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June 10, 2006
DVD Times Three?
The curse of the electronic gadgetry strikes again!
Our DVD machine died a few weeks ago, so you know what that meant, don't you? Yes, Les Cunnahs were obliged once more to visit the electronics store.But how hard could it be to purchase a new DVD machine? Oh Patient One and I asked each other.
Yet we stepped forth trepidatiously because, after all, we recently had to contend with The Keyboard Disaster. And The Cell Phone Thing. Surely this time it would be third time lucky?
Of course not, because that would just be too easy.
We needed a multifrequency DVD machine that would allow us to play not only the DVDs we've purchased since moving to the Netherlands (Region 2), but also the ones we purchased during our years in America (Region 1). No problem, we reasoned, because our recently deceased DVD machine was also purchased in the Netherlands, and we never had any problems with it. Until it died, of course.
So we arrived at the store, checked out the walls of DVD machines, and selected a mid-range one that promised to do all of these things. We paid for it, took it home, and then we read the instruction leaflet and...
"This machine has been permanently set to Region 2," we read in black and white. Obviously, the store lied to us.
Off we trudged, back to the electronics store, and explained the situation to Customer Services.
"The leaflet is incorrect," Unhelpful Assistant told us. "This machine is region free. You just have to program it with the remote control. Press Menu and 9 and it will work."
So we went home, set it up, pressed Menu...and nothing happened. Then we pressed Menu again, and still nothing happened. Then we did it a few more times, just to make sure.
Off we trudged, back to the electronics store, and explained the situation to Customer Services. Again.
"I told you yesterday that this machine is region free," Unhelpful Assistant reiterated. "Press Menu and 9 and it will work. I told you this yesterday." The he shook his head in the manner of one who cannot believe the stupidity of people in general.
When we stressed that we had, indeed, been clicking the bloody Menu button repeatedly, and nothing had happened, and there certainly wasn't even a number 1 option on the nonexistent menu, never mind a number 9 option, Unhelpful Assistant immediately fell on the floor laughing.
"No, you press menu AND 9. At the same time," he told us once he'd picked himself up off the floor.
Grrrr.
We went home, hooked up the machine, clicked Menu and 9 simultaneously and...there was the option to set the machine to be region free.
Why is something simple so complicated? Does anyone else have these problems, or is it just me?
Michelle, perplexed
Posted by Michelle at 5:00 PM | Comments (6)
Comments
LOL. You forgot that you had the teenagers?
Posted by: Wendy at June 10, 2006 7:04 PM
hahahahaha... but still, congrats on your new machine. ;)
Posted by: laurenjharwood ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 10, 2006 7:25 PM
Oh Michelle, that just stinks. But I'm glad it's working now.
Wendy, I have learned my lesson IRT: teenagers. My girl can figure out anything electronic. It's really kinda scary. I mean, I can do wiring with no problems. We have about 40 of them behind our tv, for each of our silly accesories. But the kid? Yeah, she's the one I call when I can't remember how to use the stupid remote. It took me weeks to figure out how to get to the menus and get subtitles (A must to watch a movie with 6 kids in the house). The teen knows which combo of buttons to push to get them without even going to the menu. She's shown me about 19 times, but still, when I want them, I toss her the remote and say something really intelligent, like "Do the thing to make the thingies come on already!"
Yeah, and I think *I* am the smart one. riiiiight.
Posted by: dee at June 10, 2006 9:23 PM
It's not your fault, sweet Michelle. You and Oh Patient One have been conditioned to expect these things not to work. You're like Pavlov's dogs except instead of salivating you return electronics.
Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at June 10, 2006 10:21 PM
Don't you just hate know-it-all clerks? I think he should have been a wee bit more clear about pressing the keys at the same time! I was surprised, however, that the teens in your house didn't figure it out for you. Tsk, tsk. *shaking head sadly as walks away*
Posted by: Sheri at June 11, 2006 12:34 AM
LOL, yes all, I forgot to consult The Teenagers on this occasion, but it's nice to know that I am not alone in my Problems With Electronics :-)
And indeed, I do hate know-it-all clerks, but what can you do?
I like the Pavlov's dog analogy - LOL, very apt.
Michelle, currently on vacation in sunny Glastonbury
Posted by: Michelle C at June 12, 2006 7:22 AM
