OK, after reading some threads I think I've narrowed it down to this player as my region free DVD player to purchase. Some questions though:

1) Does it do 2x and 4x smooth playback with subtitles ON (I scan movies sometime at fast speed so I need to watch them smoothly with subs)

2) What exactly is the hack to make it region free

3) Where is the cheapest place to get it? (via coupons, etc, whatever) Amazon.com doesn't have it anymore, and ideally if the vendor took paypal that would be best.

Most places seem either sold out or not to carry this anymore...if this is the case what's the 2nd best option given a budget of around $80 and the requirments of region free, smooth 2x/4x playback with subs, and mp3/jpg capability?

1) Yes

2) With the DVD drawer out, select 9-9-9-9-0 on the remote (the last digit assigns the region - region "0" is region free)

3) Dunno, I got mine at Amazon. Search Froogle.com to see what pops up.

Jeremy

i got mine at j&r.com about a month or so ago..they had told me they just got a huge shipment in (via phone)..it was about $72..$80 with 2 day shipping.

What he said, also got mine from Amazon, I've had it for about 6 months now & love it. I know some Walmarts carry it & K-marts carry the 726, which I think is very similar & they had it for only $50 last I saw, but that was a while ago.

I got mine at Target for $79.00 about 6-7 months ago, I am pretty sure they still have it there. I thought I might have seen it on sale for $69.00, but not sure.

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=...Search+Froogle

I have TWO of these machines and love them! Got 'em at Amazon long ago, months apart.

Anyone in NYC looking for this machine can find it at Kim's on St. Mark's Place - they had several of them as of a few days ago, priced at $99.95.

Just got my $72.00 Philips 727 from Amazon US and my first Region 2 DVD from Amazon UK. There is, indeed, a reason to get up in the morning!

All's well, but I'm wondering: do I set the player for PAL or do I just leave it NTSC? You see, although the picture is satisfactory, it isn't up to par with what I'm used to with native Region 1/NTSC.

-epm

got mine at Comp USA a couple months ago, for I think 69.99 or 79.99 I forget. It was well worth it.

no need to change the video setting of the player, leave it to NTSC

I just picked one up literally one week ago. So far it seems like a great player. I got mine at Walmart up here in Canada. Price was 70 bucks CDN....or about 50 US.