DVD vs. VHS

[don]

Tonight I was watching one of my Lost in Space DVDs when suddenly the picture froze and I couldn't get it to unfreeze.That rarely happens to me and when it does it's maddening.Iplayed this disc a couple times in the past and it was fine. At least with VHS I never had to worry about the picture freezing. As sharp as DVDs are I don't like the fact that they are delicate and you have to handle them like a surgeon.Any finger print or smudge will freeze the picture and I always handle them with care.

Now I know they say DVD picture quality is sharper than VHS and for the most part it's true but VHS is ok too.All these new formats are just money making.That's why they do it. They say DVDs last from 50 to 100 years.Please,nobody lives forever.What good is it if they're so damm fragile.I like durability and I have some vhs tapes from 20 years ago and they still play fine.

Now with this Blu Ray I draw the line.These people are money hungry and they try to tempt customers.How much sharper can a picture be for God sakes! I won't give in and buy Blu Ray,that's ridiculous.I have too many DVDS and VHS tapes.

I noticed several DVDs they play at my library freeze too.What a pain in the ass.Do any of you have this problem and could you see the point I'm trying to make?

[Razor X]

Wipe the disc with a dry, clean cloth and it will probably play fine.  You can even rinse it under the faucet and wipe it dry to remove any smudges or fingerprints.

[warhawk]

don:  that's one thing that i hate 'bout DVDs but i'll take a dvd over a vhs tape any day.  however... i'm with ya on the blue ray disc.  i've witnessed the sharper, clearer picture that blue ray has 2 offer but i refused 2 give in 2 the blue ray prices.  i think its over-rated. besides... i'm very satisfied with the DVDs. 

WARHAWK

[Tyler]

A Blu-ray player plays your regular DVDs also.   Though, there's not point in a Blu-ray player if you don't have an HDTV.

[don]

I tried cleaning it with a soft cloth and it still froze in the exact same spot.I looked at the disc and to my naked eye there were no smudges or fingerprints.I really don't think I should rinse it under the faucet because you really shouldn't get them too wet.It's ok if you use a slightly damp cloth.The bad thing is that I bought this as a box set so if the one disc is screwed up I have to buy the entire box set again.This really sucks and if I buy a new set who's to say that there won't be a problem with that one.I just wish they didn't make them so damm delicate.Would you buy a new box set?

[Razor X]

I tried cleaning it with a soft cloth and it still froze in the exact same spot.I looked at the disc and to my naked eye there were no smudges or fingerprints.I really don't think I should rinse it under the faucet because you really shouldn't get them too wet.It's ok if you use a slightly damp cloth.The bad thing is that I bought this as a box set so if the one disc is screwed up I have to buy the entire box set again.This really sucks and if I buy a new set who's to say that there won't be a problem with that one.I just wish they didn't make them so damm delicate.Would you buy a new box set?

If it's defective, return it for a new one.  Try the disk in a different DVD player and see if the same thing happens.  I've had disks skip in one machine that play OK in another.  Not sure why.

[GASlick]

You don't see the advertising push for BluRay that you used to.  I think people were just not going to pay that much.

[JDog]

First it was Beta>>>VHS>>>>DVD>>>BlueRay.

The quality of a BlueRay movie is unbelievable but nowhere near worth the money it costs to purchase the discs.

I've still got a DVD/VCR combo unit that I watch a lot of old VHS tapes of old movies and cartoons.

[don]

The bad thing is that I can't return it for a new one because I bought it 2 and a half years ago at Suncoast Video which is no longer in business.And I'm not gonna buy a whole new box set for just one defective disc.

However I also have the Lost in Space episodes on VHS from Columbia House Video so I decided that I'll watch the undamaged episodes on the DVD disc and when I want to see the episode on the disc that froze I'll watch it on my VHS tape of that episode. It makes more sense that way.

[Razor X]

The bad thing is that I can't return it for a new one because I bought it 2 and a half years ago at Suncoast Video which is no longer in business.And I'm not gonna buy a whole new box set for just one defective disc.

However I also have the Lost in Space episodes on VHS from Columbia House Video so I decided that I'll watch the undamaged episodes on the DVD disc and when I want to see the episode on the disc that froze I'll watch it on my VHS tape of that episode. It makes more sense that way.

Look online on sites like Amazon.com.  Sometimes you can find used copies of things like that for very reasonable prices.

[don]

Razor X, I have an aversion to used DVDs. I like brand new. Besides you really don't know how the people handled the discs previously. I've found that lots of people are usually not as careful as I am. The librarian orders her DVDs from Netflix and she is constantly getting frustrated on how many of those discs freeze during playback. I swear,some people must eat there dinner off those things because they come back so filthy.LOL.

[Razor X]

I haven't bought any used DVDs but I have bought used CDs from Amazon -- sometimes for as little as a penny.  The postage costs more than the disk.  For that price, you really can't go wrong.  A boxed DVD set won't be that cheap, but if you could find one for a few dollars, it would be well worth it to get a replacement for your one bad disk.  You still have your "new" disks for the rest of the set. The disks are usually guaranteed,and you get to rate the seller after you get the merchandise.  Usually they don't want to risk getting bad feedback, so they won't try to rip you off.  And even if there was a bad disk in the set, what are the odds that it would be the same disk that's bad in the set you have now?

Anyway, it was just a thought ....

[jhickman]

If it's defective, return it for a new one.  Try the disk in a different DVD player and see if the same thing happens.  I've had disks skip in one machine that play OK in another.  Not sure why.

I've had the same experience.   When I first got my HDTV I went for the cheapest DVD player I could find...The sound plays at a different speed than the video, quite annoying.  I kept thinking it was the disc, until I tried another DVD player.

I'm all for finding great deals.  But, in my experience, you get what you pay for in electronics.

Wow, sounds like some great deals on dvds at amazon, thanks for the heads up.