Where else to get this versatility @ under $100? Small footprint, Great for digital pictures and MP3.

The instruction book could be a little clearer as regards file manipulation.

Not being a DVD/TV fan, this one almost passed me by. When I saw the MP3 capability, and the relatively small footprint, and the remote control, it sounded pretty good, but the best part... and the one that I didn''t really believe was the part about playing JPEG''s. There aren''t too many cost effective ways of putting your Digital Video collection on a 30+ inch screen, and with no loss of clarity. Without getting into the nitty gritty, this player puts your pictures singly or into an enhanced slide show, with full screen resolution. Easy... no software... no hassle... and so automatic that you don''t even know how it happens. The player on screen menu shows enough of the titles of MP3''s and JPG''s to allow easy selection of tracks and albums(for MP3''s) and Picture titles for the JPEG''s. Has on-screen menu, which takes a little while to figure out (''specially when you don''t read the instructions). After you get it, it''s pretty easy. I was impressed with being able to control multilevel files that I have on my JPG disks. It does ZOOM too. In the advertising, it tells about using the "Kodak" format for Disks. As I make my own, I was concerned that maybe that meant I''d have to have Walgreens make the disk. NOT. As it turns out, doing a slide show on this player is easier than doing it on my computer. The remote handles everything for TV, FWD Back, Stills, Angles, etc., and also has the volume control, so no switching with the TV control. The connections to the TV are pretty easy, and the SVideo cable is a help for picture clarity. I''ve read other reviews complaining about disk noise, and cabinet quality. It''s not as good looking as my son''s Sony, but then his player doesn''t handle MP3''s, JPG''s, and a year ago, it cost him $250. For $75 this purchase made me a happy camper. In my book, this is a winner. It''s Cheap, and it Works.

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TView Gold.. for displaying Digital pictures on a TV Screen (much inferior in quality to the Apex)

Great value with a lot of features.

Sound quality in digital or DTS playback.

I actually purchased 4 of these as Christmas gifts, keeping one for myself. The player is a great value for all of the features listed on the box and seems to have a rather large "cult" following on the web, mainly because of it's flexibility to be hacked.
I have found that this player works well when using the analog sound mode, but has major playback problems when the output is switched to digital or DTS. The audio track will skip repeatedly and the video will pause for just a moment.
I am going to give this product just a few more days, but I'm afraid Wal-Mart is going to get all four back before the 30 day return period is up.

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Toshiba

It's Cheap!

It skips!

I bought this model because I wanted a DVD player, but didn't need anything too fancy, so for the price I thought I'd give it a try. It would skip about every few minutes. That night I returned it and got a different one, and it worked with relative success. However, in the next couple days, it began to perform just like the other one skipping quite frequently. Upon researching the player at Apex's website, I found that there were many reports of the same thing from this player.
After less than a week, I replaced it with a Mintek 2580 that I purchased from Best Buy for the same price. So far it has out performed the Apex, and it has component video output.
Overall, the word "value" has many definitions, and even though it's cheap, if it doesn't work, it' s not much of a value.

Reads everything! I mean everything.

Jack of all trades but expert in none.

For my purpose, this DVD player is awesome. I get quite a few privated DVDs (from Asia) and CW-R VCDs, and this sucker reads and plays everything I threw into it. If you've ever encountered those privated DVDs and VCDs, you know many DVD players can't read them. Not only does this bad boy plays them, it plays the ones no other DVD players could read (including my bro's Apex 500A). Amazing.

As far as skipping goes, I don't have a big problem with it. Then again, I don't watch too many original DVDs (heh). It skipped a couple times with "Matrix" but overall no constant skipping reported by other reviewers. I do notice when it does skip it's during those high special-effects scenes. But it only skips with original DVDs, never on privated ones (ha)!

