Re: FUNAI CLUB

i just got back from wal-mart, and from the looks of things, many people joined the funai club today.

OK - Success! I'm now a member of the Funai Club, for my bedroom. Things didn't go exactly as planned though. After seeing ads this week, my brother backed out at the last minute saying he'd rather buy some clothing (JC Penny's etc), and would pick up a Panny player later, since their price is heading down. Yes, he's one of those people happy with SD-DVD, but was becoming interested in BD because of my influence (of course), although he would only be a renter primarily (since he has never purchased a BD disc).

Well, after a few days straight of little sleep myself, and then a bid dinner and the UT blowout over A&M last night, I had spent some time on the computer, and was just was so tired I had to lay down and rest... and rest... and didn't wake up until a little after 9:00. So, I then got ready and arrived at Wal-mart by 10:00 and they still had a stack of the Maganvox BD players unsold - at least a dozen on display (and maybe more in the back?). So it was no problem buying the player.

Wal-mart wanted to sell me a $10 1-year added warranty, but I passed (they said you have 90 days to make a decision). I figured that if the player worked fine for a few months, then it'll be OK from then on hopefully. Eddie, you think I should pay that extra $10 for just a year? I didn't think it was worth it.

So, now I have the player (unopened), after doing some further errands. I plan to hook it up tomorrow and check out the quality - will put on both of the Fantastic Four movies, Ratatouille (I LOVE THIS FILM!!), and other titles that were a challenge for the PS3 last year, until a firmware update.

So Eddie, while my brother passed today, I now own the Maganox (Funai) player for my bedroom (will be hooked into my 3-year old 32" Sharp 768p LCD at 1080i output), along with my main BD player (PS3 in another room).

-JOE- (Love Hendrix!)

joe,

there's no need to buy the $10 warranty. these machines are more reliable than old faithful.

i've upgraded you to full member in the first post. (Y)

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[Post edited by posters5 on Nov 28, 2008 - CST 11:42 AM]

So tonight I also joined the Funai Club.

Was at best buy, was looking at the new 2.0 Insignia player, which also decodes True HD etc. sound internally, it was $250 and almost walked out with it.

Then as I was walking around the corner, saw the last 1.1 Insignia they had in stock. Given the price difference, going with the 1.1 was a no brainer! And I personally am fine without BDLive capabilities, so long as I have my PIP. Have been red only for 3/4 of a year, and never found myself using the online features of my A3.

Start up time and loading of Kung Fu Panda ($15 @ Wal-Mart, looks amazing) was about what I expected as well. Couldn't be happier.

Now I just hope the player lives up to the dependability of my A3. From the sound of what I've been hearing here it should.

Only gripe is the units footprint, was looking at the new Panny, and boy was that sucker thin and small... but not enough to justify the extra 80 dollars.

And to think when I first got my HD-DVD player I said I would never go blu (or "purple")

welcome!

given the two options, i'd say that you made the better choice. the new insignia looks like a samsung clone, and samsungs have been the worst-performing blu-ray players on the market. also, it does not have an energy star seal--meaning, it's energy-hungry and not eco-friendly.

btw, it's a good thing for a machine with moving parts to be wide and hefty. that way, it's stable and less prone to jittering when the disc is spinning. i once had a really slim dvd player that was noisy as heck b/c you could hear the dvd being spun.

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[Post edited by posters5 on Nov 30, 2008 - CST 2:26 AM]

And Posters5 has no stocks/shares in Funai...I think. :p

BTW, here in Toronto my friend was at Walmart and saw the other Funai clone (Magnavox I think?) for $199. My friend was scared of it because of the Magnavox name but I told him to wait until Boxing day as it will probably be down to $150 and I may just pick one up also.

actually, falcon, i've never bought a single share of stock in my life--and a good thing, too! (Y)

it looks like wal-mart cleared out its stock of magnavox-branded funais and is now selling the same sylvania model being sold by amazon and blockbuster.

Quote:
btw, it's a good thing for a machine with moving parts to be wide and hefty. that way, it's stable and less prone to jittering when the disc is spinning. i once had a really slim dvd player that was noisy as heck b/c you could hear the dvd being spun.

that is why John still loves his big truck ! Oh I mean Toshiba HD-A1 player.

eddie,
does the FUNAI clone bitstream True HD and DTS-MA?