Region 1 - Well worth working for it

Advantages: more films, quicker, cheaper
Disadvantages: hassle to sort out multiregion capabilities (sometimes)

...If you have got, or are thinking of buying, a DVD player, then no doubt you will have a fair picture of what I am talking about when I mention Region 1 and Region 2. Because of stupid copyright and distribution laws and policies, when a film is released on DVD, it is coded so that it will only work in one of six worldwide regions. The ones that most come into play are Region 1 (USA) and Region 2 (Europe and Asia, including the UK of course). So if you went into a shop and bought a DVD player, you could then only purchase films from Britain, else they simply wouldn't work on your player. To be honest, that isn't strictly true but I will come to that later. First of all, why does it matter? Well if you want to see the latest films quicker (and often cheaper) then you want Region 1. I'll give you two examples. Scary Movie - I...

mattmorrison 11.01.2001 · Read review
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Review of DVD Regional Issues

Multi-region fear

Advantages: Cheap, easy and the can see films at home before they are relased here in the cinema.
Disadvantages: None

...Some people reading this may find the prospect of DVD players daunting in that what is all this multi-region fuss about?, what is the point of DVD when i have got a perfectly good video player sitting underneath my television at the moment? and also i don't really want to buy one as they might not catch on.... Well, these points may all be valid, but when it comes down to the bare facts of the matter, there isn't any fuss about multi-region, the only reason for having your video recorder is to tape eastenders and they won't catch on?, we have you been for the last two years?, anyway, video recorders are soon to be much like four start petrol, only used by the few. By autumn, DVD recorders capable of recording at a far superior quality and length will be on the shelves, expensive to start with maybe, but video recorders quite...

MrHall 28.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of DVD Regional Issues

A good airline in Africa!

Advantages: Good food, friendly crew, comfy business class
Disadvantages: ground staff in Nairobi

...Air Kenya are an independent airline based in Kenya whose main business is running small propellor aircraft on domestic routes within Kenya, some for sightseeing and some for regional flights. Hang on? This is meant to be an op about Regional Air. Why is this plonker waffling on about Air Kenya? Well, Air Kenya set up a separate division to operate jet aircraft, and this jet operation goes under the name "Regional Air". Recently Regional Air became a franchise of British Airways - so they don't operate as "Regional Air" at all, they operate as BA. They not only operate with BA flight numbers but the aircraft are painted in BA colours (or will be!), the crew wear BA uniforms and what you get on board is basically a BA product. Also, probably most importantly, they operate to standards checked and approved by BA. Some...

Vodkaboy 23.03.2004 · Read review
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Review of Regional Air (Nairobi)

A MUST FOR THE WINE CONISSUIER

Advantages: Great experience and was taught something new!
Disadvantages: You only get a thimble full of wine!

...Back in September 2004, we spent sometime in California – to be precise in San Francisco. As part of our stay we decided that because we were in such close proximity to the famous Californian wine regions of the Napa and Sonoma valleys, we would be silly not do visit. Through our hotel we booked a day tour of the regions with a company called Tower Tours (who had a tour desk within Hilton San Francisco, and offices off Fisherman’s Wharf). You can check out their web site on www.towertours.net What was great about the day trip was that we were picked up at our hotel at 8am, ferried in an air-conditioned touring bus to the Fisherman’s Wharf offices. Here we had to spend sometime queuing to pay for the trip – this was mixed in amongst others going on various trips such as to Yosemite National Park, to...

purdy 05.02.2005 · Read review
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Review of Vine Region (California)

The Magic Annapurna Circuit

Advantages: Incredible scenery, incredible people, incredible overall
Disadvantages: Some hard days

...Nepal. A country that has fascinated me since I was a little child, reading about the exploits of Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay and others who overcame the greatest challenges that nature could throw at them and emerged triumphant. A country I have wanted to visit for a long time and one that I can now say I have been to. Did it live up to my expectations? Yes it did and then some more on top of that. Initially I wanted to do the Everest Base camp trek because that was the one that seemed to be most popular and you also had the prestige of seeing the world?s highest mountain. After some research however the general consensus seemed to be that the Everest region was becoming spoilt by mass commercialisation. The reviews I had read seemed to indicate the Annapurna circuit was the best overall, so I chose that one. I booked my...

fryera2 24.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Annapurna Region (Nepal)

Multi region?

