Summary:
My player freezes with some discs like many others listed.

Strengths:
price

Weaknesses:
freezing, can't handle some discs

Price Paid:  $139.00 from Mercata

Summary:
If you're a high-end audiophile, you're not going look at this model. If you're a movie enthusiast (like me--who was just getting into DVD when I purchased this unit), and you can find one of these under $150, then go for it.

I have thoroughly enjoyed owning it. DVD is a pardigm shift of immense and obvious proportion. What a great leap forward for my movie viewing!!!

Into my second year of enjoying this box. Down the road, I'll probably buy a model with more features, like mp3 and cdr, but this Sharp has been great, overall.

Strengths:
Hands-down, HUGE cut-above ANY VCR. Even through a non-Dolby receiver, it's virtual surround sound is impressive. Sharp picture. Good sound. Small footprint. Has optical, S-video and "RCA" outputs. Great price.

Weaknesses:
"Occasionally" freezes in middle of some movies. Press pause and then play, usually resumes. Doesn't play CDR or MP3's. Slow load time.

Similar Products Used:
DVD on IBM Thinkpad. (Laptops with DVD rock!!! The screens are small, but the resolution is 3x's the average tv, equivalent to HDTV.)

Price Paid:  $249.00 from REX

Summary:
We had problems from day one and, not having any prior DVD experience, blamed it on our discs... We figured they must be scratched or something. Well, it go tworse from there, first it would skip, then it would not play dual layerd DVD's and NOW it doesn't play any DVD's at all. So, we have owned it for 15 months, it worked for about 4 months and we have what is essentially an over-priced, underperforming cd player. Too bad we didn't opt for a better quality machine right from the get go. I would not recommend any Sharp products (other than a Microwave oven).
Save yourself the aggrevation - DON'T BUY ONE.

Strengths:
Small Footprint

Weaknesses:
Where do I start?

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba 1600

Price Paid:  $169.00 from www.etown.com

Summary:
For the money I think this is a very nice player. I have seen a lot of complaints about movies freezing, but this seems to be caused by dust and fingerprints on the disc surface. Every movie I rent, I always wipe it off first and this has eliminated almost all of the freezing problems. This player has no trouble playing some of the "problem" DVDs like "The Matrix". I have been very happy with it.

Strengths:
Small footprint, excellent picture and sound, variety of output connections.

Weaknesses:
Clumsy remote, slow disc loading.

Price Paid:  $150.00 from costco

Summary:
I bought this unit as a first player, and I've had it for over a year. Right from the start, it would freeze randomly, it seems to be heat related. I would avoid this unit.

Strengths:
low cost

Weaknesses:
skips, freezes, slow to load and resume