I gotta tell you that for the last two years I've been more than happy with the playback features on my CDN$79 Malata DVP-500. It plays back DVD±R/RW, NTSC or PAL discs without a hitch. I don't expect it to last much longer, especially since it probably works harder than any piece of electronics in my house other than my computer. If it were to die today it wouldn't owe me anything, how could it for the price I paid for it. When it does die I won't be replacing it with a $35 jobby though. I'll probably go for the next step up and get the Philips DVP642. Not only is it a name brand that most people are familiar with, it plays DVD±R/RW, NTSC, PAL, DiVX & XviD! In the US you can find this guy at your local Wal-Mart and in Canada you can find it at Best Buy.