What is a Video Now and is it worth $25??

[marshallandcartersmo]

Thanks to this board, I checked out Walmarts toy clearance isle and I noticed they had some Video Nows for $25. I seem to remember something about them being popular over Christmas, but I don't know much about them. I'm assuming they play "movies"??? My boys are 2 & 5, and I was thinking of getting these for our plane ride to WDW in April..........however, they won't be sitting next to each other to share it, so I'd need to buy 2(small plane, 2 seats on one side and this is their first plane ride----I want them sitting w/an adult). It didn't seem to come with any movies---so I'm assuming I would have to buy those extra. My clearance deal is quickly adding up.....

Looking long term.........we already have a DVD player for the car, so this isn't something they'll need in the future for long car trips......

Opinions??

 

[thelionqueen]

My kids LOVE theirs! I thought it seemed kinda "cheesy" but it is one of their favorite things...go figure

 

[frayedend]

My kids hardly used theirs, aged 5 and 2. The downfall is that you have to buy the video now movies. Regular dvds don't work in them. And I honestly think that they won't be around very long for just that reason. Who wants to buy 2 versions of the same movie. I would price out the movies and see if it is worth it for your trip.

 

[Jessd]

My 8 year old son has the Video Now SP, with the flip up screen and he loves it. I got it from Toys R Us with their 12 days of Christmas coupons so I only paid 14.99 but he uses it every day. TRU then had a sale a couple of weeks later where the movies were 1/2 off. I got him two of the 3 packs and then 3 single movies. But he carries it with him everywhere. I would pay 25.00 for it as long as you can get the movies too.

My DD 18 months has the Video Now Jr. She plays it all the time. She loves sitting there watching it. She also has a couple of the 3 packs and singles of movies.

Jess

 

[ZanneMarie]

We have every version ever made!!! My oldest son keeps asking for the newest one and I got my daughter the Jr/Preschool version. We have definetly gotten our moneys worth out of them. We have used them in the car, airplane, in the store, at siblings sporting events. The discs that you get are generally only TV shows not movies. Like one disc will have a couple episodes of Sponge Bob or Dora. One of our favorites is one of Americas Funniest Home Videos. Actually before we got cable that included Nickelodoen my boys would watch the Video Now to get a Sponge Bob fix!

$25 is a good price especially if it is the XP version (newest).....it also has games that can be played from the XP discs in addition to the shows to watch.

 

[TheRatPack]

I agree, the new XP version has some game disc too that you can purchase. It doesn't play DVDs but then again you can't go buy a DVD of Zoe101 or some of the other series shows that my kids like to watch. My daughter loves hers and has used it quite a lot.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

For the two year old definately - especially if they have a Video Now Jr.
I have a 3 year old and he is now on his 2nd one. They are pretty tough and not prone to breakage, but he plays his almost every day and he also has a bad habit of pouring milk from his sippy cup onto his toys. Anyway, they have several preschool disks, sesame street, blue's clues, Dora... The Video Now Jr has been a great investment for us.

For the 5 year old you might consider just going ahead and buying him a Personal DVD player. They really don't make "movies" for the Video Nows, mostly disks with shows from Nick and stuff. He will have alot more movie playing options with a personal dvd player.

I also got ours during the $14.99 Toys R Us sale. I bought one for my 8year old niece then too and she really likes it.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

thanks everyone!! They did have the Video Now Jr. but it was $40 (go figure), so I was just going to get the regular Video Now for the 2yr old too. Will the regular Video Now will play Blues Clues, etc (more kiddie shows) or will just the Jr. one do that??
I didn't notice if it was a newer one or not, it was sorta whitish-grayish......guess I need to go back and check it out more...........

 

[frannn]

Got the Jr for DD3 for Xmas. She loves it, but it kills batteries within a few hours of viewing. I also got her the XP for 14.99, but will give it to her when she's not so rough on her toys. BTW, we also got the leapster, which she loves just as much. You might consider one videonow & one leapster.

 

[LisaNJ25]

thanks everyone!! They did have the Video Now Jr. but it was $40 (go figure), so I was just going to get the regular Video Now for the 2yr old too. Will the regular Video Now will play Blues Clues, etc (more kiddie shows) or will just the Jr. one do that??
I didn't notice if it was a newer one or not, it was sorta whitish-grayish......guess I need to go back and check it out more...........

yes, the reg video now plays jr tapes.. we are all 2 video nows. My 16mo uses the jr since its a little more durable.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

We just got them for Christmas and I have got to tell you, my 3 kids all love theirs.

It started innocently enough I bought one regular Videonow (pink) on Ebay with 3 discs, car adaptor, headphones and carry case for $10.69 That was for middle DD 6. Then I happened to be at Kohls on one of the sale days and got a blue XP w/ discs for $34.00 for dd 8. Of course then my little guy would have needed one, so I found a Videonow Jr w/ Dora discs at Walmart for $29.00. SO I averaged it out and all three kids got one for about $25.00 with a few discs. Not bad, but the kids love them. As an aside, my middle dd (the wildest of the bunch) was caught last night in her bed, under the covers with a flashlight and a bag of popcorn watching hers She lost it for a week now

 

[Toby'sFriend]

She loves it, but it kills batteries within a few hours of viewing.

BTW, I've been using Energizer rechargeable batteries in ours -- it ran for about a year using those until another tragic sippy cup accident gunked up the buttons.

 

[cyndibelle]

got one for my daughter and i think she maybe used it 5 times...what a waste..and it wasnt on clearance when i got it for her ...

 

[emh1129]

We have the VideoNow Jr and my son loves it! We don't let him use it all the time (just like we don't let him watch TV a lot) but it sure comes in handy for long car rides, etc. We have Sesame Street, Dora, Blue's Clues, Little Bill,etc.
I agree about rechargeable batteries, though- regular batteries won't last very long.

I am having a tough time finding discs, though. I've checked Wal-Mart and Target (both in stores and websites) and no luck. I've only been able to find them on e-bay.
Anyone else have better luck?