Portable DVD Players
Keep the kids busy
Like other tech markets, such as televisions or home theater systems, there are a plethora of brand names all vying for consumer dollars. Again, much like those areas, the price range often depends on the name you seek; quite simply, pay more for Philips and Panasonic, pay less for Audiovox and Mustek.
Don’t recognize that last one? Most people probably don’t. The (sometimes frightening) difference between shopping for a TV and a portable DVD player is that, in the latter market, no-name brands have more effectively flooded the market. That means even big box retailers will openly push products that aren’t instantly recognizable to the average home consumer.
So, what’s the big deal?
If it isn’t perfectly clear, there are a number of great advantages to owning a portable DVD player. For those who have kids and like to travel often, the ability to keep the little tykes busy for hours is only matched by the power of the Playstation Portable (PSP) or *Nintendo DS. Since those are often much more expensive devices (and sometimes not every kid’s cup of tea), portable DVD players are a great answer to the dreaded, "Are we there, yet?"
Most portable DVD players are a little lighter than the average in-home DVD player. Sometimes this depends on the edition you buy, since many utilize special rechargeable batteries instead of cords that plug into a cigarette outlet. If that’s important to you, make sure to take a good, long look at the box before proceeding to checkout. One other important feature to look for when buying a portable DVD player is the supported disc formats. Some will playback CD-R, DVD-R and CD-RW, while others may only support one or two of these.
In addition to playing DVDs, these portable devices generally play CDs as well. That eliminates the eed for a CD player, which should make for some extra room in the back seat.
Finally, kids with an ear will appreciate the parent who goes the extra mile and purchases a portable player with virtual surround sound. Since a host of speakers and a subwoofer aren’t generally a reality when traveling, the added sound quality can make a movie on the road that much more enjoyable.
