minitek portable DVD player and HD deals

[Wasatch Rider]

OK, I searched both of these topics before posted and found nothing. If they've been mentioned before my apologies.

I just bought a Minitek Portable DVD player at Costco and to my amazement it will play unaltered ReplayTV file. The file must be recorded in medium qual. I just burn the .mpg file (as data) onto a DVD. My DVD player shows the files in a file tree, I just highlight and select and they play with no sync issues. I even edited the commercials out with Womble and it still worked. Whoopee no more lugging my mammoth laptop just to watch replay files on the road.

Comp USA has 250GB Maxtor drives on sale for $129.99. Seemed like a good bargain so I bought one. I don't think there is a limit because when I asked the salesperson for one he said "just one?"

[WannabeSQ]

Nice to know about the Minitek (or is it Mintek? I haven't heard of Minitek) How much is it?

They have had that HD deal on and off for those of us lucky ones who have a Frys nearby (I have like 5 Frys within reasonable driving distance that I frequent)

[biohacker95]

Could you give the model number of the Mintek Portable DVD Player that will play Replaytv files directly off a DVD. I can think of several Elmo's World show that someone in my house would like to watch in the car.

Thanks

[Wasatch Rider]

The model is a Mintek (not Minitek) MDP-1810. It has an 8" screen and sells at Costco for $279 and also comes with the usual Costco extras (carrying case, headsets remote control, cables,etc.). They also had a 7" and 10" model that seemed to have the same feature just different screen sizes.

So far I've found that it does slide shows of .jpg files, plays .mpg and .mp3 files no matter whether they are burned on DVD or CD media. Now I have to say that although it plays both the replay .mpg files I've tried it only played the medium quality one without errors. The standard was very herky jerky poppy snappy. I haven't tried it but I'm sure you ccould split up a file and burn it to multiple CDs and it should work.

[Mike Cornwell]

I think I saw the 7" model for ~ $199 @ Costco last week. I received one of these for Xmas from my boss last year, and returned it for the store credit (was $239 back then).

If I had known it woud play unmolested RTV files, I might have kept it!

[mhargr03]

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10047728&whse=&topnav=&cat=2471&hierPath=79*2471*

There's the 8" @ 279 online if anyone wants the specs :)

[Chris Gerhard]

Many, probably most of the Mintek, Initial, Cyberhome, Shinsonic, Shinco, and GoVideo inexpensive portable 7" and 8" DVD players are made by a Chinese company called Shinco. Although there seem to be many identical models between the various companies, some can play any region and many different disk formats and some can be hacked but they are inconsistent even between the very same model number as to what can be done and what can't be done with one. Probably chips are changed without model number changes, which is probably also identified in the owners manual as a possibility with that standard disclaimer regarding specification change without notice but who reads the manuals? Just because one can play something is no guarantee that the same model will also play that same something.

I like mine and they do a good job of playing DVD video, but I find you really can't trust them to do much else very well. Mine also sound very clunky when loading, like grinding a tooth with a belt sander. I have marked a couple of sites that provide information regarding what specific models might do but don't have that info on this computer. Although picture quality looks good on the built in screen, connecting one to a larger monitor doesn't provide a very good image. Overall, pretty amazing toy for under $300 for the 8" version and under $200 for the 7" version.

Chris

[majik]

How good is this player? I was looking into Mintek Portable DVD Players a while back and couldn't find any good reviews. The 3 or 4 reviews I came across stated that they broke down quick and the user simply returned them to the retail store.

[majik]

bump? :confused:

[wildman1037]

I went to Costco yesterday to check this out. Mintek now has a 10-inch model out (Model #MDP-1010). It's only $349 (compared to $249 for the 8-inch model). They had the 8" and 10" side-to-side and the 10" looked like it had a much better picture. It comes with everything the 8" does (i.e. a/v cables, 2 sets of headphones, car adapter, a/c adapter, carrying case, etc.).

