Ok - I've seen conflicting reports on this. I want one.

Some say that the only difference is that you have to switch regions on the cheaper player which is set to Region 1 from the factory while the more expensive player is set to Region 0 and you don't need to change regions. If this was the case, I would get the cheaper one.

However, others have said that the Region 1 player isn't firmware upgradeable while the Region 0 player IS. This would make a difference to me because they might release a Macrovision defeating firmware upgrade in the future.

So which one should I get and which one are you getting?

I bought the Region 1 model. The Region 0 was firmware upgradable but they found that even a slight power surge erased all of the software on the unit. They will eventually be making it upgradable again when they figure out the problem (if they figure out the problem) and the R0 machines can be converted then.

To get it converted to firmware upgradable you will either have to ship it back to them or they will supply directions for you to do it on your own or have someone else do it. If you really want the option (and don't mind dealing with the eventual hassle) then get the R0 but I recommend not wasting your money and get the R1.

If you do order the Malata through avdeals.com would you find out what
the latest turnaround time is? (i.e. How long will it take between order and shipping?
I read they were getting backed up a while ago and I wonder how they're doing now?
I'm just about ready to order a gold R1 one if it's still available. Can you ask them
to double box it the first time out?

Anyone else order/receive one recently?

So the R1 version will never be firmware upgradeable? Or will the fix they are going to impliment on the R0 version end up working on the R1 version? I guess it sounds like neither are firmware upgradeable yet. Is this a good player to get? How many films are people having trouble with? I mean - there's the Stargate SG1 DVDs and then a few people report problems with subtitles - how common is this problem?

thanks for the response by the way.

ALL DVD players are firmware upgradeable. The Region 0 MALATA was supposed to be that way via a simple CDR fix, but that didn't work out. Any Malata can be upgraded by sending it back to avdeals.com. Once there is an upgrade, that is.

Thanks Matt...

I guess I'll get the R1 version. I thought many DVD players can have the firmware upgraded via a CD - it's software anyway. This is one of the few I've seen that doesn't have that capability. I wonder if there's any other way to upgrade these without sending them to AVDeals.

So at this point unless you have alot of non R1 DVDs there is really not much point in getting the R0 as they are both upgradeable.......correct.

From what I've read in a post a while back from someone who contacted AVDeals (I wish I knew where that post was) the R1 version will not be firmware upgradable at any time. The R0 is altered by AVDeals internally so that it can be made upgradable but the R1 is completely untouched. The R0 may become upgradable again at some point but the R1 will not.

The only way for the R1 to be upgradable is if you were to send it back to AVDeals to be altered and that would most likely cost you as much as the R0 if not more. That's if they'll even do that to an R1 model.

To answer dleedee's question about turn around time:

I ordered my player on August 27th and received it on September 10th. (I phoned them on the 9/10 and they said it was stuck in customs for a few days.) So, you WERE looking at about two weeks of waiting time. Of course, this was BEFORE the attack in New York so I don't know how efficient the airports are operating at present. (And AVDeals was closed for a week (Sept. 10-Sept 16) to steamline and fine tune their business so that it could be more efficient so that may shave some time off.) So, I guess you're still looking at about about two weeks until the world gets back to normal.

My player did come "double boxed" if you want to call it that. I use that term loosely because the Malata comes in its own box with some styrofoam pieces holding it in place. This box was placed in another box which had no padding. The upside is my player and inside box arrived in perfect shape without a dent on the box and nothing lose on or in the player. ( It may just depend on how "gentle" your local UPS service is with packages.)

How does one know which version they received? I ordered the region 1 but I have not had to mess with adjusting the region yet and I have watched many region 2 and 4 dvd's, including one which is RCE I think (Jackie Brown region 4 which won't play on my computer dvd-rom).

Adam,

It sounds like they sent you a Region 0 player by mistake (or maybe they just like you!) If you're living in Region 1 and you haven't changed anything on the remote to make those Region 2 and 4 DVDs play correctly, then you got an unannounced bargain.

