View Poll Results: Does the time stamp on the player affect your viewing?
Yes
17
40.48%
No
25
59.52%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll
Does the time indicator on your DVD player affect how you watch movies?
08-23-04, 04:54 PM
#1
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Thread Starter
Does the time indicator on your DVD player affect how you watch movies?
I have just recenty become aware of how much I monitor the time display on my DVD player when I watch a movie specifically, and how it affects my viewing. This hadn't happened before, but now I find that it does create a distraction for me. I wish I could turn the display off completely (I have Panasonic DVD players) so that the awareness of time doesn't come into play.
When I have my dream HT set up, all of the equipment will be out of sight so it won't be a problem any more.
When I have my dream HT set up, all of the equipment will be out of sight so it won't be a problem any more.
08-23-04, 05:27 PM
#3
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
i prefer the panny style of showing how much time the movie has played/has left. my roomate has a sony and it just shows the time in whatever chapter you're in. i'd like to see how much time i've got left in the flick i'm watching. i watch movies mainly on my computer and it has the time of the whole movie.
08-23-04, 05:57 PM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
I find that only focus on a time counter during a shitty movie. A good movie has me blocking out all external stimuli.
And, as mentioned, if the counter is having a negative impact on your viewing, put tape over it... or put a DVD case in front of it or something.
And, as mentioned, if the counter is having a negative impact on your viewing, put tape over it... or put a DVD case in front of it or something.
08-23-04, 06:26 PM
#8
DVD Talk Legend
no, but before the movie starts I usually change the display so that it shows how much time is left.
08-23-04, 06:32 PM
#9
DVD Talk Reviewer
My Toshiba player has both the 'current time' and 'time remaining' as seperate display options, as well as a feature that lets you dim or turn off the display. Generally, though, I like to know how much time is left in a movie...heck, I usually even ask for a film's running time when I'm at the theater! 
08-23-04, 07:03 PM
#10
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
My Pioneer lets me turn off the display, so if it's a movie I've never seen I won't know how far I am into it or when it's going to end. During a good movie you shouldn't know how much time has passed. At theaters I always counted the reel changes, which were distracting and I wish would stop being put on prints since most theaters don't even need them anymore.
It's even harder to get into laserdisc movies because of the side flips and disc changes on longer movies.
It's even harder to get into laserdisc movies because of the side flips and disc changes on longer movies.
08-23-04, 07:07 PM
#11
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Nope. Never even look at the thing period.
Mine is blocked as the components are behind glass doors and the wood from the doors line up directly in front of it, not that it matters, as I check running time before I play a disc anyway.
Mine is blocked as the components are behind glass doors and the wood from the doors line up directly in front of it, not that it matters, as I check running time before I play a disc anyway.
08-23-04, 07:14 PM
#12
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
I always used the elapsed time and remaining time functions on my previous (Sony) player. I've since changed to a Toshiba 4900 to go multiregion and it doesn't have the remaining time feature and I really miss it. I used it a lot to squeeze in stuff like the disc documentaries in my spare time. Say I have 40 minutes before I have to be somewhere, I can chose which supplement to watch in the time I have.
08-23-04, 07:23 PM
#15
DVD Talk Limited Edition
no, but I do use the timer to show time remaining on my Sony dvd player.
08-23-04, 09:18 PM
#16
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Yes. I usually check the running time on moives using the on-screen display, and then make a mental note of that and from time to time take a glance at the current running time.
However, when watching TV shows, I find myself watching the timer quite often.
However, when watching TV shows, I find myself watching the timer quite often.
08-23-04, 11:22 PM
#17
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Originally posted by eXcentris
No but I wish my Malata player had a dimmer because the display is like a friggin Xmas tree.
No but I wish my Malata player had a dimmer because the display is like a friggin Xmas tree.
damn straight! but no....I dont check the running time. I'd have to get up off the lazy boy just to see the damn thing. I've always had them out of view along with all the other gear. all except that thing that displays the picture.
08-24-04, 01:10 AM
#20
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I just thought about this recently... i've been renting a lot of movies i haven't seen yet. I find myself checking the time left about 2 times per movie, i wouldn't mind turning the timer off also.
edit: I never check the time for a movie i've already seen though because i have a general idea of how much time is left.
edit: I never check the time for a movie i've already seen though because i have a general idea of how much time is left.
08-24-04, 03:37 AM
#21
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No, not with the feature films-- but it sometimes effects how I watch the extras. Many extras I've found don't have the info that allows the DVD player (or maybe it's just my DVD player?) to show how much time is left and it really bugs me. I'd like to know before hand if the "Making of..." or "Cast Interviews" extras I'm watching are 2 minutes or 2 hours long or somewhere in between. It would make a big difference on when I'd watch them.
Thus sometimes I may skip the extras alltogether if it's too late, and find out they were only 5 mins long the next day when I go back to them- or else fast forward through them first so I'll know and then watch them normally, or more often than not, I may just skip them and forget to ever go back.
Thus sometimes I may skip the extras alltogether if it's too late, and find out they were only 5 mins long the next day when I go back to them- or else fast forward through them first so I'll know and then watch them normally, or more often than not, I may just skip them and forget to ever go back.
08-24-04, 04:11 AM
#22
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Originally posted by eXcentris
No but I wish my Malata player had a dimmer because the display is like a friggin Xmas tree.
No but I wish my Malata player had a dimmer because the display is like a friggin Xmas tree.
I look at the timer regularly, but that doesn't mean the film's not engaging me. I simply like to know how much film am I supposed to expect.
08-24-04, 08:03 AM
#24
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i used to, but now my player is positioned behind me and i can't see the time without getting up. i prefer not to know how much is left in a movie...
but i do check the running time on the box before i watch it.
but i do check the running time on the box before i watch it.
