EXP Computer DVD-780 Portable DVD Player with PC Card for Notebook PC

Product Description

Using the 32bit Cardbus high-speed PC Card technology, the DVD-780 was developed to bring the power and flexibility of DVD technology to notebook PCs. The DVD-780 provides a 2x-max data transfer rate of 2, 700KB/sec for DVD content and 2, 400KB/sec for CD-ROM content. The DVD-780 provides compatibility with all current DVD media and CD-ROM media, including CD-R and CD-RW.Benefits: using the latest 32bit Cardbus technology, double the performance of the 16bit PCMCIA's, small form factor, no external power required for PC Card interface, bundled software MPEG2 decoder for DVD movie playing, CD-R and CD-RW compatible, reads up to 17GB DVD disc, 2x-max data transfer, 180ms Avg random access.

Amazon.com Review

If you own a notebook with a CD-ROM drive and are trying to upgrade to a DVD-ROM drive, you may be shocked at the upgrade prices offered by the dealer. We suggest looking into a third-party alternative such as the EXP DVD-789 external PC card DVD drive. However, make sure you're packing a notebook with a powerful processor and/or the specific Texas Instruments-based CardBus PCMCIA controller recommended in the manual if you want maximum performance.

The EXP DVD-780 is a very lightweight, portable DVD drive built with 32-bit Cardbus PC Card technology. It is fully plug-and-play-compatible with both Windows 95 and 98 and even installs easily to notebooks with Windows NT 4.0. Installation is simple--just plug the PCMCIA card into the adapter, load the drivers (which come on a single floppy), and use the drive. The DVD-780 is compatible with all current DVD media and CD-ROM media, including CD-R and CD-RW.

While the DVD-780 advertises a 2x maximum data-transfer rate of 2,700 KB per second (2.6 MB per second) for DVD content, our tests produced a more sobering DVD speed of 1,530 KB per second (1.5 MB per second) with a top-end speed of only 1.2x. For CD-ROM content, we also found the real-world performance of the DVD-780 to be less impressive than the promised 2,400 KB per second (2.3 MB per second): we were only able to achieve a maximum throughput of 1,663 KB per second (1.6 MB per second) for CD-ROM speed, which is a data-transfer rate of only 11.5x compared to the advertised 16x.

We were never able to reach the full speed of the drive, and we think it's because the two new notebooks we tested it with did not use the recommended TI PCI CardBus controller. (The manual specifically states that the TI PCI-1221 does not have DMA support.) However, we also tested the EXP DVD-780 drive on two other laptops, both of which contained a common 32-bit PCI system bus-architecture based on the Intel 440BX chipset, and we came away with the same benchmark scores noted above.

The DVD-780's kit includes a complete version of CyberLink PowerDVD 1.5, which is excellent DVD decoding software. PowerDVD supports letterbox mode for 16:9 widescreen titles (which have black stripes at the top and the bottom of the display window) and offers menu selections for title, root, subpicture, PTT, and audio menus. PowerDVD also supports multiple languages and up to nine multiple angles and offers parental level control. We recommend installing the free upgrade of PowerDVD 2.0 via CyberLink's Web site.

In addition, the kit comes with an external power supply, although you don't need it to operate the DVD player. We found the power supplied via the PC card slot to be more than adequate to use the drive or even watch movies. Keep in mind, though, that powering the drive via the PC Card slot will drain the notebook batteries faster, which may make it impossible to watch a full movie.

The picture quality of the EXP DVD-780 is sharp, with bright colors. In our tests, the DVD player displayed a few artifacts (pixelation and dithering in the playback that make the compression algorithms readily apparent), but we only noticed them when we looked very closely. The only major problem we experienced was occasional slowness and dropped frames, which we attributed to the fact that the drive was not operating at the rated 2x speed. In addition, the drive is somewhat noisy when reading discs, but this sound is easily drowned out when watching movies.

We believe that this drive most likely performs up to spec, but only if you own the prerequisite Texas Instruments CardBus controller. Otherwise, you may want to look for a portable, external DVD drive.

Pros:

Easy installation
Excellent DVD movie playback quality
Lightweight and portable
Includes external power supply (not required for use)

Cons:

Actual DVD speed is half the advertised speed
Slow DVD movie playback with dropped frames
Noisy drive

Amazon.com Product Description

Using the 32-bit Cardbus high-speed PC card technology, the DVD-780 was developed to bring the power and flexibility of DVD technology to notebook PCs. The DVD-780 provides a 2x maximum data transfer rate of 2,700 KBps for DVD content and 2,400 KBps for CD-ROM content. The DVD-780 provides compatibility with all current DVD media and CD-ROM media, including CD-R and CD-RW.

