fatbrit

Surely not out of the box?

jamjar

Yep it's true multi region DVD players are readily available in Uk and cheap too. That's why I couldn't understand why I couldn't find one in a store here in the U.S. My Sister and brother both have one and I frequently get them DVDs for Christmas etc.

neil

I got my sister a multi region DVD player from amazon.co.uk last Christmas - they had some cheap ones at about 30 quid.

fatbrit

Fascinating! Just been for a look on amazon.co.uk. Think the differences are:
1/ There is no great demand here (except in the expat community) since there is little concept of the term "abroad".
2/ Stores don't advertise the codes (and most would have no idea or use for them anyway) so you have to Google it yourself.

Big D

Not sure i would go as far as to say MOST are region free - until recently Richer Sounds were the only ones that sold them uncoded out of the box (not sure how they got around it) as it was illegal (still is i thought) Most can be uncoded (depending on make) and you can always use your PC - although it prevents changing the region after so many changes. Either way she should be able to get one - and it sounds like there are plenty around.

As already suggested get her a cheap Cyberhome 300 and send it back too - this one is dual voltage so all she has to do is cut the plug off and put a UK on the back. PAL NTSC is not an issue in the UK anymore as any recent TV will take an NTSC feed with no problem. ( And this DVD is cheaper that the Lost box set!!)

Big D

Exactly - why would Americans want to play UK discs? The advantage for those in the UK are the DVDs that come out earlier and the cost - there is no such benefit if you are not an ex-pat!!

Big D

Notice how they are multi region CAPABLE!! They cant advertise them as multi region (legal issues) but they no doubt already have the code in!

fatbrit

Going to amazon.co.uk, they actually link through to a page on their server with the info on how to change the code.
e.g. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...ture/-/575547/

Presumably the lawyers okayed it?

Couldn't see amazon.com doing it because a) nobody would be interested and b) the lawyers would crap themselves.

Big D

Must be OK - that how Richer SOunds used to get round it i think - they gave you the code and instructions but in fact they had already done it for you!!! Course the law might have changed on this now if they are selling them on the high street etc!

LeedsGirl

Thanks everyone for your help

Bob

no market in the US, canada shares the same region code...and people here don't bother buy abroad even though there are plenty of cheaper movies, especially boxset abroad...only reason regionless started getting a market here was because the Buffy boxsets were out in the UK much sooner than over here apparantly *l*

Bob

there's a software hack, well a program that removes the OS region counter and the DVD drive region code from locking, its' in that other dvd thread...

Bob

I don't know...I've seen plenty of movies abroad a lot cheaper than in the US, any one into anime or Japanese/Chinese flicks will be able to get them for $5 from Japan as opposed to $50 here, and there's plenty of movie/tv boxsets cheaper, some cracking deals out in the far east, and Oz, even with shipping, it's cheaper...

Hiro11

The Philips DVP-642 can be had for about 35-40 bucks now. It's region free and does NTSC-PAL and PAL-NTSC flawlessly. It will also play burned DIVX/XVID discs, MP3 discs, JPEGs and anything else you can think of. (if you're a fileswapper).
Try here for a variety of shops.
It takes about three seconds (literally) to make it region free:
Buy them the player, a few discs and you're done.

Hiro11

...because they're bootlegs.