Advantages: divx compatible + multi region
Disadvantages: had to do a bit of research to enable full multi region ability

...I've been looking for a divx player for a while now, and wanted one with multi region capability also. I eventually bought this dvd player from amazon.co.uk, as it was clearly labelled 'multi region'. Reading the reviews on amazon, some said it was multi region straight out of the box. For me, when putting any other region dvd other than 2, it played in black and white. After a bit of research, and thinking I'd have to fork out more money to get the box chipped, I discovered the problem. The dvd player is multi region, but my tv was not understanding the video format of the region 1 disc. A simple solution I discovered is simply to change the colour settings on the dvd menu (when there is no disc in it) to RGB. Having achieved this, I am now a very happy customer! All region discs now play in full colour, as do divx formats, CD...

k8_web 14.05.2008 (16.05.2008) · Read review
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Review of Sony DVP-NS 36

the best region I have been to....

Advantages: excellent snowboarding or skiing region
Disadvantages: VERY COLD

......

pickle79 20.02.2006 · Read review
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Review of Harz Region (Germany)

another reason for multi region

Advantages: great extras, amazing picture quality
Disadvantages: takes an age to get through everything

...they're just there to out on a show. There's a lot of humour which all ages can enjoy. Recently Disney have really treated their major dvd animation releases well. The collectors edition of A Bugs Life has yet to see a Region 2 debut but has been available in region 1 for some time now. It comes as a 2 dvd set. On the first dvd you get a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen version of the film as well as a 4:3 version for standard tv's. This transfer was created direct from a digital source so it's visually stunning and anyone thinking about getting dvd will lay eyes on this and have their mind made up for them. You'd be hard pressed to find a single fault with it. The sound is also great in Dolby Digital 5.1 with a lot of rear effects and some great bass in later scenes as a rain storm hits. On the first dvd there are also isolated...

utero 18.08.2001 · Read review
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Review of A Bug's Life (DVD)

Darjeeling: Queen of the Himalayan Region

Advantages: Beauty of the Himalayas, Tea gardens, Trekking, Rafting, Physical and natural History
Disadvantages: Poor drainage. Unclean drinking water, so always drink bottled mineral water

...^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Money: Currency used is Indian National Rupees (INR) equivalent to £1 = 80 INR, ?1 = 56 INR and $1 = 45 INR. It is quite easy to exchange traveller cheques and cash only if US dollars. But I would suggest getting it done from the major cities you arrive from because it can be much more expensive in terms of commission if done for Darjeeling, because of fewer choices you are left with. Travel Agencies: There are several travel agencies which can arrange personalised tours but don?t hesitate to bargain as prices vary a lot. Visa: Europeans need Republic of India visa to leave and enter the region. Health & Emergency: There are 2 to 3 hospitals in the region hopefully nobody should need it. But I suggest trying and avoiding government hospitals. Medical facilities are very cheap so it will not hurt anyone?s pocket. You might need...

rishmitra 06.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of Darjeeling (India)

Widen Your DVD Options

Advantages: Wider choice of discs (and sooner!)
Disadvantages: None so far - who knows what Hollywood will come up with next to screw us

...Most people buying a DVD player from a High St chain store will be most likely kept in the dark over the issue of DVD Regions. This is an industry code which, in theory, prevents disks from the North American arena (Region 1) being used in Europe/Japan (Region 2). This is also designed to make you go the cinema, despite the fact that the movie has come and gone in the USA/Canada and that the DVD version is availible already there. More significantly, it allows for the ripping-off of Europeans compared to their transatlantic brethren, price-wise. It is however possible to get round this. There exists a market for "chipped" or multi-region DVD players, normally outside of the usual High St. Unlike the "chipping" of Play Stations for the illegal use of copied games, this is not a "black" market, and is on the level. It is...

BNibbles 10.05.2001 (14.05.2001) · Read review
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Review of DVD Regional Issues