Re: I hate DVDs

On Mon, 26 Dec 2005 03:03:34 -0600, oldgrouch2@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

>It used to be so nice. I'd buy a VHS tape, stick it in the player and
>watch the movie. These DVDs have taken all the enjoyment out of
>watching a movie. Maybe it's my extended age, but I think it's got a
>lot to do with these dvd machines more than my age. About 2 years ago
>I got a DVD player and had a hell of a time trying to get the damn
>thing to work. One has to be a scientist or take a 10 year course in
>electronics to run the goddamn things. I have always avoided using
>this dvd machine, because I know all it does is piss me off. About
>the only time it's been used since we got it, is when we have guests,
>and then I just tell them to run it.
>
>We just got what looks to be a good movie for Christmas. For the past
>3 hours I have been trying to get the son of a bitch to play.
>Everyone finally went to be when I started cussing and had to have a
>few drinks to calm down my nerves or the goddamn DVD machine was going
>out in the snow or the trash.
>
>First I had to get thru all those fucking menus. That means putting
>on my reading glasses 50 times to see those stupid little meaningless
>symbols on the remote that no older person can see, and no one knows
>what the hell they mean. What ever happened to WORDS, like PLAY,
>REWIND, FAST FORWARD, etc...
>
>I finally got the damn thing to play when I end up with a squished
>movie, The top and bottom of the screen are all black. OK, so I have
>to shut the machine on and off about 30 times to get to the part that
>reads "Display". I figured that must mean the number of pixels, like
>the "Display" setting on a computer. Instead, I now have a black and
>white image that keeps rolling on the screen and my remote does
>nothing, or if it does, I cant see it because it's rolling.
>
>After several strong drinks I thought I was relaxed enough to figure
>this piece of *** out. Nope. I only get that damn b&w rolling image
>now. Well, this is not the first time this thing intimidated me to
>the point of beating it with a sledge hammer, but it's the last time.
>I just threw it in a cardboard box, and took it out to the garage for
>the next time my wife has a garage sale. I really wanted to watch
>this new movie the kids got for us for Christmas, but I already know
>that once a mocie is opened, it can not be returned. I guess I will
>just have to buy my own copy of it on VHS. The kids can have the DVD,
>and I hope they understand and dont take it personally.
>
>No more DVDs for me. At my age, I dont need this stress. I told my
>wife when she insisted on buying this stupid DVD player that it was a
>mistake, but she had to have the goddamn thing. Of course I am
>supposed to run it, as she wont touch it. Well, it wont be coming
>back in this house, or I will take a hammer to it if I see it in here
>again. Whats the point? I have never noticed the big improvement in
>the picture quality that everyone said I would see. In fact I see no
>difference in the picture at all. It's just 1000 times harder to use
>them and they cost more, all for the convenience of not having to
>rewind them. I really dont know what the hell is wrong with our
>society and why they have to keep making things complicated and call
>it progress. That's NOT progress, that's assenine. It's made for
>kids that got nothing better to do than push buttons. Thank God we
>only have about 15 dvds, at least I wont have too many movies to
>replace, and all of these dvds go in the garage sale box, or the kids
>can have them.

Hey, Grouch.
I laughed so hard reading your post.
I came to a similar place, but I moved on. I will not give the DVD
player the benefit of me saying I moved forward, but I did finally
figure the damn thing out . . . well . . .sort of.

Check this out.
http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/specsformats/widescreenletterboxpanscan.php

Every DVD I get has some other creative (stupid) menu system. I wish
they would stop screwing around and standardize this in some way.

They also limit my ability to stop and start where I want, or maybe I
don't know how. I seem to be limited to certain places where I can
begin and end.

The say I get lots of extra stuff with DVDs. Woo F'n Hoo. I just
wanna watch movie and go get a beer or pee without missing anything.
Fred
.

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