Customer Reviews:

Poor performance, rude tech support.......2004-06-15

This device never performed adequately on the laptop I originally bought it for, a Pentium MMX166 with Zoomed Video, 96 MB RAM, and running Windows 95. This was within the requirements, but only just. Still, it performed VERY poorly (probably showed about 2-3 FPS, at best).

I bought a much newer laptop, a Pentium III 500 MhZ with 320 MB RAM and 4 GB VRAM: way, way above the requirements. Worked marginally in Windows 2000, but XP did not like the driver when I updated. Tried several different drivers off their confusing download page, no luck.

So I call their tech support. The guy starts spitballing stuff at me ('try this driver', 'try that driver'), clearly at random. I had turned off AutoPlay, which I've heard can cause problems, and turned off digital audio. These had both improved the play of DVD's, but not much. He never even mentioned these steps. I politely asked for the issue to be escalated, he began screaming at me, inexplicably accusing me of demanding a new driver (which I never did, though it's not a bad idea), and hung up in my face. I called back, got the same guy, he again began screaming at me, told me there wsa no one but him working at EXP, called me a fool, and hung up on me.

So, if you enjoy being screamed at, lied to, abused, and personally insulted, you can hang around with my ex-fiancee, or you can buy a product from EXP. Both are about equally painful.

BIGGEST PIECE OF GARBAGE.......2000-10-05

This slow, loud, very tempermental portable dvd player is not worth the aggrevation of purchasing it. The box it came in was more usefull to me than the DVD player. It is slow and was dropped once from a bed to the floor and then refused to work which was ok with me cause when it did actually work it was sluggish and had a mind of its own, if it liked a particular sceen in a movie it would play it over and over again or just freeze up or the sound would not be in sync with the movie, like watching the old chinese karate movies. I finaly ate my losses and threw it across the room. My advice take the [money] and buy something nice for your special someone, not on this piece of crap.

Took a Chance and its Better than I've Thought!.......2000-04-17

This portable DVD player is very light weight and easy totransport. The installation was flawless. This DVD player performanceis awesome. I've tried other well-known brands, but this one have a better price and better performance in video and audio.

Recommendation: Strong Buy END

Product Description

Panasonic's vision of the digital future is driven by the needs and aspirations of its business customers and millions of consumers around the world who use Panasonic's products every day. The company shares their dream to live a fuller life by providing ways of working smarter and enjoying the rewards of technological advances.The RP-HT215 headphones feature travel-fold design.

Customer Reviews:

SURROUND SOUND THAT ONLY YOU CAN HEAR"WOW".......2002-10-23

DEFINITELY A QUALITY SET OF HEADPHONES.THE RP-HT215 IS MADE FOR COMFORT AND GREAT SOUND.I'M A MUSIC PRODUCER AND I'VE TRIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT PAIRS OF HEADPHONES AND WAS NEVER SATISFIED
UNTIL I BOUGHT THE RP-HT215. THE SOUND PERFOMANCE OF MY ARTISTS
HAS IMPROVED TREMENDOUSLY. IT MAKES RECORDING AS SIMPLE AS 123.
MY FIRST RESPONSE TO THE RP-HT215 WAS "OH YEAH... THESE FEEL
GOOD".MY SECOND RESPONSE WAS WHEN I TURNED THE SOUND TO JUST 10
KNOTS AND ADDED A LITTLE TREBLE AND BASS "WHOA....THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.I HAVE [EXPENSIVE] PAIRS OF HEADPHONES IN THE CLOSET WITH DUST ON THEM,AND MY PANASONIC RP-HT215's STAY ON MY HEAD.

