RE: DVD players
I found the VF recommendations to be out-of-date (i.e. I could no longer find thier models in stores), but it might give you some useful information.
I found out about models on a website; I think it was audioreviews.com.
I ended up getting a Sony from BestBuy.com for $70 because they had a rebate that made it $30 cheaper than anyone else (even Walmart & Target). Some websites have free shipping, so don't forget to take that into account when calculating costs.
Lots of sales clerks talk about how good or how popular Sony is, but on the websites I found out that there are people who are very unsatisfied, & there are even class-action lawsuits against Sony for particular models. Fortunately, mine has worked well so far. (The picture quality makes even my cheap TV look good.)
I got the extended warranty for 2 years because most DVD player failures reported on the review websites happened within the first 12-18 months. You may even want to take into consideration the costs of returning the unit for repair.
If you decide to buy from a local source (for ease of repairs/returns), see if they will honor competitors' prices. Here are 2 examples: My local Sears said they no longer match online offers, but they will honor local competitors' offers. Circuit City would honor BestBuy's price, but could not match their rebate offer.
Hope this is useful information for you. Good luck!