Bringing entertainment to Thailand ...

[Smiles]

Somewhere I'm sure I could find an answer to this, although if I can recall, most replies to this question were ~ as usual ~ mixed. Which means, the mystery essentially remained. But I can't be bothered searching (impossible on the old EzBoard, and here on this new phpBB place I think the question has not arisen).

So here it is again(?). If I bring DVD movie discs (purchased here in the west) with me to Thailand, will I be able to play them on a DVD player purchased in Thailand? I vaguely recall statements made in previous threads that the "format" of the (Asian?) DVD player is incompatible with that of the (western?) DVD disc. Whatever "format" means.

I don't have a lot, but I have bought a few movies over the years that I think Suphot will enjoy. Frankly, I rarely buy them because I can probably count on one hand films that I would care to view more than once. But those I do, I've bought: e.g. 'Kill Bill' (1&2); 'Apocalypse Now'; 'Happy Together'; 'Full Metal Jacket'; 'Infernal Affairs' and a few others. ( 'Happy Together' will leave him head-scratching, but the others he should enjoy :blackeye: :blackeye: ).
Is there any point in bringing them?

Cheers ...

If you need to bring your own entertainment when visiting Thailand perhaps you would be better off (and a lot richer) staying at home snuggled up on the sofa with your own video/DVD player ! :geek: :cheers:

[Smiles]

Thanks for your incisive ~ but, as usual, useless ~ response Buttsueng, but it will be "living", not "visiting" in November. Which means there will be lots of easy evenings snuggling up with him rather than partying.

Anyway, I was not asking the sex tourists (that would be you), but the folks who reside in Thailand and would probably actually have a reasonable answer. Thanks anyway kiddo.

Cheers ...

DVD players are not expensive and for a reasonable outlay (probably less than in the UK) you will be able to purchase one in Bangkok that will play all formats of DVD.

Most lap top comp. will play all DVD, mine will. North America DVD are just for play in NA. ( I think)

If I bring DVD movie discs (purchased here in the west) with me to Thailand, will I be able to play them on a DVD player purchased in Thailand?

Yes, definitely. Practically all brand name DVD players available in Thailand are "multi-region" players. I've found LG to be a reliable brand and have had no problems playing my DVDs from overseas on my LG player. Tell your seller that you are looking for a "multi-region" player and get him to do the settings for you, if need be. Always buy from the bigger department stores or from specialist brand outlets. Don't buy those cheap (1,000/2,000Bt) generic brands; they won't be able to play your DVDs properly and will most probably damage them. I paid 5,000Bt for my LG player three years ago; perhaps it's cheaper now. I bought it from Central.

[TrongpaiExpat]

Always buy from the bigger department stores or from specialist brand outlets

I would have thought the Big Stores were cheaper but this is Thailand. When I first moved here I went to all the big stores and noted the prices. I then went to the Sony outlet on Silom, just to look, and saw the same item, a home theater set up, for about the same price, a little less. I asked a few questions and was then offered a 10% discount, free delivery and set up. Now it's a lot less, I baught it. Two hours after leaving the store three guys from Sony were at the door and they knew what they were doing.

Latter, I was told that the brand outlets have to move the older models out fast to make room for the new. Look for deals. Shop around.

I would think that prices in Hue Hin would be higher than Bangkok but again TIT and who knows?

reside in Thailand and would probably actually have a reasonable answer.

You probably bought a Region 1 DVD (N. America) that will play on a NA player or a Region Free (Multiregion) player and not on a Thai (Region 3 only) player. Look on the back on the DVD case. You might find a block "1" somewhere on a block that is a background of a projection of the globe. The one makes it a Region 1 ONLY DVD, while the globe misleads you in to think it a "global DVD" - I know many that have been misled by this.

You can avoid that issue by making a backup the DVD on a computer burner with a downloaded program that defeats the region encryption to "Region Free" (like the "DVD9"'s you'll find on sale some places). It should play on any player. Wikipedia has some information on "DVD Decrypter" programs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_Decrypter

reside in Thailand and would probably actually have a reasonable answer.

You probably bought a Region 1 DVD (N. America) that will play on a NA player or a Region Free (Multiregion) player and not on a Thai (Region 3 only) player. Look on the back on the DVD case.