Average customer rating:
NEC Transparent Dual Layer 16X DVD±R/RW USB 2.0 External Burner Drive

Manufacturer: NEC
ProductGroup: CE

USB Drives | DVD±RW | DVD Recordable Drives | Drives & Storage | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
Product Features:

DVD [write]: -R[16X], -RW[6X], +R[16X], +RW[8X], +DL[8X], -DL[6X]

DVD [read]: [16X] CD [read]: [48X] CD [write]: -R[48X], -RW[32X]

USB2.0 Hi-Speed (480-Mbps) or USB1.1 Full-Speed (12-Mbps)

100V - 240V / 50Hz - 60Hz / Worldwide Auto-Switching

Plug-n-Play with Windows 98SE, 2000, XP and MAC OS

ASIN: B000ASKQO2

Product Description

The TRANSPARENT NEC DUAL LAYER ND-3540A 16X DVD Burner gives users the freedom to choose which rewritable DVD format they would like to use. It is among the first drives to incorporate Dual Layer Technology, providing up to 8.5GB of storage per disc. This allows the duplication of your store-bought DVDs without the use of compression or removal of extras. On top of this, it also leaves an easy choice between DVD-R/RW or DVD+R/RW to author films for your home cinema, record music, store images, or even transfer data. With its 16X speed, the NEC ND-3540A is the fastest DL DVD recorder currently available on the market. The drive's backward compatibility to CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-R/CD-RW technology, use of low cost media, and effortless transition from DL Media to SL Media make this the ideal product! Do you have a laptop and need a portable solution? Are you an IT Professional who needs to cut costs instead of wasting thousands of dollars on multiple drives? This drive may be the solution you've been looking for. Indeed, it is even compatible with the older USB1.1 specification, allowing for maximum portability and compatibility.

Average customer rating:
NEC-Mitsubishi MultiSync FE772-BK 17" CRT Monitor (Black)

Manufacturer: NEC-Mitsubishi
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

All Monitors | Monitors & Projectors | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
17-Inch | CRT | Monitors & Projectors | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
Product Features:

Energy Star? 4.0 compliancy conserves electricity and reduces expenses

Display?Panel: 17" (16" Viewable)

Resolution: 1280 x 1024 Maximum

ClearFlat? CRT delivers a more enjoyable visual experience and eliminates distractions

Environments: PC and Mac Compatible

ASIN: B00081AL2I

Product Description

Make a bright investment in performance and value with the 17" (16" viewable) NEC MultiSync FE772, a flat-screen CRT monitor boasting superior image quality and minimized glare. This model's cabinet features a user-friendly design and low power consumption.

NEC-Mitsubishi MultiSync FE772 17" CRT Monitor (White)

Average customer rating:

NEC-Mitsubishi MultiSync FE772 17" CRT Monitor (White)

Manufacturer: NEC-Mitsubishi
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Office Electronics | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Product Features:

1,024 x 768 maximum resolution at 85 Hz
0.25 mm dot pitch
16-inch viewable image size
ClearFlat CRT for reduced distortion and glare
PC and Mac compatible; 3-year warranty

ASIN: B00081AL1Y

Product Description

Product Description

Whether in homes, factories, offices, airports, or on the street, it's hard to imagine a place where Philips is absent. What Philips wants is to make your life and work easier - and more fun! And Philips continuously explores new ways to improve products and to offer innovative products to its consumers. Philips. "Let's Make Things Better".PRODUCT FEATURES: 25" Remote Color Table Model; 21-button total remote; Auto programming; Alternate channel; Closed Caption; Sleep timer; Trilingual onscreen display; Onscreen volume bar.

Product Description

For users who need superior image quality in a small space, the MultiSync LCD Series monitors deliver bright, sharp screen performance in a slim, lightweight package and offer revolutionary flexibility to meet the needs of every user. Now available with Portrait/Landscape capabilities and XtraView wide-viewing angle technology, these monitors maximize your usage options.The MultiSync LCD2010X monitor bridges the gap between digital and analog by providing for both digital and analog input compatibility right out of the box, off a single connector! It also allows complete flexibility to put you in control of your LCD display with portrait/landscape capabilities and incorporates NEC exclusive XtraView technology, which lets multiple users view images in either orientation without having to sit directly in front of the display.

Amazon.com Product Description

The MultiSync LCD 2010X is an innovative monitor that marries two great technologies. With Ambix technology, this monitor accepts both digital and analog inputs, so you can use an analog video card or a qualified digital card to complement the monitor's performance--straight out of the box, with just one connector. Plus, with NEC's exclusive XtraView technology, the 2010X lets multiple users view images from a variety of angles. Both horizontal and vertical viewing angles are a wide 170 degrees.

The 2010X has a 20.1-inch viewable area with 1,024 x 768 maximum resolution at 60 Hz and 0.31-millimeter dot pitch. The result is a crisp image and brilliant color. It also offers portrait and landscape viewing and features a removable base, so you can mount it to a wall horizontally or vertically via a 100-by-100-millimeter mounting hole.

