Rating: 
Summary: Very Nice System
Review: I bought this system today and I am very impressed with what I got for under $200. The picture quality and sound are amazing. I tested out my only 2 DVDs (Jaws and The Sixth Sense) and they run great. So if you want a good, but affordable machine, buy this one now!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Player, Terrible Remote Control
Review: I bought this unit after I had a problem with some other brands while trying to play foreign language (specifically Indian) DVDs. This unit had no problems playing all of the 'problem' DVDs. I do not like the remote control though. It needs too many keystrokes to access most of the features, and you have to coordinate between pressing different keys on the remote and looking at the on screen display to see where it is in the menu system. I also like the 'upgradeable' feature, where the firmware can be updated onsite by running a special CD from Phillips. I have not tried it yet. However, overall a great unit. I would buy it again, if I had to.
Rating:
Summary: Technology is Upgradeable
Review: I don't have a need for a very expensive DVD player right now. To be honest, I don't think the performance features are worth the price jump. I own some pretty serious audiophile equipment; however, I don't have a high-definition TV, so I can't comment on digital imagery. I've purchased many DVD cheapo units before, and to be honest, linear branching seems to be the most problematic trouble symptom for many players. Philips didn't necessarily outshine the competition, but it is a much more solid performer in general. You get tiny pauses between linear branches (dual layer switches), which are hardly noticeable and compared to the other DVD players that require firmware upgrades to fix the lockups, the Philips is champion. I owned the GE 1105P and 1106P and they were nightmares. They would skip over chapters and lock up, so I was very close to buying a very expensive unit. I happened upon the 711 and boy am I glad I did. It isn't that it is a flawless machine, but what a lot of people don't realize is that it is upgradeable. This means, that if it can't run a DVD (which I haven't noticed and I've played all of the trouble makers) or a technology like VCDs, Philips can mail you a disc to pop in the unit and it will flash the BIOS and fix the problem. This should be a standard feature in all DVD players. What I'm hoping for is for an upgrade that will allow this unit to become MP3 compatible. I don't know if they will, but it certainly is possible, notice "Feature Upgradeable" on the box. Even salesmen don't have a clue as to what that means. People who are complaining about the unit struggling with CD-R/W and VCDs, most likely have a legit concern, but the good news is that it can be fixed without having to ship it to Philips or having to take it to a repair shop. In the long run, being able to download a patch off the Internet, burn it to CD and pop it into your DVD player will be much more convenient than having to ship the unit out. It is a brand new product, and with most brand new products, there will be a few bugs, but in this case they can be user-patched which is a big plus. Philips doesn't have any Web site up for this unit yet, but I'll be thrilled when they do. The thought of being able to upgrade to a new technology, format, or being able to troubleshoot discs that won't play, far outweighs the minor performance issues. I'm basing my review on DVD performance and CD performance. I don't care if it can play VCDs or CD-R/W flawlessly, because most DVD players in this price range can't play CD-R/Ws and VCDs at all. Philips gave us a dual-laser setup, so playing CDs is just as fast as an ordinary CD player. Taking into consideration that you can get this unit for sub $200, it is a bargain. My opinion is is as follows: Who the heck buys a DVD player to play CD-R/Ws or VCDs in this price range anyway? It is just an extra bonus that it can play these formats as well as it does. Both of these issues could be addressed if people report it to Philips. Perhaps the person who said Philips responded by saying that these performance issues weren't problems, didn't give Philips a chance to explain why they weren't problems. All I can say, after dealing with Thomson Electronics (GE, RCA) products, is that Philips tech-support seemed real honest to me. Thomson Electronics wouldn't even admit that their players had performance issues. Philips seemed to acknowledge the possibility that future problems could arise. That's why this disc upgradeable DVD player is revolutionary. No problem is a problem when you can flash your own BIOS. Don't hesitate to at least check it out. You can spend $500 if you want, but think about what you really need. If you already have a CD-Player, you're not going to have any problems. If you do, call Philips for a patch or download one yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Cheap price for Great function
Review: I just bought this DVD player, it works perfect! i think this is really good DVD player for me, it can read DVD VCD, CDR, CDRW.. I like it because i got a lot of CDR and CDRW. Also, the price is very acceptable for every customer if you get it, you will know how good it is. This is my second DVD player, the first one is JVC. It didn't satisfied me, because that cannot read CDR & CDRW and ... Well, this one is very good, go get it!