So, the problem's solved if he bought a funky, new multi-region player in Thailand. I have hundreds of so-called Region 1 DVDs and have had no problems playing them on my LG player bought in Thailand. This is not rocket science. Smiles, your friendly major electrical store salesman will be happy to sort you out. I've never been disappointed with the electrical appliances I've purchased in Thailand. Stick to the leading brand names (preferably Japanese/Korean as it's easier to find replacement parts), stick to the big stores.

[Smiles]

Thanks folks, for the knowledgeable advice. Appreciated.

Cheers ...

REGION 1 -- USA, Canada
REGION 2 -- Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Greenland
REGION 3 -- South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Parts of SE Asia
REGION 4 -- Australia, New Zealand, Latin America (including Mexico)
REGION 5 -- Eastern Europe, Russia, India, Africa
REGION 6 -- China
REGION 7 -- Reserved for Unspecified Special Use
REGION 8 -- Resevered for Cruise Ships, Airlines, etc...
REGION 0 or REGION ALL -- Discs are uncoded and can be played Worldwide, however, PAL discs must be played in a PAL-compatible unit and NTSC discs must be played in an NTSC-compatible unit.

[Bob]

Almost every player made in southeast Asia (99.99% of them?) can be changed with a code to play a given region's discs.
I bought a dvd in Phuket once that was supposed to play on my machine here in the US. I went on the net somewhere, found the code and entered into my machine, and then I could play it.
Best choice is to get the multi-region dvd player to start out with but, if for some reason it won't play your Canadian dvd's (films of moose in heat??? :clown: ),, then try to find the code online.

Make sure those DVD's are not porn. Customs in thailand would take a very dim view of porn arriving. When I had my townhome there I bought a player that played both thai and american tapes. I think an adapter is also available.

Has anyone ever had luggage searched upon arrival in Thailand? Certainly not me, but then I'm such a upstanding citizen. Its when I sit down you have to watch me closely.

Thanks folks, for the knowledgeable advice. Appreciated.

Cheers ...


Dear Smiles,

and now for some common sense.......................Some DVDs play with no problem and some don't, they are usually OK

A local shop can usually resolve your problem ,if you have a specific movie that won't play, cheaply, to put it into their format, so that it will.

Anyway, I was not asking the sex tourists (that would be you), but the folks who reside in Thailand
And what's the difference between being a regular tourist and an expat resident? Both are in Thailand mainly for the cheap sex and laid back lifestyle and that includes you, however much you may sneer and look down your nose at me and other regular visitors.

At least we are generally honest about our reason for coming to Thailand which is more than can be said for the fugitives from justice, conmen, crooks, sociopaths and closet pedos who together make up a fair proportion of those living within the expat community.

In which of those categories will you fall when you become a resident in November?

... fugitives from justice, conmen, sociopaths and closet pedos who together make up a fair proportion of those living within the expat community... Did someone mention my name?

IтАЩm based in the Region 3 area and have many DVDs, mostly Region 1. IтАЩm afraid itтАЩs not quite as simple as getting a multi-region player and all your DVDs will be playable. My experience is that some DVDs will not play on some multi-region players, but work fine on other multi-region players. I currently have three multi-region players, my main Panasonic, another cheap made in China one, plus a small portable I got as a free gift. Between the three of them, I can usually play any DVD. In fact the expensive Panasonic player is the one I have the most problems with, whereas the cheap China one will play almost anything. :scratch:

In fact the expensive ... player is the one I have the most problems with, whereas the cheap ... one will play almost anything.Same with boys, I often find

I’m afraid it’s not quite as simple as getting a multi-region player and all your DVDs will be playable

Other issues:

1) my computer will burn DVDs on -R medium and +R medium. Many Americans are stuck with older players that will only play -R medium discs, mostly like those that bought Japanese region 1 players or have players built in to their TV sets. +R is still preferable- then send a replacemewnt -R after your friend tries to tell u that u can't burn a DVD right and let him know that he's in the rear view mirror already..

2) Many burners will play-out both NTSC and PAL signals but I think you still need a to match the TV's system or have a multisystem TV set. I'm sure I've played both systems on my player and my multisystem TV auto-detects the system to play it correctly.

[IEB2004-old]

I recommend Philips DVD players bought in Thailand. They play everything, or so it says on the box, and that has been my experience. So, bring all your DVDs and enjoy them at your leisure. I have had no problems playing region 1 or 2 DVDs, VCDs, CDs, etc. If you live in a 220-240v part of the world you can bring it home with you and it will work with no problem.