Portable players come with an array of enticing features and options. The most important features are the screen size, the weight of the player, widescreen options and audio/video outputs.



Here are some tips to help you choose the right one:

Screen Size

Since you want a DVD player that is literally ‘portable’ the first thing you need to check is its size. Everyone loves a large screen but remember that larger the screen, higher the price and the greater the weight so you will need to determine where the trade off is in the context of your own requirements.

Weight & Dimensions

The weight and dimensions of the player are equally important. For travel purposes, choose one that is lightweight. This is particularly important if you occasionally have to put the player on your lap. If you are only planning to use it in an hotel for family or shared viewing, a larger screen model will be more appropriate.

Technical Excellence

Check to see if your portable DVD player uses progressive scan technology and offers widescreen support as well. These features will enhance your viewing pleasure. If you anticipate connecting it with a home theatre system, your player must come equipped with a decent video output such as S-video, together with audio outputs. Audio should ideally be optical rather than traditional RCA / phono to allow you to connect it with your home theatre system’s surround sound decoder.

Once you have identified all these features, decide whether you are likely to want to play music as well as DVDs. If so, you'll also need to confirm support for CDs as well as CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and MP3s.

How Much to Pay

Now that you have a clearer perspective on all the factors that make a good portable DVD player, here’s a brief look at prices.

Just as with any other electronic appliance, the prices of portable DVD players vary according to screen size, model, and the number of additional features included. A good quality portable DVD player can be bought for under £115. For instance, a portable model which features a seven-inch colour LCD screen as well as MP3, CD-R, and CD-RW capabilities is, at the time of writing, just £105. If you prefer a 7" slim line model, which plays DVDs, CDs, and MP3s, and features complete cabling, built-in stereo speakers, and a cigarette lighter adapter for in-car use, you will have to pay around £110. Prices are dynamic, particularly as newer models replace the existing ones.

NextBase Portable DVD Players

NextBase DVD players manufactured by Merconnet are an established brand in the industry. The company has brought the world’s first tablet type DVD player to market. They also offer a range of attractive models to suit different budgets.

The mainstream NextBase offering is a flat, lightweight model with a 7-inch widescreen TFT display designed specifically to play movies on the go. The player is flat, like any CD player, and can be fitted to a car’s seat headrest so that children can watch a movie during the journey. It plays multiple media formats: DVD/ VCD/ CD/ HDCD/ CD-R/ CD-RW/ MP3/ and WMA Disks.

Conclusion

With geographical boundaries vanishing, busy people are often keen to snatch a few hours of uninterrupted entertainment on the go. The portable DVD player is ideal for this purpose. The technology has improved dramatically over the last few years, resulting in ever smaller, lighter and more functional models. Given the variety of potential applications and the choice of media formats for both music and video, it is important that you accurately identify your own needs before deciding upon a given model. Look for a friendly, helpful retailer and an established brand, of which NextBase is a good example.