Need advice on a certain DVD player

[MrSpinz]

I have been considering getting the Creative Labs 8x DVD Encore from Buy.com. I can get it for $181.40 shipped if I used the $30 off $150 coupon.

Here is the description of the product from buy.com:
http://www.us.buy.com/comp/product.asp?sku=10235054

Is this a good buy?

thanks for the advice,
spinz

[shotime1]

Two years ago I payed $300 for that...but then again that was TWO years ago...I have had no problems with the drive other than that it can get kind of loud. On the other hand, I don't use it for DVDs very often because I usually just use my standalone player.

[jrolsen]

I almost bought that player awhile ago, but didn't because of this logic:

The prices of standalone players are really coming down where it is just about the same price as that nice creative drive. Now, there aren't a whole lot of dvd-roms out where you would be using the drive for that...soooo, why pay for drive that your going to use exclusively for dvd movies when you can have a nice standalone player for the same price (I got the panasonic dvd-c220 for $30 after some pointclick.com credit and a bunch of offers from mobshop.com, which at the time was still accompany.com).

Your situation may be different but thats how it worked for me.