VCR in a bag--have any of you bought one of these?

[KerriKaden]

These look pretty neat for $269. But have any of you actually tried it yet? Here's a link to it:
Target--VCR in a Bag (http://www.target.com/common/catalog/product.jhtml?navAction=push&navCount=4&prodid=78496&catnav=8771)

Let me know what you guys think. We have about 16+ hours of driving, and I would love to get one of these.
Thanks.

[Kallison]

KK - That looks cool to me. We have a tv/vcr console that slides between the two front seats and we love it. The kids are usually good for 3 or 4 movies. DH and I can actually have a conversation while we are driving without interruption. My kids are terrible travelers and this has helped us a lot. One thing we like to do is bring movies that we have seen again and again and again and sometimes we will all do the dialogue, keeps DH awake and alert.

[lvs_eeyore]

We looked at these but decided against getting one. We have a car and sit with the seats pretty far back. I was afraid that the kids would be messing with the controls with their feet etc....

[luvmy2sams]

We bought a similar one called "Video Traveler" off the internet before our trip last October, and we absolutely love it! Our drive was a little longer than yours, and it kept our DD completely content. Having it in a backpack makes it very easy to transport and conceal when pit stops are made. Looks like this one would be a welcome diversion for your trip!:)

[CatOne]

We absolutley LOVE ours!! It was a lifesaver!! Our dd was almost three on our first trip to WDW in May, about a 13 hour drive, and she was terrific! All because of this wonderful invention.


CatOne

[cumickey]

K-Mart have one on sale right now for $250 down from $400. We are planning on getting it. The screen detaches as well which will be handy and velcro's to the headrest, so has any tried this one?. Has the 4" monitor again which is tiny!!, but heck if they are lucky enough to get TV in the car they can suffer the screen right!.

[tink2dw]

More Info Audiovox Portable 4 In. LCD Monitor and Video
Our Price: $270.00
(Retail Value: $348.00)
SAVE $78
Play back videos or plug in videogames to keep the kids happy in the car!!

http://www.smartbargains.com/images/product/2010106559_SM.jpg

Here is the link
http://www.smartbargains.com/cat.asp?deptId=7&catId=55&page=2&ob=

Hope this helps!!

[Here'sTigger2U]

Believe it or not, that 4" monitor isn't that bad when your staring right at it! Tink, all I would suggest is TRY IT before the trip (kinda a no-brainer). My dw's mini van has the fold down screen built in, and it is truly the best for kids!! Beats playing "I-spy" any day.


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
Bob.

[truescorp]

I saw a post on one of these boards that took me to a "Survive the Drive" website that had these tv/vcr in a bag for rent for $99 for the week. It looks like a good deal but I am wary of renting over the internet. Anyone know where you can rent these inperson? OUr budget doesnt allow to buy one right now, plus I would like to try one out before we do that. Thanks for any info anyone has!!!

[Synonymous]

It was hard to tell from the picture- does anybody know if this is small enough to bring on an airplane? And does it run on batteries?

We wanted to get a portable DVD player, but they are just TOO expensive.

Thanks

[dzneprincess]

I purchased a 9 in TV/VCR combo for a cross country trip from GA to CO. My kids absolutely loved it, but we ran into a problem. We found that during the day, while we were driving west,the sun was shining behind us and they had a hard time seeing the screen. Does anyone have that problem with this screens?

[tlduckie]

DOES THE VCR IN A BAG VIBRATE MUCH? IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS HOOK WITH ELASTIC. I AM NOT SURE IF I WANT THE ONE THAT SITS ON THE FLOOR OR THE VCR IN A BAG.

[dzneprincess]

I went with the purpse of buying this VCR in Bag which they had one left at 249.00, but I went to the electronics dept and found on audiovox DVD portable player on clearance for 349.00. I hemmed and hawed for a good 30 mins b4 making a decision bc it was a 100.00 difference, but I decided to go with the DVD player, bc at least I can hook it up to the TV in my room when we are thru travelling. Also it has a larger screen, 5.8 "

[parrotheadlois]

My son and daughter are driving to WDW in November with my 2 grandsons (4 and 6). To keep the peace in the car for the 2 day drive from NJ I'm planning on buying one of the TV/VCR combo tv's (9 inch screen). How did you attach yours in the car. I'm just afraid of it flying around. I'm thinking the always useful duct tape.

