I have have a Sony dav-fc7 for about 1 1\/2 year . I know when I buy it that there be a few bad review , but like anything , it be expect that not everyone will be happy with it and there will be a bad experience here or there . plus it be not a top of the line device anyway . however , the odds of have a bad experience with this unit be unrealistically high as note by the other 28 review post just on Amazon . I primarily use mine for the home theater aspect . it be only have a couple dozen dvd 's play probably . recently while try to watch a dvd , it lock up 3-4 time just like a computer lock 's up - but computer lock up be generally due to configuration or software issue , not hardware . I have to cycle the power each time to get anything to respond , then find my place again in the movie . now just two day ago , I notice that it have the ` standby ' message flash continuously , the same as many other have note . I can unplug it to ` reset ' it , however , now I can hear audio , but have no picture come though it . the dvd part do not work at all , I think there be a stuck dvd in it . the ` reset ' appear to have only short term effect as well . I have to unplug it each time I turn it off - otherwise the ` standby ' message take over . of my last 3 Sony purchase -lrb- vcr , dvd , camera -rrb- , 2 of the 3 have be flaw . shortly after I purchase a Sony vcr , the front panel display go out . everything else seem to work okay -- you just can not tell by look at it what it be do or even if it be on\/off . nice craftsmanship\/design - Sony . I be hope my camera fair better over the long term - which should be consider longer than a few month or 1 1\/2 . I can guarantee , Sony will not get any more of my dollar for a long time .