Pandemonium's Full Review: Microsoft DVD Movie Playback Kit for Xbox
When I first purchased the DVD package for the Xbox it was because I didn't have a DVD player hooked up to the TV where I was going to set the system up. I figured, it was not a bad deal for $39.99 (what I payed for it a few years ago) for a DVD player, and a stereo all in one. I didn't have a newer TV, at the time, and still needed a VCR to hook the system up through in order to play on that particular TV. I was thinking I would basically get an entertainment system by just buying the Xbox having the VCR already. I was right, in the fact, that I got what I expected. I know had a TV with a stereo system, VCR, and DVD player just having the VCR and the Xbox hooked up. Just don't be fooled and think you will receive anymore than what you would expect if you purchase this. What you get is, a basic DVD player with the Xbox system and a very basic DVD remote.
The Remote The remote is black, made of light plastic, and is very light weight. Surprisingly, it is more durably than what it feels like it would be. The remote is slightly curved and fits nicely in your hand with all of the colors of the buttons matching the colors of other Xbox accessories. It has all of the basic buttons that you would expect to find on a DVD remote. The display button is a large green button located at the top, which when pressed, brings up a small bar will be displayed at the top of the screen allowing you to use the subtitles and language often of the DVD. You can also see how long the movie has been playing. The play button is directly beneath the display button in white, with the reverse and foreword buttons (also in white) to the left and right of it. Beneath these buttons are your stop, pause, and skip ahead and foreword buttons. The skip buttons will allow you to skip foreword or back chapter by chapter. The only other buttons that are in greed are your select button and the arrow buttons to navigate through the menu screens. The remote also comes with number keys so you can quickly jump from scene to scene if you want. Everything you would expect to find on a basic DVD remote is here. You won't have any advance options such as being able to fast foreword or rewind by a certain speed (x2, x4, x16, x32, etc...), or eject the DVD from the remote. Still, you get all the options needed to play and enjoy your DVD's.
The remote uses 2 AAA batteries that are not included. The back just slides off and does not require a screwdriver to exchange batteries. I have never had any problems with the back sliding off unwanted as it clicks into position. The remote gets average use around the house, mostly for the DVD player at night to watch DVD's. I can't remember ever having to exchange the batteries as I'm pretty sure the batteries that are in the remote now are the original ones put in when I purchased it. Still, I feel that I have got my moneys worth for this unit in my opinion. I was not very happy when I was forced to pay, at that time, quite a bit of money extra to even have the DVD playback option for my Xbox. Still, it was not a bad price to pay in order to have an extra DVD player in the house. Also, the remote works with the CD playback feature of the system as well. So, you don't have to use a controller when working the menus finding and choosing your music. You can be in a different part of the room and use the remote from a fairly good distance away.
The remote also comes with an eye unit to pick up the remotes signal. This is just plugged into any of the controller slots you choose. Just plug the eye unit into a controller slot, put batteries into the remote, place a DVD into your Xbox, and you are ready to go.
Quality The picture quality of your DVD's is not bad at all either. As I have stated before, there is nothing about this "kit" that stands really stands out or is spectacular in anyway. However, there is also nothing that you probably would complain about either. All of my movies played well with good quality and I never had any complaints.
*Quick Warning* I only experienced one problem with this and it really had noting to with the Kit itself. Sometimes hooking up a DVD player, through a VCR into an older TV, the DVD's will think you are trying to copy them onto a VCR tape. This is the same with the Microsoft Playback Kit as well. I had an older TV in my bedroom (where I keep the Xbox system) and had to hook it up through a VCR. There were no problems and the DVD's played fine. My VCR eventually went out on me and when i switched to a different VCR is when I experienced this problem. It was an older VCR, like the TV, and the DVD's thought I was trying to copy them onto a VCR tape. The picture would fade in and out from light to dark the whole time a movie was playing. Again, this is true even for a regular DVD player sometimes depending on the VCR being used. If you have no problem hooking your Xbox system straight into your TV this will never happen.
Conclusion The Microsoft DVD Playback Kit is worth the purchase if you really have a use for it. If you have a TV in your house that you would like to have a DVD player hooked up to it, and not wanting to spend a lot of money for one, then this is a great alternative. It gives you more of an option where you can move the Xbox system or your other DVD players you may have in your home. When I purchased the setup I thought it was pretty pricey at $39.99. However, you can get the "playback kit" for a much cheaper price now. The bottom line is, if you have a need for a DVD player, and don't want to spend a lot of money for a player, then you can just purchase a this playback kit for your Xbox system instead. I have had mine for a few years now and have never had any problems with the DVD feature or the remote. I would give this remote 3 1/2 stars if I could.
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