Need Suggestions for Portable DVD Player

[mdsouth]

Hi,

I want to buy a portable DVD player for our upcoming road trip. If you have one that you like and would recommend, I would love to hear your suggestions (brands and models if known). I would like to keep the cost below $200 if possible, no more that $250.

I am also interested in the pros and cons to buying a dual screen portable DVD player instead of one screen.

 

[tiggger1]

I am also looking for one.. My daughter's finally broke...( she used it daily for over 2 years!)

 

[trivial]

I suspect that just about any would do if you're looking to buy an inexpensive player for occasional use, but here are a few links you may find helpful (the latter 2 links for their ratings):

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/electronics/portable-dvd-players/
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n...21&rnid=172514&rh=n:1065836,n:172514,n:172521
http://www.epinions.com/DVD_Players--reviews--portable_dvd_player

 

[jillalvarez2003]

Sam's has some really nice 8.5 inch Panasonic ones for just under $200... they come with a carrying case, car mount (around the headrest style), car adaptor and a regular plug for the house. We bought two of them and love them.

 

[minniebeth]

This is not scientific research but just our experience:
We spent about $250 on a Panasonic portable DVD player, priced a little higher before they went down in price.
We bought another one for $80 at Target on sale, can't remember the brand.
We've used both of them a lot, but they both lasted exactly 2 years and that was it. They are kind of "disposable" and therefore I personally won't buy another expensive one again.
We love portable DVD players and use them in a variety of different ways, so I definately think they are worth whatever you pay!

 

[blackforest]

Keep an eye out for the Walgreens ads. I purchased ours for around $90.00 Came with the carrying case and an earphone splitter, so 2 sets of earphones can be used for the one movie. Love it! And it came with all the cords to run the player through the T.V., not only at home but at the hotel! Have had ours for over 2 years and it is still going strong. It is a Protron brand.

 

[lauraljp]

You might want to consider buying it somewhere where you can get a warranty. We bought ours at Target for around $179 and paid $30 for a 3 year warranty. We just bought it in March so no problems yet. Not going to recommend it because I don't have a long enough track record with this one.

My son bought a cheaper (Polaroid) one a few years ago and it didn't last a year. It started freezing up and skipping. No warranty so he was out the $100 he paid.

 

[mdsouth]

Thanks for the information!

I have been debating on whether to invest the money is a more expensive one or go the budget route. I appreciate the links to the rating information.

I thought I would keep my eye out for deals since summer is just beginning and we don't need it until later in the summer.

Thanks again! DISers ROCK!!!

 

[kkwis2]

We bought our first one (a dual screen) from Sam's Club in 2004. We were driving from MN to NM with a 1 and 3 yr old. It was fantastic......until it died the morning of our return drive. We were able to return it to Sam's when we got home no problem, though, and got our money back.

We really didn't need another until about 1 1/2 years later. We bought another from Sam's. It is the one we have used since. It is a dual screen as well. We don't use it all that often, just for road trips and our one trip to Disney in 2006. It has held up just fine. We don't leave it in the car (try to avoid extreme heat and cold) unless we're traveling.

If you're buying it to use in the car, I would suggest getting one that mounts to the back of the seat (ours attaches to the head rest). Our kids like to have the option to hold it, but sometimes they want to color or read, etc...they want to have their lap space for something else.