 
by Maurice Lewis
Well, you've got a television. Congratulations, that's great, now you can be forced to watch "Ally McBeal" or "Party of Five," by your girlfriend. I think you see what I am getting at. A television by itself is as naked as chips without salsa. You now are ready to move into the next round and get yourself a means to watch movies on your set. This section will give you a broad overview of VCRs and DVD players before getting more into the specifics.
The DVD player is the greatest invention since the advent of those cup-holders at the local multiplex movie theater. I firmly believe that any home-theater system is incomplete without one (a DVD player, that is). It is no longer a boutique product available only to those with extra bucks. A DVD player is as affordable as a VCR and infinitely more entertaining. And the best thing about DVDs is they allow you to really take advantage of the benefits of a home-theater sound system.
DVD to most stands for Digital Video Disc, but to those more in the know, it is now a Digital Versatile Disc, since its capabilities extend past video. Of course, a DVD is a purely digital format, unlike all other video options, including laserdisc (whose picture is analog, while the sound is digital). A DVD is an MPEG2 compressed and placed on a single disc the same size as a standard music CD. The end result is the sharpest possible visual and audio experience you can get at home.
All DVDs come with Dolby Digital Sound, although the formats can range from mono to stereo to 5.1 Surround sound. Confused? It will make sense as you proceed, don't worry. Just know for now that a DVD has the highest quality sound you can get for movies and have the capability to really take advantage of your stereo system.
Another spectacular feature of DVDs is that they can include much more information than just the film. Alternate audio tracks often allow you to view the film in different languages or with commentary by the director. Subtitles are usually available in multiple languages as well. Certain enhanced discs allow you to view scenes from more than one angle. Many movies come with extras such as behind-the-scenes documentaries, info on the cast and crew, the original trailers of the movie, and so forth. And of course, you can jump ahead to any chapter in the film. There are often even more features, but that should be enough to whet your appetite. Therefore, when you buy a DVD, you are getting much much more than a movie. Not to mention the fact that you usually can play normal CDs on your DVD player!
While many movies are not available in DVD today, more and more are being released daily, and now you can rent them as easily as a VHS tape. And best of all, they are incredibly affordable (especially online), so you can own brand new movies on DVD long before they are priced for sale on VHS.
Now, I haven't addressed the specifics of the DVD player versus the laserdisc player. This is a heated debate among home theater enthusiasts, one which I will not get into. Realistically, however, it simply looks like laserdics are dying out while DVD is the wave of the future, so why live in the past? We have set up a message board discussion for those who wish to debate the pros and cons of the DVD versus the laserdisc.
You might think, well, if DVDs are so great, why would even need a VCR anymore? Well, unfortunately there's one thing DVDs cannot do at this point: they cannot record. So, if you ever want to get those "Sopranos" episodes on tape or record the big game while you're at a wedding, then you'll still want a VCR.
The good news is VCRs are more affordable than ever, and you can buy a perfectly good one for a very reasonable price. My advice is skip the high-priced VCRs, and get a basic model. Save your money for the DVD player, since that's where the future lies and where you will get the most enjoyment out of your system.
Now, that is a basic overview, but next up are some important things you will want to keep in mind as you are buying your VCR or DVD. |
