Using laptop to watch DVD on plane

[wisbucky]

Has anyone used a laptop to watch DVD movies while on the plane. We have a laptop that we just got. I have two battery modules for it but neither of them will last more than 35 minutes with the DVD movie running. Has anyone else has any luck with watching a DVD movie in its entirety with batteries.

 

[Bill From PA]

It wasn't me, but the guy next to me on our trip from PHL to MCO watched a movie all the way there. Personally, I'd rather catch some ZZs, it was New Year's Day after all, but it didn't bother me.

Bill From PA

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We did last month. We didn't get too far into the movie because we couldn't hear it, the engines were too loud and I didn't want to crank it up too high so as not to disturb those around us (maybe an earplug would work but there were three of us watching it). I also got tired of holding it, LOL, so we bagged it. Our battery is good for about 2 hours normally.

 

[Vavasmon]

We have done it - you need to make sure you have the longer life battery and a pair of headphones or earbuds. You will need to use the tray table since the battey will get warm (and you lap tired). You can watch anytime portable electronics are allowed. If you have more than 1 person it is very difficult - screen angle; headphone splitter, etc.

 

[dudspizza]

We bought a new Mac iBook a few months ago and I plan using it on the plane ride from MSP to MCO.

I actually tested it today to see how long the battery would last. I made sure it was fully charged and then I powered it up. I started a 2 hour long movie and let it run. After the movie ended, I checked the battery life and it still had 40% left! The test was a success.

It has 1 headphone jack, so I have a splitter that works nice and both of my girls can watch a DVD all the way down. They decided today that they will watch Haunted Mansion! How fitting. I am looking forward to the trip.

I am also taking my masters program online, so I will need to go to one of the hotels with WIFI access at WDW and do some homework.... fun stuff... maybe the lounge at the CR!

Have fun!

Duds

 

[DVC California]

Yes, we take a laptop with us on every trip and the kids love it. We have a Compaq and the batteries last just about two hours. We also bought an extra battery ($90 bucks) and take along a small plug in inverter too ($10.00?). Some planes have a cigarette lighter type plug under the seat. Just plug into that and your good to go the entire flight.

We also use headphones so we are not disturbing any neighbors. Go to Radio Shack and buy a splitter "y" cable adapter so that more than on person can plus in.

HTH, Steve

 

[xterratri]

My sister and I have both used our Apple iBooks for watching movies when travelling but the computers only travel for academic reasons.(I get right around 4 hours of battery life.) Our mom doesn't let us bring the computers to the World if we are between semesters so we have portable DVD players for those trips. Her reasoning is that it is a waste of the computer to use it just as a DVD player(but it does it so well Mom) and she worries less about leaving the relatively inexpensive DVD players in the room than the laptops. I'll definitely be taking my computer when we make a short Oct trip for MNSSHP and Food and Wine fest though because its right in the middle of the semester.

 

[georgina]

We've been on a few planes that had the power outlets in the arm of each seat, so we didn't have to use the batteries, but that has been rare. That computer came in very handy occupying the kids when Delta stuck us in an airport for an entire day last summer!

 

[inkkognito]

You can buy a "splitter" so that more than one person can listen to the audio. I would definitely not use the speakers because I think it would get annoying to your neighbors. I have used my laptop for movies many times, but then we bought a cheapie DVD player at Wal-Mart and have switched to that because the battery life is so much better. I could barely make it through a movie on my Sony Presario 2100, but the portable player definitely lasts the whole Orlando flight.
Barb

 

[SueM in MN]

We bought a new Mac iBook a few months ago and I plan using it on the plane ride from MSP to MCO.

I actually tested it today to see how long the battery would last. I made sure it was fully charged and then I powered it up. I started a 2 hour long movie and let it run. After the movie ended, I checked the battery life and it still had 40% left! The test was a success.....
Duds

Apple computers have awesome battery life. I have a 2 year ibook (with a 2 year old battery) that gets over 4 hours on the battery. Meanwhile, the one year old Compac laptop that I have for work gets only about 2 hours doing word processing.

I agree with those who suggested a splitter and earphones. You will need them.

 

[wisbucky]

I have a brand new Dell laptop. I purchased an extra battery module back up. Well neither of the batteries will last more than 30 minutes while watching a DVD. Anyone know why?

 

[Lewisc]

but I wonder if you'll get longer battery life if you rip the DVD to your hard drive and play the movie without using the DVD drive.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Many things can eat up battery power. Make sure you turn off all the extra background programs that can be running that are not needed for a movie...bluetooth...airport, etc. Also, there are settings for the screen and keyboard that can be changed to conserve energy. Read your manual and see all the energy saving things you can do and then see if your battery lasts longer.

 

[wisbucky]

I finally called Dell and found out that the batteries will only last approx 30-40 minutes while watching a DVD. It is the video part that really eats on the battery. So much for the hope of being able to watch a DVD while on the plane.

 

[DMRick]

We use a portable DVD player, and head phones that go right into your ear ($5 at Walmart). We had to use the ones that go into your ear, because even with regular "good" headphones, I couldn't hear. Now it's fine. Headphones eat up less battery than having the sound on, or so I was told when I bought it. I do have to remember not to laugh out loud when watching. Wow, does the flight go fast when watching a movie.

 

[Brian Noble]

Try using www.movielink.com; you "rent" movies, download them locally, and play them from your hard drive. I have a Toshiba tablet with a pretty wimpy processor, and I can't quite get through a whole movie, but with a second battery don't have a problem.

 

[Lewisc]

Try using www.movielink.com; you "rent" movies, download them locally, and play them from your hard drive. I have a Toshiba tablet with a pretty wimpy processor, and I can't quite get through a whole movie, but with a second battery don't have a problem.

Brian--Do you find playing a movie from your hard drive, either using movielink.com or ripping a movie from a DVD, is more battery friendly than playing a DVD from the notebook's DVD drive?

BTW you can get one free movielink.com movie through a link from SW.

http://www.southwest.com/hotfares/movielink.html?src=rrnews