I'm gonna take the plunge in a couple of weeks. I've been looking at reviews, and they seem like half the people love it and have no probs, while the other half have taken them back multiple times. Most of the latter seem like older posts though, so maybe they figured something out. Anyhow, with Costco's liberal return policy and the option for an extended warranty, I think this one's worth a try!!!

[Grimdeath]

I have the Mintek 1770; watch out for the round felt discs adhered beneath the spinning DVD that they put there; they DO contact the DVD and will scrape the hell out of it. All the 7" models have this, don't know about the 8". You would do well to just peel them off.
BTW; mine is not region free.

[mp3jockey]

If you received the most recent "Costco" coupon book, its does have a coupon for $50 off the 10.2" Mintek Portable DVD Player. I ve had mine since Sept 04, and while it is a bit noisy on startup, the picture quality rivals the $600+ Samsung 10" model I purchased at Best Buy in Aug 04. The feature set on the Samsung is more extensive, but nothing that justifies spending an extra $300 for. The Mintek plays all my home brew DVD's, including my recently brewed audio DVDs (made with DVD Architect).
Nice unit, and with the additional $50 off, an excellent buy. And, rugged enough: my 3 and a half year old grand daughter uses it (with grandpa's supervision of course...and "very gently"...)
Just can't recall exactly when the coupon is good for, so if someone who has the coupon book in front of them can chime in....

Cheers

jock

[wildman1037]

mp3jockey, are you talking about a current coupon sheet, like the ones they hand out when you walk in the store??? If so, when did you see it on that coupon sheet? I was just there and don't recall seeing anything on the latest sheet (although I could be wrong)

Edit: Just went to Costco. It wasn't on their current coupon sheet, but I went up to the counter and found out they had my address wrong, so I haven't been receiving their mailings. After correcting my address, the lady gave me a coupon book. The coupon dates for the $50 off the 10" Mintek are from 03/28-04/03.

[mp3jockey]

wildman1037:

Thats the one that comes in the mail to executive and (I believe) Business members....Didnt realize the coupon was so far out, though....

jock

[dstoffa]

[QUOTE=Mike Cornwell]I think I saw the 7" model for ~ $199 @ Costco last week. I received one of these for Xmas from my boss last year, and returned it for the store credit (was $239 back then).

If I had known it woud play unmolested RTV files, I might have kept it![/QUOTE]

Macys (Herald Square, dont know about other stores) have the 7" Mintek Portable players for $99.00 - $30 Rebate, but only between 9am and 12 noon ET Today (Tuesday 4/11 and Wednesday 4/12). Two people in the office just ran out to buy them.

[Bobcrane]

Any idea if there are portables that play an RTV mpg recorded in standard?

[dstoffa]

[QUOTE=Bobcrane]Any idea if there are portables that play an RTV mpg recorded in standard?[/QUOTE]

Don't have any RTV files handy (or I'd test on the office buddy's machine), but other posters have had success burning unmolested RTVfiles on a data DVD and having them play, with no sync issues (Is why I posted the news).

Search the forum for Mintek.

-Doug

[majik]

While on the topic of the Mintek portable DVD players, I was wondering if anybody here has encountered the following issue while watching various DVD's:
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/7121/mintek18103xx.jpg

It happens with various DVD's and not consistent with the same DVD at different times. In other words, a particular DVD may show the above problem. On another day, however, the video is fine for the exact same DVD in the exact same spot. The time i took the pic above, I was watching some episodes of Futurama. For an entire episode the video was distorted. Then the next episode played fine, so I went back to the menu, selected the previous episode and it played fine.

I tried emailing Mintek support (on Friday via the web based form and on Monday via direct email) but have not heard back. They have a tech support phone# but it's hard for me to call w/ my work schedule and such....they are closed on the weekend.

Does anybody what the heck it can be?

PS: For those who want to check out the official site, visit http://mintekdigital.com/port_dvd.asp.