too visually noisy via DVI.

Eric Gutierrez
Manila, Philippines

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Improve the picture quality of DVD movies shown on your high-definition television with the versatile OPPO Digital OPDV971H DVD player, which provides 480p/540p/576p/720p/1080i resolutions and can upconvert 480i video from DVDs to the high definition 720p/1080i formats. Featuring a slim and elegant design, it featurs a sleek, silver design that will fit in nicely the rest of your home theater's components. In addition to standard DVD move and CD audio discs, it's also compatible with DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, (S)VCD, HDCD, and CD-R/RW discs as well as WMA and JPEG digital content. It also plays DivX 5, DivX 4, DivX 3, and DivX VOD video content (in compliance with DivX Certified technical requirements).
The OPDV971H features Faroudja's Emmy award-winning DCDi deinterlacing and scaling technology to up-convert standard video in DVDs to HD resolutions. DCDi (Directional Correlational Deinterlacing) technology eliminates the jagginess that conventional upconverters introduced to diagonal edges in video. FaroudjaÕs unique DCDi algorithm identifies all the moving edges in a scene and adjusts the angle of interpolation at each pixel so that the interpolation always follows the edge instead of crossing it, eliminating staircasing or jagged edge artifacts.
Other features include a 108MHz/12bit video D/A converter, super error correction with twin laser and intelligent laser wavelength control, NTSC/PAL output (from both NTSC and PAL formatted discs), multi-angled view capability, virtual surround sound, and built-in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders. Future upgrades to the firmware can be updated to the player via a CD-ROM disc. It offers the following connection options:
DVI Out: 1 (480p, 576p, 540p, 720p, 1080i resolutions)
S-Video Out: 1
Composite AV Out: 1
Component Out
Subwoofer Out: 1
Optical digital audio Out: 1
Coaxial digital audio Out: 1

Tech Talk DivX is a video codec (a piece of software encoding and decoding video) based on the MPEG-4 compression format, that blends good quality video with a low bitrate. This translates to a smaller file size (around 15 percent of a standard DVD's video file), making it easier to transfer to portable devices as well as quicker to create (encode).
HDCD (High Definition Compatible Digital) is a disc encoding format for audio CDs and DVDs. It can encode 20 bits of audio information into a conventional CD 16-bit channel, yielding a greater dynamic range and a more true-to-life sound when decoded. HDCD-equipped players will improve audio quality for even traditionally recorded CDs and DVDs. Conversely, because of the recording process, HDCD-encoded media will also sound better than traditionally CDs and DVDs on players that don't have the HDCD chip.
DVI (Digital Video Interface) provides an uncompressed transfer of high definition video from a digital video source to a digital display device. HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) ensures copy protection of the content. The DVI output is also essential if you want to watch copyrighted DVDÕs at a higher, upconverted resolution (other video connections do not provide upconversion).
What's in the Box DVD player, remote control (with batteries), video cable, RCA L/R audio cable, printed operating instructions

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Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)Being the first to market in the High Definition DVD Player area, with Blu-ray right on its tail, id have to say its one amazing box. I started with last samurai regular dvd popped it in and wow was a standard DVD simply AMAZING, the upconvert in this box is the best ive seen. I then followed up by putting in the HDDVD version of Last Samurai and I was definately more pleased, stuff that was blotchy and pixelated no longer is so, most notable when standing or sitting close to an LCD TV the quality is noticably better. The price is a bit steep, but then again the first DVD Players were quite pricey as well. The prices for the HDDVDs are nice compared to costs for other new media standards such as the UMD Disc in fact about the same price as UMD Disc. The only cons I would have about this player is it takes REALLY LONG startup once turned on and HDDVD can take some time to get going and the thing is HUGE! It wont fit in most setups!

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Get ready for the next generation of DVD entertainment with the Toshiba HD-A1 DVD player, which is compatible with the new HD DVD format. It combines the superior image and sound quality of high-definition images and multichannel surround sound with the convenience of DVD disc playback. In addition to the new HD DVD format, you'll also enjoy backward compatibility with your current DVD movie CD audio libraries, as well as content burned onto DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R/RW. The HD-A1 also scales standard definition DVD output via the HDMI connection to a resolution of 720p or 1080i to match your HDTV's performance. And because the conversion takes place in the player, the signal remains free from excessive digital-to-analog conversion artifacts. High definition output is only available from the HD-A1 via an HDMI connection. To get the most out of this player, you'll want to connect it to an HDMI compatible HDTV.
HD DVD movie discs provide the ability to search the on-screen menu, make changes to set-up options or access other menu functions while the movie is playing. Scene searching is facilitated with thumbnail images on the TV screen that allow you to use the cursor to go directly to a specific scene. You can even access bonus material like directorÕs comments while the movie is playing without going back to the discÕs menu. DVD playback features include fast forward/reverse, slow play, step play, time search, and parental lock.
The HD-A1 has built-in processors to handle the multi-channel decoders for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD (2 channel), DTS, and DTSHD. It employs the use of four DSPs to decode the multi-channel streams of the wide array of audio formats. These 32-bit floating-point DSPs are world renown for their high accuracy and are employed in many high quality audio solutions in the home theater market.
This DVD player includes a USB interface on the front panel, enabling you to connect "mass storage classification devices"--i.e., external hard drives, portable thumb drives, and compatible MP3 players/digital cameras--and play JPEG, WMA, and MP3 files. You can also connect the player to the Internet via an always-on broadband connection using the Ethernet port in the rear. In addition to accessing special HD DVD sites, this function can be used to access firmware updates when available. Here's the full listing of video and audio connections:
Composite A/V: 1 out
S-Video: 1 out
Component Video: 1 out
HDMI: 1 out
USB: 1
Digital audio: 1 coaxial, 1 optical

HD DVD Disc Format Officially endorsed by the DVD Forum industry organization as the next high-capacity DVD disc, the HD DVD format delivers sharper, more detailed picture performance than standard DVD discs. Moreover, the HD DVD format opens new avenues of interactivity including enhanced on-screen menus, scene searching, directorsÕ commentaries and the potential for online shopping. HD DVD discs can offer both the current DVD and HD DVD formats on one disc, which means that special HD DVD discs will play in older DVD players as well as new high definition players.
Tech Talk HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver) with your TV--all over a single cable. HDMI supports standard, enhanced or high definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It supports all ATSC formats--standard (SDTV), enhanced (EDTV), and high (HDTV).
Component video (also called Y/Pb/Pr) features a three-jack video input, which provides separate connections for luminance (Y), blue color difference (PB) and red color difference (PR). This results in increased bandwidth for color information, resulting in a more accurate picture with clearer color reproduction and less bleeding than you would get with S-Video or composite (RCA yellow video plug) connections. You will need a separate RCA left/right audio cable for sound.
DVD-RAM is the most flexible of the recordable DVD formats when it comes to recording, editing and playback. With a DVD-RAM disc, you'll be able re-record content approximately 100,000 times.
What's in the Box HD DVD player, remote control (with batteries), printed operating instructions

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