Portable DVD Players - Things To Know

In my humble opinion nothing makes a long trip easier (especially if you have kids). A portable DVD player is the ideal solution for those long plane rides or endless drives in a car to keep everyone entertained, especially when you have new hit DVD to play.

So what are some of things to keep in mind when selecting a Portable DVD Player?

(Here are some items to consider in no particular order.)

Screen Size:

Depending on where and when you plan on using your DVD player the most, size may really be a big factor in your decision. If you have a family that's going to be watching movies in the minivan, you can bet you want to find a portable DVD unit with a larger screen so everyone gets a chance to view the movie. On the other hand, if you travel mostly by yourself or with a significant other, smaller may be the perfect thing for you, easy to haul and manage anywhere.

Disc Formats Supported by the Portable DVD Player:

If you're into creating your own home movies or music cd's you need to look into whether or not the machine you want to buy can support other file types (CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD-R). Make sure your machine is capable of also playing just a standard music CD.

Size of the DVD Player:

While most machines look like weight should never be a factor, there can be significant differences in weight from one type of portable player to another....as much as a couple of pounds. Read carefully so you know just how much each unit weighs. If you're hiking across the country, weight can make a big difference.

Outputs that the Portable DVD Player comes with:

You may not think that this matters, but eventually you'll wish you thought of this sooner rather than after you've purchased a unit. You'll want a unit that comes with an S-Video outlet for video, as well as Optical Out for audio. These features will come in real handy when you get to your relatives that don't have a DVD player, and gives you the option of watching a movie on their TV, by hooking into their TV and possibly their stereo...instant theatre for everyone.

How much do Portable DVD Players cost?

The price of a portable dvd player can vary quite a bit. Some of the dvd players with less features or quality will start at approximately $150.00 for a new portable player. On the high end of the price scale, you may be looking at paying as much as $600.00 for some of the better quality machines. Like anything, you usually get what you pay for.

Like all electronics, the price of portable dvd players has started to come down, as compared to a couple of years ago.

Another option is to look at is buying a used portable player, not highly recommended by me. Just my opinion with electronics, but you have no idea how electronics have been treated. The outside may look great, but who cares if all the important parts aren't working properly. It's not like buying a used baseball bat, you know what your getting by looking at it. If you can't test out a used portable dvd player, I'd recommend you stay away from this option.

Quick Summary

From what I've seen on the market and looked at, I don't think think that you'll find any terrible portable dvd players. Like anything though, usually if you pay more you get a better quality product (dvd player in this case), better picture and features. All I know for sure is, when the kids start getting wired when we're travelling, it sure is nice to put on a dvd movie and keep them entertained.

Allen Reed is the owner of http://www.portable-dvd-players-guide.com which gives guidance and information to people searching for portable dvd players.