Panasonic DVD-RP91K Progressive-Scan DVD-RAM Player (Black)

Panasonic DVD-RP91K Progressive-Scan DVD-RAM Player (Black)
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Product Type: CE

Editorial Review:
Product Description
Panasonic's DVD-Audio/Video players give you the interactive, ultra-high-fidelity experience of DVD-Audio that you'll have to hear to believe, as well as high-quality DVD-Video and CD playback. Progressive scanning is the key to the sharpest picture quality the DVD-Video format has to offer, creating a picture signal with double the scan lines of a conventional interlaced picture. DVD-Audio is nothing less than the new world standard for super-high-fidelity sound. You've never heard anything like it!DVD-RP91 is a progressive-scan DVD-Audio/Video player with DVD-RAM video playback capability. Monitor Select feature allows for connection to a standard TV, CRT projector, LCD projector or a Projection TV.
Amazon.com Review
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more feature-packed, superb DVD player than this one, which is available in a very cool champagne color or this basic black. Not only does it do a wonderful job with DVD-Video discs--thanks to its progressive-scan output and advanced, 12-bit/54 MHz video digital-to-analog converter (DAC)--but it also plays the new generation of multichannel DVD-Audio software. The audio DAC offers scintillating 24-bit, 192 kHz resolution, capable of delivering a full two octaves' worth of high-frequency harmonics above standard CDs. And if you happen to own a DVD-RAM-based camcorder like the Panasonic VDR-M10, it plays those discs, too. In a word--Wow.

We're big fans of progressive-scan DVD players. Connect one to a digital television and you'll forget about the dearth of HDTV broadcasts. Why wait for broadcast when so many DVDs are available now? We quickly connected our review player to a 36-inch digital set using the component-video outputs and a 5.1-channel surround-sound system via the player's optical digital-audio output. The RP91 has extensive audio hookup capabilities, so no matter how sophisticated--or basic--your home theater is, you'll be in for the ride of your life. Even if you only use two speakers, it offers two levels of Virtual Surround to help envelop you in sound.

We loaded the obligatory Starship Troopers disc and loved it. The acting was as bad as ever, but the image moved to a still higher dimension of quality. By pressing the "progressive scan" key on the player's front panel, we experienced a seamless 480-progressive image rather than standard 480 interlaced--a picture that is much richer and more filmlike without the bothersome scanning lines. With 480P, you feel as if you could put your hand right into the screen. The audio track, while likewise superb, didn't sound noticeably superior to that of other players--probably because of the limitations of the Dolby Digital compression on that disc.

We were, however, able to get our hands on Swing Live, a new Bucky Pizzarelli DVD-Audio disc from Chesky Records, to properly audition the DVD-RP91 with the new music format. (To appreciate DVD-Audio, you'll need a surround receiver with 5.1-channel analog inputs, since the DVD-A signal is too high-resolution for standard digital inputs to accommodate it.)

We've been a bit skeptical about multichannel music, having heard some poorly engineered early attempts at 5.1-channel surround-sound music. Well, the engineers have learned from their mistakes, and this disc places you at a table in a nightclub, while guitarist Bucky and his friends play jazz standards like "Perdido" and "Sweet Sue." The sense of presence and realism was outstanding. The only thing missing was a nice Sapphire martini, straight up. (Note: this machine does not play SACDs, a competing multichannel audio system being promoted by Sony--but no one machine plays both formats.)

The appearance and playback capabilities of the DVD-RP91--with both audio and video--puts it in a class by itself. Yet it does have problems. The biggest drawback is the onscreen menu--the icons are inscrutable. Without the owner's manual at the ready, it's difficult to navigate through all the available options (and there are many). Not that most people will adjust their video Gamma settings, but we couldn't help wishing Panasonic had made the system more intuitive.

The remote has a very good feel, and a joystick makes adjustments and moves you through the menus. The remote is programmed to handle most TVs, and it handled my non-Panasonic set easily. But the remote really should have backlit keys rather than glow-in-the-dark buttons. This is a high-priced DVD player, so you should get a high-quality remote.

But what else can we say? This is a fantastic, technically advanced DVD player. Any home theater enthusiast should seriously give this one a long, hard look--then buy it. --David Elrich

Pros:

As feature-loaded a DVD player as you can find
Dynamite picture and sound quality
Excellent connectivity options
Intuitive remote with glow keys

Cons:

Onscreen menus difficult to follow
Remote should have backlit keys

Average customer rating: 2.5

Hmmm...I Guess You Get What You Pay For (2.5 stars)
Nice low-cost notebook!
DELL SELLS CRAP and CRACKED LAPTOPS

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Listmania:

Laptops & Notebook Computers for Low Budget Shoppers
MJ's kids dreams

Refurbished Dell Latitude C600 1.0GHZ,512MB,40GB,DVDRW,56K,LAN,WIRELESS

Manufacturer: Dell Computers
Product Group: Personal Computer
Binding:
ASIN: B000E0DUXU

Related Categories:

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Product Description

Fantastic Entry Level Laptop. Great Battery Life, Ethernet, 3 USB 2.0 Ports, 56K Modem, 512MB Memory, 40Gig Hard Drive, Burn CD's, Watch DVD's. Nice Software Package Included, 6 Months Free AOL.