I ordered the Region 0 version on September 6th from AVDeals.com. It was almost a week later when I realized that I had not received any information from them other than an order confirmation. I checked the website, and of course, they were closed for a week. Since I had ordered a few days before they closed I emailed them anyway and asked them what was going on. They responded a few days later to tell me that they had just tried charging my card and that it had been declined, and that I needed call my bank to resolve it. Yeah, right. I called the bank, just to make sure, and of course, nothing was wrong with the card. I emailed them again, letting them know that it was fine, and to please try again. A few more days went by, and I get a response saying that they tried another three times and it was still coming up declined. One time, I can understand that it might be a mistake, but three or four times?! By this time they were back from their break (to fix things and improve customer service, they say! HA!), and I called them on the phone. Wouldn't you know it, they tried to charge me while I stayed on the phone, and it worked just fine. Funny how it suddenly the card wasn't a problem. So after almost two weeks of getting nowhere, I might just get the player after all.

Personally, so far, I am not at all impressed. They only reason I stuck with it was because they do have a decent price. But I'm not sure it's worth it if you have to wait for three or more weeks to get the product, they aren't very responsive, and they can't even seem to charge credit cards properly.

Well, that's my experience, for what it's worth. I'll let you know what happenes when I finally get it.

I didn't expect to have more to say about this so quickly, but I received an email from AVDeals this morning telling me that they screwed up again. They have now apparently charged me twice and shipped me two players. Ugh.

Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT order from AVDeals.

I ordered the Region 1 player from AVDeals. They answered all my questions cheerfully. I was able to order with a Mastercard instead of a Visa, the player arrived in excellent shape, within the timeframe they stated. I will not hesitate to order from them again and I may soon since some of their other prices on stuff are really good.

Glad you had a good experience with them : )

I think, however, the way in which a company deals with problems is the true test. It's easy to get an order right, but when you get it wrong, over and over again, and do nothing for the customer who's getting the poor service, then that says it all.

AVDeals has not handled my order well, and I definately will not purchase from them again. There are plenty of other retailers out there.

An answer to my question straight from AVDeals -

Is there another retailer (e-tail or B&M) that carries the Malata? The only place I have found is AVDeals.

Also, nerd-out has started a Malata forum. The link is:
http://www.nerd-out.com/forum/list.php?f=26

Here
http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/003775-2.html

is www.220-electronics.com

I haven't checked it myself.

I dunno about their Malata price, but their prices for the Sampo machines are real pricey. Charging virtually twice MSRP for the exact same machine that anyone can make region & MV free in under five minutes kinda scares me. Those kinds of business ethics or lack therof make me personally want to look elsewhere.

Thanks for the pointer though Dleedlee.

The poster sounded a little like spam.
But their site took so long to load I never checked it out.

I thought there was a dealer in CT mentioned at the avsforum but I don't
know if they have a website. I couldn't find the thread and/or it may be the
same as the one above.

I've never used this company, but here is another alternative I found:

http://www.dvdshippers.com/index3.ht...D_Players.html

Perhaps they match prices?

They sell the Malata N996 and Mustek 300VG, which also converts PAL/NTSC and is region free.

Any one know of other sources selling these decks beside AV DEALS?

I bought one from them 2 weeks ago, and they still can not product the goods.
I live only 90 minutes away from the Canadian HQ?

Any suggestions?

I had major problems with AVdeals recently too. So much for them closing for a week to improve customer service.

You might want to try:

http://www.dvdshippers.com/index3.h...VD_Players.html

Although I have never used them. Maybe someone else on this board has had experience with them. They are more expensive than AVDeals, but maybe they match prices. Worth a try.

nbtelectonics.com (Canada)
DVDSpecialty.com
planet3000.com

Warranty for most DVD players only
60 days. Avdeals has 12 mos warranty.

Many thanks to you both for the swift response!