For people who are frustrated with this system, they have to understand Apex is not for the average users. It's for guys like me, who gets stuff the average people don't get, or guys who like to open up the lid and physically "modify" the DVD parts. Yes, if you're familiar with computer hardware, you can acutally change the DVD ROM or other parts with Apex; it's much easier compare to other DVD players. There is hacks to enhance the functionality of the Apex (at least for the 600 models). But for the typical viewers who buys DVDs from Frys or rent them from Blockbusters, this player is simply too much Jacks and not enough Jill.

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Samsung, Sony.

Low cost with good features, light weight and small enough to stack. Easy to use.

doesn't have advanced features of other DVD players. Skiped once during DVD play. no LCD

I got this DVD on sale at walmart on the day after thanks giving. Played ok but it did skip once when watching Planet of the Apes. I'm going to hold on to it for a bit longer to see how it works before I decide to return it.

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Laptop with DVD and home computer with DVD.

Plays everything, including MP3, CD-R, CD-RW

Flimsy, noisy.

Fit and finish are just what you'd expect for a $95 DVD player. But who cares when it plays everything on disc, including MP3, VCD, CD-R, CD-RW, not to mention DVDs. I haven't had any problem with skipping, as mentioned in other reviews. Sound isn't awsome, but isn't bad.

When I first got it home it was DOA. Lights came on but it wasn't spinning. Popped the top and saw that the cable to the CD player was off. Put it back on and works like a charm.

While you're in there, go on the Web and get yourself a chip upgrade for $30 to make it region free and eliminate the Macrovision.

Can't lose for the price. Perfect backup DVD player or MP3 dedicated machine.

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Go-Video

Low Price

Won't play the first track on some factory original CD's!

I am terribly disappointed with APEX. I emailed their tech support about my problem with the first track on some CD's not playing (it starts on the second track!) and this is their reply "on some cd's that are enhanced the first track will not play". There was no attempt to apoligize or more importantly, offer any solution to the problem. I feel that this company is planning to carve their niche' in the electronics world by selling products at dirt cheap prices and then being satisfied to let their customers have problems using sub-standard equipment. Now, what has history shown us about the longevity of companies that don't take care of their customers? Please consider buying from another manufacturer. APEX may have the cheapest prices but, they also have the cheapest made products and seemingly have NO intentions of standing behind them. I have never in my life been so disappointed in any company!

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Sony

i have this dvd for a month now and i didnt have problems with it.i transformed my vhs tapes and i put the mpeg files on CD-R as VCDs;it plays them perfectly

doesn'y play MP3's when i use Maxwell CD-Rs

for this price is a great DVD;i,personally,recomend it for those who don't want great sound quality and want to buy a cheap DVD

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Sony,Panasonic

None. I never got the thing to work right.

Just recently, I made the effort to purchase a DVD, and not even 15 minutes into the movie did the thing quit. It still had power, but the display would indicate no disc. I guess it just wasn't reading the disc. I have it in a shop for an estimate, and am waiting to find out what is wrong with it. I'm curious to know if anyone is having the same problem as I. Please let me know.

Personnaly I feel it was weak. It was a door buster for the day after Thanksgiving sale at Best Buy, and they were going like cazy. I had done no research on the thing much less any DVD player. I just was't in the market for one. I figured if everyone was buying one, there had to be a reason for it, so I bought the darn thing. No extended warranty or nothing. Now I'm on the net wondering if there's been a recall or anything like that.

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First DVD purchased. We've always been fanatics of VHS.

Price, hackable

Noisey CD drive

The AD-500W is a great value. I bought mine for $100 at walmart and do not regret it. The picture quality is decent and it is packed with features like MP3/VCD playback. It is component size and fits in nicely with my other equipment. The firmware chip on this unit is replaceable (not soldered in) and you can get a chip on ebay that gets rid of macrovision and region setting problems. The only problem i've come across is the cd drive in the unit, which is very loud and sometimes vibrates. If you're in the market for a cheap player, this is the one to get.