klet1

Are TV/built in DVD Combos a bad idea?

Costco selling a Sharp 32" LCD w/ built in DVD player for $749. I have heard buying combos can be risky if the DVD player fails. However, would be convenient not to have a bulky DVD player in my bedroom.

What do you think?

Aaron Silverman

Re: Are TV/built in DVD Combos a bad idea?

The only real downside is what you mentioned -- if the DVD player fails, you'd need to send the whole set for repairs (probably better to just write off the internal drive and buy a cheap deck at that point).

The other thing is that you're probably going to pay a little extra for the convenience. (i.e., an identical TV without a built-in deck will be cheaper by more than the cost of a cheap DVD player.) For example, the other day at Walmart I saw a 19" LCD with built-in DVD player for $297. The identical set (I think it was an Emerson) without the built-in DVD was only $224.

On a 32" set, you probably wouldn't see much difference between the built-in player and a more expensive external deck anyway.

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Gregg Loewen

Re: Are TV/built in DVD Combos a bad idea?

twice as many items to fail. My advise...buy a stand alone player.

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Jerome Grate

Re: Are TV/built in DVD Combos a bad idea?

Definetly in agreement with that. Bought a combo player (DVD/VCR)for my son's room and our bedroom. On both units the VCR failed and only the DVD player works. Not a terrible thing, just that I can't play the vcr tapes for my son now. Against my better judgement I picked up a DVD Combo recorder and I've transferring his tapes recorded from satellite to DVD and that's been working out great. Don't waste your time on the t.v. /DVD player.

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