I have to say that the most useful piece of in-car entertainment equipment I have ever bought is not my radio or mp3 player, its my portable DVD player. No more do I have to listen to squabbling children in the back of the car when we take a long drive to visit elderly relatives. My little in-car DVD player is exactly what’s needed to keep the children happily occupied until we reach our destination.
But I also take a portable DVD player with me when I travel on business, often to Europe. My foreign language skills are embarrassingly poor so local television is not particularly useful. A few favourite DVDs, or maybe a TV series that I wanted to watch but didn’t, keeps me entertained and happy while living in a foreign hotel for a few days.
So what are the features of portable DVD players that are important? A good place to start is the price. They may seem expensive but luckily there are often bargains to be had. Shopping around, once you’ve decided on the features and maybe the model you are looking for, will definitely save you some money.
One of the main features to look at is the battery life. We’re considering a portable device here to battery life should be close to the top of the list. If you’re getting one for in-car use make certain that it has an appropriate adapter for the cigarette lighter power source.
Viewing angle is something else to consider, particularly if a single device is to be used by two or more demanding children. Be sure to pay some attention to the audio quality. The sound quality from the tiny inbuilt speakers can be very poor so you may want to consider those that come with headphones.
You should also consider the screen size. Ideally you want at least a seven inch display and you’ll find that devices with screens of nine to eleven inches will tend to cost more.
Finally, take a look at the warranty. Most good quality, branded DVD players will come with a warranty of at least 12 months.