The 2010X is compatible with both PC and Macintosh. It is 19.6 inches wide, 19.7 inches high, and 9.7 inches deep and weighs 24.3 pounds. It comes with a three-year warranty on parts and labor and has earned the EPA Energy Star for power management. --Linda Anderson

Customer Reviews:

Stop Suffering with an Inadequate Monitor.......2001-02-13

I have always had large screens, starting with black/white models in the early 1980s. For the past several years, I have used a 21" color CRT. I've wanted a large (20"+) LCD monitor for a long time. My search revealed that only NEC offers them right now.

The NEC LCD 2010X monitor is flatter and, I think, has richer colors than the CRT. It is lighter, does not emit UV rays, does not glare and does not refresh (flicker). Most important, it takes up a lot less space on the desk. I run it at 1280 x 1024 and can get two nearly-full pages on the screen side by side. On the other hand, at this resolution, the LCD screen seems slightly grainier than the CRT monitor.

The panel can be easily rotated or raised/lowered 3". The screen measures a full 20.1" diagonally. It appears the 2010X is the latest model; it came out about November 2000. As advertised, the screen may be viewed from the side. It is legible at 85 degrees and readable at about 60.

Stop suffering with inadequately small screens. Professionals need the best tools. The NEC 2010X is the best.

As a publisher and an author of 113 books (including revisions and foreign-language editions) and over 500 magazine articles, I spend my entire day in front of a monitor. I want the best. I recommend this monitor to anyone who spends a lot of time staring at a screen. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com.

Product Description

DVD-1 Portable DVD Case is constructed from durable, water resistant PVC fabric and designed to accomodate 9" DVD player. It holds up to 12 DVDs in soft, secure slots with protective flap and features detachable, adjustable padded shoulder strap. Other compartments allow additional storage of boxed DVDs and accessories.

Average customer rating:
Micronet Platinum XL - Hard drive - 600 GB - external - FireWire / FireWire 800 - 7200 rpm - buffer: 16 MB

Manufacturer: Micronet
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Hard Drives | Drives & Storage | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics | External Hard Drives | Internal Hard Drives | Micro Drives
ASIN: B000BMSYOG

Product Description

MicroNet's Platinum XL Hard Drive is the latest storage innovation offering double the capacity of existing hard drives in a compact, heat dissipating aluminum enclosure. MicroNet Platinum XL hard drive is equipped with a fast, Hot-Pluggable FireWire 800 interface and can sustain transfer rates twice as fast as previous generation FireWire 400 drives. This drive offers ease of use with no software installation for Windows XP and MacOS X users - just plug it in and you're up and running.Compatible with Mac and PC platforms, this drive features two FireWire 800 ports and cabling for FireWire 400 and 800 interfaces. The blazing FireWire 800 speed makes this drive ideal for audio and video as well as digital imaging and back-up applications.

Amazon.com Product Description

The compact Meade Travel View binocular sports a powerful 8x magnification for practically any observational purpose. It has a soft, rubberized cover for a firm grip and a central focusing system. Also included is a soft nylon carrying case and neck strap.

Meade Travel View 8x25 Compact Porro Prism Binocular

Average customer rating:

Meade Travel View 8x25 Compact Porro Prism Binocular

Manufacturer: Travel View
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

Binoculars | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics
Product Features:

Compact and light for travel anywhere
Multicoated lens
Center focusing system
8x magnification, 25mm lens diameter
Includes carrying case and neck strap

ASIN: B00008IOVQ

Product Description

SwitchMan is the only KVM switch that combines advanced, professional-grade technology with an easy-to-use design that fits naturally on your desk. Color-coded connectors and premium, ultra-thin coax cables make installation easy. SwitchMan includes the same bulletproof reliability as Raritan's professional-grade products that are used in mission-critical server environments worldwide. Raritan's unique emulation technology dedicates an individual processor to each port, so every PC continuously sees its own keyboard and mouse, eliminating keyboard lock-ups. No matter how you use SwitchMan, you'll enjoy smooth, flawless booting, switching, and operation.Connect your PS/2 and AT PCs to SwitchMan using male-to-male KVM cables, or use Raritan's premium, ultra-thin coax, tangle-proof KVM cables for the highest quality video. Your standard PS/2 keyboard, PS/2 mouse, and VGA monitor plug right into the back. There is no software to load or dip-switches to set. Standard features such as individual push-buttons with LED indicators, hot-key, and AutoScan functionality make operation simple and convenient.This product is a 2 port SwitchMan for FUJI KVM application.

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics