Cheap portable DVD players are great for watching movies while on the move. Here are a few advantages and disadvantages of these gadgets, which can help you decide if you really need one.
If you’ve been on a long train or bus ride, you will know just how boring it can be, with nothing to do but look out of the window. Wouldn’t it be great if you could watch your favorite movies instead? Well, you could do just that with a portable DVD player.
A smaller version of regular DVD players, these come with an attached screen, which enable you to see movies wherever you may be. So what’s new, you might well say. Well, the good news is that the price of these have come down drastically, allowing almost everyone to afford one. However, before buying one, you should know their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
Inexpensive
Yes, that is one of its best selling points. These are generally priced in the range between $70 to about $200, with most of them priced at the lower end of the price range. Some, in fact, are available for even as low as around $20. Except for a few, many manufacturers are not big names. The market segment is dominated by names like Audiovox, CyberHome, Astar, Mustek, Coby, and so on.
High on Features
Although they are low-priced, the features that they have are equivalent to the premium models that are high-priced. Many of them come with a built-in 7-inch or 8-inch LCD, or liquid crystal display, screen. There are also models that come with 5-inch or 6½-inch screens. Compact and light, most players play practically all types of media formats, as well as support all types of television systems.
However, despite their main advantage of enabling you to watch movies wherever and whenever you want to, especially when you are on the go, there are certainly some disadvantages that cheap portable DVDs do have.
Disadvantages
Unable to Play Different File Formats
These days, DVD players usually are able to play various file formats such as DVD, CD-R, CD, etc. So, when looking at portable DVD players, check to see whether they can indeed handle the various file formats, so that you don’t end up missing out on this important feature, especially if you want to use it to create your own home movies or CDs.
Poor Sound Quality
The quality of the audio can be poor. They just do not have enough volume to counter the noise that occurs while traveling, such as the noise on the road, or conversation, and so on. Also, the components that make up the units of cheap products usually are of poorer quality. Hence, it is wise to test it before buying.
Screen Size and Viewing Angle
In case more than two people are going to be viewing it, then the smaller 5-inch screens are certainly inadequate, especially for those sitting at a distance from it. Also, if people sit on either side of it, in effect viewing the screen at a 45-degree angle or thereabouts, some of them appear blurred. So, when choosing a portable DVD player, it is a good idea to check out these factors.
However, because of its price, its portability and that it provides the basics of movie viewing while on the move, these portable DVD players are well worth it.