[momoftwogirls]

bump

I'm also curious about how to strap the TV down.

[TrlyScrumptious]

We have a portable DVD player, which is a lifesaver in the car. But, if you get one of them for air travel, be forewarned...the batteries only last long enough to play about one movie. If your flight is looong, it won't provide all the diversion you need. Extra batteries are about $100 each. We've also taken a laptop with a DVD player, but you can wind up with the same problem. No warning...your movie is just GONZO! I like DVD's because of the size. If you're really in a pinch for space, you can put the disks into one of those "CD wallets" and take a bunch along in almost no space at all.

[parrotheadlois]

I guess we're on our own with this idea! I figure duct tape, or bungee cords. If we got one of those video travelers with the 4 inch screen, the two boys would undoubtedly fight over whose side the screen was on!

[albiats]

I have a Chevy Van with the 9 inch tv /vcr combo sitting inside of a prefabricated wood console. It's really just a box that sits on the floor, with holes cut out so you can pass the cables through for power, antennae, and external speakers.

The tv just sits on the floor, it isn't attached to anything, and it has never fallen out or bumped against the top of the box or anything like that. It's been in the van since it was new, and that was in '93 and over 130,000 miles ago. I have had to remove it a couple of times to make more room for access to the doghouse, so I know there isn't anything holding it down except gravity.

I think the weight of it keeps it situated on the floor and I never drive 'off road', so it just has to contend with the bumps that I try to avoid anyway.

As far as avoiding the sun light for tv viewing, they make sun screens that have little suction cups on them that you can move from one window to another, if you had two of them, you should be able to adjust them and move them as needed.

I'm sure that the heavy duty type velcro would be sufficient to hold it down if you just wanted it to sit on the floor in the middle of the front seats or something like that.

If it has an external speaker jack or a headphone jack, you can get an adapter at Radio Shack to connect two headphones into one jack, just be sure to match the size of the plug correctly.

[parrotheadlois]

The two headphones idea is a good one, I'll have to check into that. Also velcro is a thought too. Thanks for your help!:)

[Ldona]

I just bought a 9" tv/vcr combo to drive to WDW in November. Because I
wanted it to absorb shock and tilt the front of the TV up, I used the "wedge"
I bought for support when I was pregnant. It's a fabric covered wedge
and it seems to work fine. I did use heavy duty velcro to attach the TV to the
wedge and I also put velcro on the remote so it would stick to the Tv when
not in use. My only concern is whether I'm getting enough ventilation by sitting it on the
foam. I will check out the "stand" that tilts, if it's still available at Target. Does anyone know
how much heat is normal for these TV's to generate??

[albiats]

My 9 inch tv / vcr combo is completely enclosed on 3 sides in a wooden case with about one inch space around it. It also sits on the floor, between the two seats in the front of my van. The wooden enclosure has two round holes on the side about one inch in diameter for the cables to pass through.

It isn't used on every road trip, but occasionally is used for 6 or more hours at a time and it has never had any problems with heat build up.

I think they need some air circulating around them but I know they do not have the same amount of heat generated as they would have several years ago. Electronic components are now made with circuitry that require less current and therefor, generate less heat.

I think your tv will be fine as long as you keep the normail airflow around it clear and unobstructed.

[sha_lyn]

the TV wedge at target is a lot like the pregnancy wedges. It is like 2 of them with velcro on boht sides. You can put them together with the sime edges togeter to make a thicker wedge or with the oppisite ends together so there is no tilt just a square.

[bunny]

Please don't duct tape or velcro a tv in your car. Choose something that is specifically made for use in a vehicle- something that is sold through a car dealership or at least something that is physically mounted into your vehicle. I realize these units are much more expensive but I don't think riggering it up yourself is safe. My brother's brother-in-law is a PA state police officer. He is trained to do car seat and vehicle safety inspection. He inspected my car. First of all my car seat was mounted incorrectly. Second, I had those sun blocker with suction cups on the windows. He said in the event of a crash their weight would equal one to two pounds due to gravity. They really only weigh a couple ounces. He told me they are trained to ask people to remove those. He also told me to detach a head pillow from the car seat since it was only attached with velcro. If the police don't want you have those two tiny things, just think of what being hit with a TV could do to you. Just a word of caution. Maybe you could even go to the nearest state police barracks and have them check whatever you do decide to purchase.

[truescorp]

All the makeshift ways people have posted to keep a big 9inch tv down do make me nervous also. Especially when you can get the Tv/VCR in a bag from Target. We bought one and absolutely love it! It works in the house too, and we used it in the hotel when we got to Disney so the kids could still watch their tapes. Sure, its a 4in screen, but the kids dont notice that, they just know they are watching tv in the car!

[Robinrs]

I just got the VCR in a bag last week. My sister bought it for my son for Christmas. It is awesome! I couldn't believe how clear the images are!

I have it in my office while we wait to present it to him next month. I watch videos during lunch! People in my office are lining up to buy one!

One thing I really like about it is that it has two holes for the headphones and the volume control is somewhat hidden so the kids can't fiddle with it. We plan to drive from Atlanta to Orlando on 12/30 so I think I'll have some peace!

[tlduckie]

I just had circuit city install 4 TV 5.5" monitors in the headrests of my ford windstar. It is installed so when I turn the key on or off it goes on or off. It also can be played through the speakers or with a flip of the switch and the magic of earphones be played that way. The vcp is installed under the passengers seat and I had the option of installing a dvd or even one of each and two TVs could watch one thing and the other two watch something else. LOVE IT.

[momx2]

:D We just got our vcr in a bag today that we order off the link on this thread from Target. I was really leary after I ordered it because of the 4 inch screen, but let me say it may be the best $272.48 (shipping included) that I ever spent. My DD thinks it is great!! The picture is wonderfully clear. Please either buy one of these or have something professionally installed for safety sake. Oh, yea we can take it into the hotel rooms so DD can watch videos there! Great Buy!!!!!!

[4disneyfans]

We bought the 9" vcr/tv combo and we have a minivan. The TV fits snuggly between the two
front seats. However, we did put a strip of wood under the front of the TV to tilt it up a little
for our children. We just put a throw over it when we are not in the van. Make sure there is ventilation. We also put a piece of velcro on the top of the TV to keep the remote control from being misplaced. Hope this helps.:jester:

[Cameo]

tlduckie

Do you mind me asking - how much did your set-up cost? This sounds like a wonderful idea, but may be outside my price range. I would love to put it in the budget though. If you don't want to answer online, you could email me at cksn@home.com

[sha_lyn]

http://www.disboards.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=108184&perpage=15&pagenumber=3

Here is the link for where I asked tlduckie the same question. It does seem pricy but once I added up what it cost for the extra monitors for the steel horse version of TV in a bag the price is pretty close.

The steel horse mobile cinema monitors can attach to the headrest. The basic unit at K mart is 350. It is a monitor/VCP. It does not pick up TV signals. The extra monitors however are 299 each. The unit with the tv tuner is 599 online (can't remember where).

One place on line has the head rest with built in monitors you can order. They are pricy but I believe they are wireless.

Personally after 9/11 I want one with the tv tuner. I was listening to it on the radio as it was happening and drove to an electronics store so I could see it on TV.

I'm still looking and if I find any good deals out there I will be sure to post it.