Customer Reviews:

Hmmm...I Guess You Get What You Pay For (2.5 stars).......2006-11-24

The reviewer "Ask" made some very valid points about this laptop. I bought this laptop about 2 months ago, because our school requires us to have access to a laptop as well as the internet at all times (if you can, avoid any Universities that requires this if you can...trust me on this one). My mom looked on the DELL website and got this laptop for about $375 to include the student discount and all that good stuff (DELL as well as Gateway are the computers that our school owns a warranty and will repair for no charge...well technically ). A good friend of told me "The quality you get from electronics is determined by the price you pay." And very rarely have I proved him wrong.

One of the most obvious problems that I'm having is that the computer takes about 5-10 minutes to shut down. The screen "Windows Is Now Shutting Down" will just stay on there, and if you close the laptop, it will go to "Stand By Mode" which really doesn't help becuase if you open it back up, the shut down screen will reappear until it decides when to do that function (keep in mind I've had this computer for about 2 months and I really haven't downloaded/installed anything that will affect it's performance). Then the USB cables suck, because if I plug in my external hard drive or a flash drive, half the time I get a message saying that Windows doesn't recognize the device. Thats never happened on any other computer except this one that I've used so far. And god help you if you plug in your MP3 player or your Ipod, because the computer will just freeze up and cause all kinds of problems, trust me on this one. Also I have a good feeling the way I'm typing on the keyboard (at a fast pace, the way people with experience type), one of the keys is going to fall out.

I'm not saying this is a bad computer. I'm still using it. Heck I'm even typing my review on this laptop. It does have fast download and connection speed, although that might be the USB cable that I'm using. Also it loads up programs at a reasonable speed (but we'll see after 6 months).

Take my advice: If you're strapped for cash and just want a laptop to use, and don't really care about the quality, get this here at the price that is listed. Otherwise, there are better laptops out there that work more effeciently, which range from about $600-$1000.

Update (April 16, 2007): Now for some odd reason, my CD drive is out of place, making it very difficult to read CDs and CD-ROMs. I've might have used the drive maybe no more than 10 times, and been very careful with my computer and now this has happened. This has never happened to me with other laptops that I've used, and luckly my school can repair this for no charge. So basically follow my advice I said in the previous paragraph. Peace!

Nice low-cost notebook!.......2006-06-19

The notebook works nicely for its intended purposes: Low cost, large screen, CDRW/DVD combo, etc. It's perfect for home users.

DELL SELLS CRAP and CRACKED LAPTOPS.......2006-03-10

I know that u might be a bit surprised, but this is true. I bought a new DELL inspiron 600m 14" laptop and since I was very busy during the days it arrived I really did not get a chance to look at all the functions of the sytem. SO after some three or four weeks while I tried to write a CD , the CD-player gave problem that the CD would stop in the middle of writing or playing operations. To my Horror I discovered that my return policy has expired and that DELL needs 100$ to fix this problem over the phone as they say this is a software related problem.

Done with this petty issue myself .. now comes the real shocker that after just 4and half months the laptop developed multiple cracks because of a faulty material used and the manufacturing defect in stress relieving of the body material ( which I can prove to them anytime they want ). All the crack originate on the corners of the body -- all four base corners and extend upwards. One of them is very large and is progressong from front right corner towards the keyboard. DELL says my Warranty is over which was for three months only and when I asked the customer reps ( on mail as dont ever try calling their customer phone service as they keep on transferring you till 30 - 40 minutes until you get to speak to a right guy who doesnt know anything.) where is it written on their service booklet that the body is covered under what warranty scheme, the only answer to this that dell have got is dont answer not even acknowledge by the automated reply which I got for the first mail but never for any subsequent e mails. After writing three mails to them I have finally decided to write here as today one of the cracked corner broke off. Please note that I have taken care of this laptop more than me and it has never fallen or even kept on hard floor. Add to this fact , which I discovered after lot of frustration, that my other room mate who also eventually had an Inspiron 600m ( older than me has the same problem at exactly the same location though only one location at the back of the body supporting the screen/cover opening and closing pins. After this I have spoken to several frens of mine who have dell inspiron and everybody has some or the other problem of developing a crack which, I cannot verify as I have not seen it on my own. This review is out of utter frustration on the part of the dell to even adress their customer's small problem especially a student who have somehow bought the laptop with his scholarship money. Anyone who is interested in knowing the truth can actually write to me at askarakoti at yaho co in and I will send u the pics of the cracks that have developed and on the sides they have developed so that at least u guys can scan ur Laptops when u buy them from DELL. I must appreciate however that their system is working fine without any problems except the one odd one at the starting. neverthles I would never recommend any of my freind to buy a DELL unless he is rich and want to waste his money and keep invceting further on waste.

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