dvd/mp3 player

The cdrom function of my Phillips MCM530 shelf stereo got twitchy sometime back. Missed it for audio books in mp3 format. Usually whole book can be put on one cd in mp3 format where the normal fully expanded cd files means you are constantly changing out cds. Dang audio books at library have 10 or 15 cds, how stupid. I borrow them, have to rip them and convert to mp3 so I can listen without constantly putting different cd in player.

Looking around found noname cheapo $10 mini dvd player that did mp3. It worked well for while. I just got adapter cable so I could use pair computer speakers and it didnt have to be hooked to a tv. Then it got twitchy. I tried it this morning and worked perfectly but many times it wont. It likes to give "bad disk" error when disk isnt bad.

So got another cheap dvd player, $20 this time, yet to arrive. Its a Samsung and has a remote. Never could get universal remote to work with the generic dvd player. Hoping it holds out longer as Samsung and Sony seem to be the way to go for less expensive dvd players from research I did. It even has usb port that lets you plug in a usb key with mp3 files or movies and it will play from that rather than the cd/dvd player built in. Figure if dvd player part of it goes wonky (lasers on cheap dvd players seem not to last very long anymore) maybe it will still play from a usb key. I dont care where it gets the mp3 files from as long as it plays them. Nothing sacred about cd or dvd though that is bit more convenient. The old MCM530 had usb port but you had to connect it to computer and use a special driver. Well if I was going to do that just play the dang mp3 with software driver on computer and connect sound card to some remote speakers, wouldnt need the MCM530 at all. I will say the MCM530 does have nice sound and decent radio tuner so keep it around. The cd player part of it however was very poorly thought out. And it has to check all 5 cd trays everytime you turn it on. What were they thinking?? If they had just put one el cheapo computer cd player in cabinet and check it only when you press the button to play a cd, would have been much better. Also why does cheapest computer cdrom/dvdrom last forever yet the standalone cd/dvd players seem to have very short lifespan? Intentional obsolescence? My old standalone Magnavox dvd player just chugs along, but its very old, doesnt do mp3 and I imagine will eventually have problems with newer dvds as movie people keep playing games with copy protection.

Then ran across portable mp3 players which I know little about as I dont care about carrying around music, but the cheap ones, I would guess, have limited lifespan. The namebrand ones probably cost as much small stereo. They also all seem to have built in non-replaceable rechargeable battery, which when battery goes, the player is useless. Didnt see any of them with wall wart. Though maybe they can be powered directly from usb cable??? since they have usb port to load new mp3 files and that is way many of them have to be charged.

well, the seller lied, the Samsung cant recognize any cd or dvd, not factory, not burned on computer.

However it has that usb port. Plugged my usb card reader into it and memory stick from my camera. Voila, instant slide show of all pics on the memory stick. Then put a small mp3 file on memory stick and tried that. It played.

Well the flash memory I have isnt big enough for bunch audio books. So saved what files I could off portable usb hard drive and reformatted it to required FAT32. Loaded on audio book mp3 files and it worked great. Automatically took files in alphabetical order and turned player off when last file had been played. It does what I originally bought it for, just not in the way I originally intended. So since it would cost me $10 shipping to send player back for a $20 refund, guess I will keep it and consider it a $10 mp3 player.

Alas my old Magnavox decided to die day before I got the Samsung. So just have the no name player that works when its in mood to watch movies on tv. Can still watch on computer but not thrilled to do so sitting in desk chair. Really dont want to buy another dvd player. Guess wait until no name player bites dust once and for all so at least I dont have players stacked on players.

I did try plugging a usb computer dvdrom into the Samsung. No dice. Apparently they have it setup where only files on FAT filesystem show via the usb port. No reason they would have it to recognize usb cdrom/dvdrom since thats what Samsung dvd players intended function is in first place. The usb is an afterthought.

I could rip movie dvd and copy it in a supported format to usb hard drive but lot hassle to just watch movie.

Samsung doesnt play files in alphabetical order. Drove me nuts listening to The Hobbit. And I couldnt just rearrange them, no way to do it with the Samsung and on the computer it shows the files already in order. Need to rip bigger mp3 files even if it makes it more difficult to find my place if I pause.

The no name dvd player quit in middle of a movie. So much for it. Playing around on ebay and ended up buying a "works great but no remote" used player for $10 total shipped price. pain not having a remote to navigate dvd menu, but price is right if it lasts a couple years. I found some 3 digit codes for univeral remote for it, but even if they worked probably just to turn player on and off, from what i understand hard to get universal remote to do menus as thats a separate code. Pretty much only way to do it is with a learning universal remote that can copy and store code from the OEM remote. Well you have to HAVE the OEM remote for this to be possible. There are buisinesses that sell OEM remotes but who in right mind buys a $30 remote for a $10 player?

Really if electronics have a menu system or settings file, should be way to bring it up and navigate it from buttons on the equipment without any remote. That costs more I suppose. Gotta save every last nickel unless retail buyers demand it. Second or third owner down line doesnt matter. Making a product last a long time is not cost effective, just want it to last long enough the original retail buyer doesnt get upset.

Got the $10 dvd player. Its an older one, mfg 2003. Seller put one thin layer bubble wrap and then some brown paper. The pkg rattled as I brought it up like something broken and loose inside.

Plugged it in. Amazingly despite the dents and rattle inside, it worked. Whoever lost the remote had left it set to play subtitles. No way to turn that option off without a factory remote. Oh well doubt it lasts too long so not going to worry about it.

Well $10 player still working. Annoying not being able to navigate dvd menus.

The Samsung works flawlessly as a mp3 player. Only thing I can complain is you cant pause it when playing from usb and have it resume where it left off, it starts all over.