Help needed from Canada

Posted by: Don Atkinson on 09 December 2001

My middle daughter is married to a Canadian and they live in Vernon BC. They are over here in England for a few months including Xmas.

I was just about to buy them a modest DVD player for Xmas, eg Pioneer 737 or something similar for about £400 when I realised that none of the sets I was looking at had voltage/frequency selectors. Now my recollection is that Canada uses 110V and 60Hz. Not much good with a 230V/50Hz set!! Also I guess a multi region player would help us swap discs - My own Pioneer 717 is multi-region.

So, could anybody give me some idea of the price I might expect to pay for a basic/modest multi-region DVD player in Canada, and just in case the model numbers are different to those over here, could you recommend a couple of models. They are not hifi lovers and will run the DVD into a Sony TV and Sony midi system and be perfectly happy!!

Of course, reference to a couple of dealer's web sites in Vernon or Kelowna would be superb, but the only one i've found to date is www.naimaudio.com who sell our favourite brand but who's web site isn't particularly deatailed.

Any help will be most appreciated.

Cheers

Don

Posted on: 09 December 2001 by Mike Sae
The going rate for a Pioneer 343 is 220 canuckbucks, about 95 UKP. Not sure if its multi-region. All the other DVD manufacturers make players in this price range.

The higher end models with proscan, etc start at 400 CDN.

I've never actually been to these stores, I just pasted them from www.mybc.com
London Drugs is our version of Boots/Tescos.
Andre's Electronic Superstore sounds particularly interesting.


Hi Fi Attic (The)
1005 Kalamalka Lake Road, Vernon, BC V1T6V4
(250) 260-3336

Andre's Electronic Superstore
3115 48 Avenue, Vernon, BC V1T3R5
(250) 542-3000
(250) 542-3000 (fax)

London Drugs Ltd
4400 32 Street 700, Vernon, BC V1T9H2
(250) 549-1504

Cheers,

Mike

Posted on: 09 December 2001 by Tristram
Don;

In addition to Mikes' suggestions, you may want to take a look at futureshop.ca, and absound.ca. You can order online and have the item delivered. tw

Posted on: 09 December 2001 by David Dever
quote:
As the major electronic manufacturers decided that if we buy a DVD in Europe or Hong Kong, we do not have a right to listen to it on our own machine in North America, we are faced with the zoned market technology. A DVD machine for the UK simply won't play DVD's purchased in North America unless the machine is both 110 V and multizone.

Many of us work regularly on at least three continents and even more of us have family and friends around the world. I have Zero respect for corporate executives who adopt this approach to the market.

I wouldn't blame the large multinational electronics manufacturers so squarely...as with the MP3/Napster debates, much of this has to do with copyrights and royalties collection than anything else.

Many computer DVD-ROM drives can be open-patched to read DVD-Video titles of any and every region, hence the popularity of cobbled-together home-theatre PCs--especially in the U.K.

What the Hollywood crowd doesn't understand is that the same engineers that develop the copy-protection systems know their limitations; some actually "anonymously" post the kracks on the Web to assuage their conscience(s).

Practically every copy-protection scheme on the planet has failed, or will fail, at some point.

Dave Dever

Posted on: 09 December 2001 by rp
I think a big part of it has to do with world wide theatrical movie releases dates, marketing hype, build up etc. The problem is that movies open here (US) first, then some months later in Europe and then the rest of the world. Momentum and hype is built up here first and they have some time to market it overseas, not to mention time to dub etc. With DVDs you have the problem that the DVD may already be on the shelf here before it's released in Europe etc. Since people travel everywhere all the time now, and it's so very easy to burn and pirate anything digital, they had a big problem on there hands. Imagine some mega million $ Hollywood blockbuster opening in France and everyone already got the pirate DVD.
However, I hate corporate domination of the world. I also have friends around the world, and I travel a lot and I hate this incompatibility crap even more. So sign me up for the revolution brothers!
Posted on: 09 December 2001 by Manu
It is almost impossible to find a multizone DVD player here. It's much easier in Europe.

If you can't find a 110v player, it is always possible to use an adapter (220/110).

When DVD recorder will be available at large, you will be able to overpass all those problems. As David said, it is impossible to prevent copiing with a computer.

Emmanuel

Posted on: 12 December 2001 by Don Atkinson
Apologies for delayed response, been busy these past few days.

Many thanks to Mike S, Tristram and MrT for leads into Vernon stores. looks like Xmas should be ok for these kids after all!

BTW I wish prices were this low over here. Likewise computers-I looked on the Dell web-site for Canada not such a big difference but big nevertheless!

Cheers

Don