apex 3201 49.99 after 30 rebate at Compusa 4/7 -14

[Tanner]

can someone please tell me I'm not going mad? I thought that this deal was supposed to be @ Circuit City tomorrow (SUN)? WHAT THE HECK? HELP!

 

[ErikaeanLogic]

psst, Tanner, the title of the thread is:



apex 3201 49.99 after 30 rebate at Compusa 4/7 -14



there ya go, bub

 

[Kuhlman]

<< can someone please tell me I'm not going mad? I thought that this deal was supposed to be @ Circuit City tomorrow (SUN)? WHAT THE HECK? HELP! >>



People are already lining up at Circuit City for this one. I can't believe they are camping out for a DVD player.

 

[DaHan]

it opens on 9:00 on Sunday? I think it's 10:00.

 

[beaver]

ComPUSA Is online now. But shipping is $15 more

 

[misterj]

camping? =o

well i got 5 at 99.99.. dont worry they had tons in fountain valley. i just hope i dont have to exchange any.

whats teh best way to tell if you got a dud? is there a particular movie thats prone to skipping? the matrix maybe?

 

[OrlandoTiger]

If you get a unit that skips you dont have to return it (and it probably wont do any good to exchange anyway), its usually a firmware issue that sometimes affects this model.That can be upgraded via burned cd.Go here. and get the info and other links for the firmware.

 

[agentq2322]

this isnt progressive scan

 

[dealfinder]

from vcdhelp.com ppl are not too happy with this model

myurl

 

[Technogeek]

This thing plays pretty good, But I can not figure out a way to hook it to my VCR. Anyone got any links for some tips?

Edit: One problem the volume is very low, gotta turn up the TV almost all the way

 

[worm]

Best Buy has a Mintek DVD-1600 for 64.92 without any rebates. Any ideas on how the two compare?

 

[Kwad Guy]

If you buy one of these, plan on having to update the firmware for
the DVD rom drive (this is not the same as the firmware for the
player itself). A LOT of the DVD rom drives included in these decks
are buggy and will skip/freeze constantly.

This link gives info on updating the drive firmware.

Note that upgrading the drive firmware may require taking the drive
out of the DVD player and connecting it to your PC. If you are not
comfortable with this prospect, I would think twice and three times
about whether you want to buy this deck, even for $50.

Kwad

 

[AndyP]

Technogeek, I just hooked it to my TV through the VCR, and it works fine.

I used the cables with colored jacks (guess, people call them RCA): the yellow one for video, and red and white for sound.

There are two audio output sets on the player, make sure you use one set. Make sure jacks sit firmly in there.

Finally, the player has its own volume control -- you may try to use the remote control to make it louder.

 

[misterj]

<< If you get a unit that skips you dont have to return it (and it probably wont do any good to exchange anyway), its usually a firmware issue that sometimes affects this model.That can be upgraded via burned cd.Go here. and get the info and other links for the firmware. >>



some people have still had problems regardless of firmware or drive firmware updates. some claim heat. i guess its just a gamble. but for 49bucks im willing to take that gamble. plus i dont mind taking the sucker apart =P



<< this isnt progressive scan >>



haha you expect this to be progressive scan for 49? do you even have an hdtv? i dont think youd be dumb enough to buy this if you had one. threadcrapper

oh remember, you usually cant mix svideo/component/rca video on a receiver, all your components must use the same type of connector to the tv, unless you run the 2nd or 3rd type as a 2nd or 3rd input on the tv. there are adapters for these types of situations..

 

[ww4397]

<< If you buy one of these, plan on having to update the firmware for
the DVD rom drive (this is not the same as the firmware for the
player itself). A LOT of the DVD rom drives included in these decks
are buggy and will skip/freeze constantly.

This link gives info on updating the drive firmware.

Note that upgrading the drive firmware may require taking the drive
out of the DVD player and connecting it to your PC. If you are not
comfortable with this prospect, I would think twice and three times
about whether you want to buy this deck, even for $50.

Kwad >>



Here is the link to the firmware upgrade (dated 13SEP01) and, according to the instructions, you do not have to remove the DVD player.

 

[misterj]

well folks since ive had the chance to test five of em from the same store ill share what ive found.

one pops on forrest gump every few min or so in the beginning. just an audio crack or two. the loudness of spinning up on power on with a disc inside ill say is a 3 out of 5.

one plays gump fine, loudness 4 of 5.

same as above, 5 of 5.

same as above, only 1 of 5. this one shall go in my room hehe.

all 5 havent been updated.

all 5 dont share any consistency in the serial numbers.

all 5 share a flaw where if you power off with a disc inside using the remote, the disc will spin off, lcd will shut off, but then the disc will spin up again and will not stop. i let it spin there for about five minutes before the annoyance kicked in. i hope an update fixes this.

well im off to return the dud and get my price adjustments. hth =D

edit; forgot to mention i also tested with mp3s on memorex cdrw (plextor 24x) and cd audio on generic old blues. all scratched up yet flawless playback

 

[John P]

Played a few minutes of the Matrix and Aliens with no problems. Played 5 minutes of a home burnt SVCD with no problems. Skipped twice watching about 15 minutes of Shrek. I will try the firmware upgrade.


BTW, On the firmware instructions - do you burn the actual hiteker.exe file to the CD-R or extract the hiteker.bin file from it and burn that? I have tried both and the DVD player still says "NO DISC". I notice the instructions say to use Adaptec 5.0 or above or something similar. I am using the Instant CD+ that came with my Toshibal CD-Writer. Does it really matter what software I use to burn the file?

 

[treasurehunter]

Doesn't CompUSA have a 15% restocking fee on all returns that have been opened? I guess one could keep exchanging a defective one for one that works correctly, but it wouldn't be wise to plan on returning it all together for a refund if you don't like it (unless you don't mind the $7.50 fee for that "privilege"). . . .

 

[blindspot]

I've noted one inconsistency on the box label. Focus on the part where you see the icons of glass(fragile), umbrella, 4 up arrows (this side up), 4kg (weight), and THE NUMBER 8. Some boxes have the NUMBER 16 on them instead of the NUMBER 8. Does it translate to anything with regards to the player itself?

 

[Tanner]

has anyone been able to play JPEG CDS on them yet? I would like to know how that works out.... Please

God Bless

Tanner

 

[zinkpig]

i tried that tanner ....i ve a cd with some mp3s and some jpgs on it.. it just shows the mp3 files not the jpgs. it does mp3s realy poorly...the files names a re all messed up. so is the directory structure. it shows all the files ina big jumble

 

[misterj]

<< has anyone been able to play JPEG CDS on them yet? I would like to know how that works out.... Please

God Bless

Tanner >>



are you talking about kodak picture cd compatibility? if so, no.

my mp3s seemed to be ok. only truncated and displaying like 5 letters. i had like 20 in root, then about 20 in a few other folders. maybe your format is different? i believe ive always used nero, iso2, mode1, joliet, iso9660, etc.

 

[Tanner]

oh, okay, thanks guys! I really appreciate the info! I guess I won't be purchasing THIS player as it doesn't support the MP3 format very well... eh? And obviously no JPEG support either...poopy for the inlaws...they need EASY use thanks again guys!

Any opinion on DVD players? please respond here! I'd like to know what to get if it's not this...

 

[cLiPLiK]

damn went to the fountain valley store and they're all outta stock!!
anyone in socal get an extra one?

 

[Tung]

they only had 3 units in stock at the fountain valley store when i came in yesterday.