Portable DVD players - branded or unbranded?

willowthecat

Hello

I've done a search on this thread and there doesn't seem to be a lot of recent info on these so any help would be greatly appreciated

Parents are going to buy me a portable DVD player for my birthday but they don't really want to spend more than £80.

I've seen that Philips do one with a iPod docking station for about £120 (just a ball park figure. Haven't hunted around for the cheapest price on the Internet yet!), so is it worth me paying the extra?

Also, I was wondering what people's views were on buying less well known brands than say Philips, Sony etc? I haven't bought any electrical stuff for ages (I've still got the 2nd generation iPod for a start lol) and I can't help but wonder if I've been brain washed by the marketing people into thinking that less well known brands are pants and will break within 5 minutes :cool:

Any help will very gratefully received

bookduck

I'd prefer something more solid state than cd based.

Archos is a fairly well know brand and if you buy a player like that or with the similar functions, then you can't really go wrong. £80 seems a bit limiting though and you may want to add some of your own money? Also the size of the portable DVD players are cumbersome they may fit inside some handbags but for men it just won't go into a pocket.

I'd buy something that plays avi, mp3, .mpg. if you are using it in the car or outdoors then screen brightness should be taken into account and so must battery life.

Blue Ray and/or HD DVD will also be popular soon.

I'd go for something like these but this is a personal choice, and they do not play avi files http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4GB-2-6-TFT-Touch-PMP-MP3-MP4-Video-AVI-Divx-FM-Player_W0QQitemZ300189113506QQihZ020QQcategoryZ73839QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem or http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-8-TFT-4GB-4G-MP3-MP4-Player-Video-SD-Slot-PG5-04GD_W0QQitemZ220195766748QQihZ012QQcategoryZ73839QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The problem with these i-??? docking station is that the current format will not be here forever. The company has to convince you to purchase the latest and greatest to survive and grow. I think the new i-phone format is the way they will go for a few years, so all those old i-? items that have a snug fit and white will at be the wrong colour and size.

Yes, some of the cheaper Chinese once do have controls that are not too good - just purchased an 1.8"screen 4GB mp3 + mp4player for £22 and its controls are a bit poor as it double clicks and often skips a track. The manual is written in notorious chinese to english manner and to be kind is fairly useless.

On the other hand it is £22, going to be carried around a lot in a handbag. There will be a much better version out in 6 months time and cheaper too, as with everything.
Yes, I would buy another, overall it is better than my friends 2gb sony mp3 at £60.

You could always try and purchase second hand item from ebay?

To be honest, I'd listen to your parents if I were you as they know you very well and understand you - even though sometimes you may not think so. I'm sure you 2nd generation ipod sounds the same as the 3rd generation one!

willowthecat

Hi Bookduck

Thanks for all the advice. You're an absolute :A

My boyfriend and I tend to do a lot of backpacking trips, so last time we came up with the idea of getting a portable dvd player because we tend to stay in budget rooms without a TV, so it'll be used just for something to watch whilst we eat our hotel room picnic dinner lol

I'll probably just get some speakers to go with the iPod and possibly a larger rucksack

I'm hanging on to the iPod though. You never know! With it being so old it might have retro status in a few years and fetch a mint on eBay lol

weegie.geek

bookduck wrote: »

I'd go for something like these but this is a personal choice, and they do not play avi files http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4GB-2-6-TFT-Touch-PMP-MP3-MP4-Video-AVI-Divx-FM-Player_W0QQitemZ300189113506QQihZ020QQcategoryZ73839QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem or http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-8-TFT-4GB-4G-MP3-MP4-Player-Video-SD-Slot-PG5-04GD_W0QQitemZ220195766748QQihZ012QQcategoryZ73839QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4GB wrote:

Supports WMV, MPG, MPEG I, MPEG II RM,VOB,DAT,RMVB,etc converted to AVI playing (Software included)

Sounds to me like it'll only play things in an avi container.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-8-TFT wrote:

Video formats supported: MPEG-4(AVI) video formats, other formats can be converted by software

That one too.

bookduck

yes weegie.geek, i'd did say personally about those player and they do only play in an avi type container

The portable DVD players never really took off- size, the motor sucks battery power, weight, and then a collection of dvd's to boot. I'd rather compress a dvd and a few avi's in one eve to a file, than watch a dvd on a portable. You'll fit about 8 DVD's on a 4GB mem stick - good enough for a psp.

Now I know what Willowthecat is doing and since she wants to claw her way at her hard earned cash, probably would have suggested the very portable Asus sub-notebook Eee PC at around £230 outside the £80 budget but does emails, built in wifi, camera. usb ports, mmc/sd card reader, can play games (bet it comes with solitare???) can take external DVD drive and hdd.

Apparently they are quite robust too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUS_Eee_PC