Rating:
Summary: Great player for beginers
Review: I just bought this player last night and, besides needing a modulator for the back of my TV, had no problem setting the unit up and getting it running. From a majority of the reviews I read the DVD711AT, along with the DVD701AT, are two of the best models out there for people buying their first DVD player. I thought the sound and picture quality were both crisp and clear for several of the different movies I played and the movies took the same amount of time to load up as any other DVD player I've seen. It also played my CDs and CDRs with no problem and the sound was what I expected coming from a DVD player. To be honest though, I don't really understand why you would want to play audio CDs in a DVD player anyway. Seems to me that it would just be more wear and tear on the machine and let's face it, a DVD player is designed to play DVDs while a CD player is designed to play CDs. An audio disc is not the same as an audio/video disc. My only complaint, and this is nothing that can't be fixed wtih a small purchase, is the remote control. Just a little too basic. Besides that, I think this is a great machine for people buying their first DVD player who don't want all the hassels of various functions and accessories.
Rating:
Summary: Great Picture and Sound
Review: I purchased the DVD 711 despite a lack of information available. Even the Philips web site does not acknowledge its existence yet. The unit is light but sturdy. The picture is first rate with perfect still frames. I'm using the S-Video output (no cable provided) but it does include component video out if you can use it. Sound is awesome, although I am using only the Digital dolby stereo out to a receiver, not the available DTS. The unit has any features I can imagine wanting - 4X and 32X search forwards and reverse, 1/8x, 1/4x, and 1/2x slow motion, muti-angle, three level zoom (on still frames), and it reads CD-R/RW. No glitches through the first 3 discs. Unfortunately, the remote is small and relies too much on the on-screen display, adding multiple key strokes. Slo-mo can take 5 or 6 keys to get there. This is a small annoyance, and most commonly used functions are well laid out. There is a slight delay between pressing keys and a response, and I often find I need to press a second time very firmly to input. Considering the price though, this unit is a great bargain. It certainly is worth a look by anyone looking for a unit.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Bang For the Buck
Review: I purchased this as my first DVD player. I was glad to see that it could play DVD, CD, CDR/RW. Some of my friends have purchased similar DVD players, only to find out that it did not play CD-R/RW's. Also, This player was quickly and easily added to my existing entertainment center within a few minutes. I would have to say that the fact that the zoom pauses when you use it is a little annoying and the remote needs to be a little more user friendly. However, it is still a great DVD player to buy. The audio output was very nice and picture quality was also good. A great DVD player for the price!!!
Rating:
Summary: A Good Bang For the Buck
Review: I purchased this as my first DVD player. I was glad to see that it could play DVD, CD, CDR/RW. Some of my friends have purchased similar DVD players, only to find out that it did not play CD-R/RW's. Also, This player was quickly and easily added to my existing entertainment center within a few minutes. I would have to say that the fact that the zoom pauses when you use it is a little annoying and the remote needs to be a little more user friendly. However, it is still a great DVD player to buy. The audio output was very nice and picture quality was also good. A great DVD player for the price!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't expect it to last or for Philips to stand behind it!
Review: I read all the great reviews and I bought this DVD player for my fiancé last year for Christmas. We were moving and didn't even take it out of the box until March. We're busy people so I'd say we watch about 3 movies a month on it... If you're going to buy a Philips make sure to get the extended warranty or go with a good brand like Sony.
Rating:
Summary: Great image and sound
Review: I think this is is an excellent dvd player, once again Philips show its leadership in optical plataform. This DVD player has an incredible picture and the sound is amazing.
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