Portable DVD Players

Which Portable DVD Player Should I Buy?

There are lots of portable DVD players on the market, at price points affordable for all. If you're planning a long trip in the car, these handy devices can keep the kids happily mesmerized for hours on end. They can also be great for grownups on a plane, or even on the exercise machine. I checked out several of them and came up with six favorites, based on features, intended audience and price. Here's my list...

• Philips' DCP750/37 has the unique distinction of being able to charge your iPod while you watch movies. Plug it into the dock and watch your music videos on its 7" 16:9 swivel screen. At a size of 8.3 x 7 x 1.5" and a weight of 5 pounds, this portable player also has their signature Zero Bright Dot screen with a 300:1 contrast ratio, a SD/MMC memory card reader, onscreen display, Dolby Digital sound and is compatible with CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD and CD. Oh, and the dual headphone jacks are a must-have feature if you've got more than one child in the back seat. The company has several other models to suit your budget and most of them come with a dock. We found the Philips' DCP750/37 on Amazon at a price of only $69.90 with car adapter and rechargeable batteries that will last up to about 2 1/2 hours. Before purchase, make sure your iPod is compatible.
• Sony has its own portable player with a larger 8" swivel screen and high 800x400 resolution. In addition to playing movies, the Sony DVP-FX820 will play CDs, MP3s and display your photos. At a size of 8.9 x 6.5 x 1.8" and available in your choice of 5 colors, Sony promises up to 6 hrs. of battery life so that you can make it a double feature trip. The player also has 2 headphone outlets, dual sensor for the remote and is compatible with DVD, DVD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, CD, MP3 and JPEG files. You could probably even stick a Pop Tart in this machine and get something interesting to show up on the screen. The company covers all its bases by saying that "it is designed for adults, its durability is certainly built for kids." A car adapter is included in its $179.99 price.
• Looking for a larger screen? Toshiba's SD-P1015 has a 10.2" widescreen with 800x480 resolution. It also has an LCD swivel screen, is compatible with DVD-R (Video), DVD-RW, DVD VR -R/-RW, DVD Video DivX, JPEG, WMA, MP3 CD, CD-R, CD-RW, CD (CD-DA format) files. A handy 4-in-one Card slot gives you optional viewing possibilities and Toshiba claims that their battery will last up to 5 hours, depending on its usage. At a size of 11.02 x 1.26 x 7.48", the player's built-in speakers feature virtual surround sound. At a price of $349.99, this is definitely not ideal for young kids. The P1015 comes with AC and car adapters, remote, battery pack and AV cable.
• At a midrange price, the LG DP889 features an 8" screen, DVD Video/DVD±R/DVD±RW/Audio CD/CD-R/CD-RW compatibility, a 3-in-1 memory card slot and a stereo output from speakers or twin earphone jacks. What makes this one particularly unique is that its built-in memory can hold up to 250 images to turn the player into a digital photo frame. (Not sure if it can chop veggies or make a smoothie, though...) With both A/V input and output, you can also connect your digital camera via a USB port. The player is 9.1 x 5.7 x 1.6", weighs 2.1 lbs. and claims up to 3.5 hours of battery usage. It has a $249.95 MSRP and comes with adapters, remote and AV cord.
• I think it's cool that Polaroid has branched out with their own portable DVD player. The Polaroid DPA-07046 features a 16:9 LCD swivel screen, plays DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, JPEG, CDs and CD-R/RW files. Listen to your favorite flick through the built-in stereo speakers or behind-the-neck headphones. The company's ESP (Electronic Skip Protection) allows you to have an uninterrupted slide show. With both composite video and audio input/output, it has a dual headphone jack and a rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery good for about 2.5 hours of viewing. This player also comes with remote, AV cable, car bag for stashing your accessories and both car and AC adapters with a price of about $99.99. Steak knives not included.
• There are also kid-friendly portable DVD players available, including the Fisher Price Kid-Tough for astute toddlers, which runs about $150.00.

The rules here are the same as when selecting any other electronics: if you don't recognize the brand name, no matter how cheap it is, it's probably better to pass it up. And even if you can find a killer deal online, consider testing it out at a local retail store before you buy. Do you have a portable DVD player? Tell us why you picked the one you did, and how it works for you...