[tlduckie]

Cameo I love my monitors they work great for me. I have four children and my two oldest are very active in school volleyball softball basketball track and the high school play......During the practicing of the play my daughter would pick me up at nine and there we sat waiting till 9:45 or 10:00 so it kept my 8 and 11 year busy. I also do child care in my home and found the monitors handy the other day I had to take my 15 year old to the doctors to get an eye exam and the parents I do child care could not find anyone to kept the children so...Wilily Wonka and 4 carseats later the children were happy as can be. LOVE IT I would have paid almost the same amount to fly so I thought heck I will be going to visit my mother she just moved last month to SC:( . My mother and I are close so I will make many trips and could not afford to fly on a regular basis so TV monitors it was. GREAT CHOICE for me in the long run. I want one like
sha_lyn was talking about so I can use it for me in the front seat. I don't want that one to be permanent. I paid for two monitor great deal 500? maybe 550. you can get any vcp you want

[xmasgoer]

Here are two more websites with headrest and overhead monitors: http://cardiscountstereos.com/Mobile%20Video.asp?Catagory=MV&Sub_Catagory=MV
http://budgetcarstereo.com/Emerson/mobile_video.htm
We are considering a floor console system, but we have a Town & Country with heated seats and one of the websites said they will not fit with our minivan. Anyone have a good floor console system that might work for us? They have a 9" monitor and you can remove it and use in your hotel room. You can see one at http://www.motortraders.com/consoles.htm

[sha_lyn]

xmasgoer

thanks for the links. I am serious looking at the first site you posted. They have a complete package with 2 headrest monitors, tv tuner, vcp and wireless headphones for 669.

[xmasgoer]

Sha_lyn,

Thanks for pointing out the headrest monitor package. I mentioned it to my dh and now he likes that better. Do you have any estimates for installation? I'm not sure who to call since most places seem to only install units they sell. I'm going to have to let my fingers do some more walking through the yellow pages. I bought a Sony Playstation for the trip, so now I'm committed to finding a way for the kids to play it :pinkbounc

[sha_lyn]

most of the sites claim they are easily self installed (hopefully). I haven't checked around for instalation becasue I will most likely try to make it easy to remove by using velcro to attach the monitors. One site I found does say they will install the monitors into your headrest for 35 a piece plus shipping.

[xmasgoer]

With all the posts about people strapping down tv/vcr combo's I thought some might be interested in this product http://www.realelectronics.com/item.asp?item=38001 which straps around the front seats like the vcr in the bag. For $65 and a combo tv it's a great deal.

[parrotheadlois]

Wow! That's perfect. We've already done our trip this year, just tucked the TV between the two front seats, but this is much safer. Thanks!! I'm gonna buy it for future adventures.

[Certifiable WDW Nut]

Xmasgoer, I bought this yesterday at Target on sale for $49.99. It was the last one and had been opened so the instructions are missing. DH emailed the company so hopefully we'll be getting the instructions soon. We still need to buy the 9" TV, but this works out cheaper than the between the seat model we were looking at and better than the bag model, which only has a 4" screen. I hope it works. If not you'll be seeing it on ebay soon. :-)

[parrotheadlois]

I saw it on sale in Target too. I went today, all sold out. No rain checks either (DARN!!!).

[xmasgoer]

Our Target was out of them too by the time I got there (it was my 8th store of the day, after all). The lady said they would be getting more, but did not know when. Was this the Steel Horse brand or another brand? Neither the ad nor the display had the brand name. We finally decided to go this route since it seems the most economical and the 9" tv screen will probably be best for the new Playstation we will have for the trip.

[Certifiable WDW Nut]

It is the Steel Horse brand. Still waiting on the instructions, but we did get an auto response that they go the email. So we'll wait and see.

[mrs.pixiedust]

I don't know if anyone is interested...but Best Buy had one of the 9" tv/VCR combo that plugs into the cig. lighter for only $159 when I was there on Saturday. They were out but were suppose to get more Sun. The guy said is is usually $199. I want one but my husband is insisting on a console unit. We have a Dodge Caravan...anyone else have console unit in a Caravan??

[xmasgoer]

Certifiable WDW Nut,

I just bought the TV Tote, so if you still need directions, let me know. I can probably fax them to you.

Xmasgoer

[Certifiable WDW Nut]

I got ahold of the manufacturer and had the instructions faxed from them. I ended up returning the unit though because it didn't fit in my 4Runner. I think we are back to the unit that sits in the middle of the back bench seat. The price is down to $400 and Best Buy sent me a 10% off coupon for next weekend. Becoming more affordable all the time. Thanks again for the offer.