Great X-Pectations (DVD Region X)

Member Name: utero

Product:	DVD Region X
Date:	15/03/02 (999 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy To Use, Gives You A Lot More Choice

Disadvantages: At £19.99 It Ain't Cheap

Those who have read my opinions on this site may have gathered that I'm a bit of a dvd freak and like my movies. In the past year the DVD format has really taken off purely because the format has been utilized by stand-alone players, PC's and games consoles. Now the format is easily accessible and at a reasonable price. Of course any real DVD fan will know that by limiting yourself to the Region 2 you really are selling yourself short.

Films get released in other regions earlier thn the UK. For example if you 'had' been dying to see Sly Stallone's take on Get Carter then you'd still be waiting on a UK release while our american cousins have had the film on DVD for the best part of a year now. Or maybe you're one of the few who'd love to see the Kevin Costner howler 3000 Miles To Graceland? Multi-region compatibility allows us to see films that may not ever hit UK shores or may be difficult to track down at your local video shop.

The UK Playstation 2 console is Region 2 compatible, stick a disc from another region in there and it will politely tell you where to go. Thankfully it wasn't long before the third party 'unofficial' manufacturers found a way around the region coding problem. Region X is a disc you can freely buy in the shops, it retails for £19.99 and turns your player into a multi-region dvd player with ease.

All you have to do is pop the disc into your console, wait for it to load and will simply ask you what region you wish to play. Select you region and put in your movie and moments later you have your movie playing. It really is that simple.

All the software needs is the use of a memory card to enable it to write a temporary file. The downside to Region X is that it is a pain to keep changing the disc every time but we all have to make comprimises to get what we want.

Now £19.99 plus the cost of a memory card isn't exactly cheap but if you be quick you could s
ave yourself some money. Keep reading to find out how!

My dvd collection is full of discs from other regions and one of the disadvantages of this is that my brother keeps wanting to borrow discs to play on his PS2. "Sorry little brother" I say. The young boy can't afford to shell out £19.99 so what can I do, buy him with my cash?......yeah right!

This month's copy of PSi2 magazine is giving Region X away free on the front cover, all you pay is £3.99 for the magazine. At first I was skeptical like many that such an offer could be legit. But thankfully it is, Region 1/4 discs play with no real problems and it seems to do the job with no problems. It's more at Sony's end where the problems lie.

You see Sony only give you a composite scart cable with the PS2. This means that NTSC discs will probably only play in Black and White through an NTSC compatible television. So then you have to shell out for another cable. But they don't break the bank so it's no big deal.

Oh did I also mention that Region X seems to get rid of that 'green screen' effect when playing dvd's?

So act now if you have a PS2 console, I believe the magazine is selling out fast but I have found copies in the likes of WH Smiths and HMV. For £3.99 it's an absolute steal.

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