Portable DVD Player Recommendations?

[TNT]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a portable DVD player. I looked on Video help, but the info is incomplete. So, I thought I'd ask you guys.

I want something SMALL, 7-8", Li-ion battery, Great Picture Quality, at least 3hr battery life, and decent quality. Preferably a name brand. I'm looking in the $2-300 range. ANY suggestions would be appreciated. Also it would be great if you knew if NON-Anamorphic DVD's can be enlarged to fill one dimension of the screen.

Thanks!

I've been considering Toshiba, LG, Samsung and Panasonic.

[Chewy]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7444802&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat13900050018&id=1127508841699

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6970469&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat13900050018&id=1099386329954

good luck on finding one in stock, they seem like hot products

but with divx playback 3 hrs ain't enough

got kids?

the tosh zoom features are the best, but I would bring my own dvd into store

[TNT]

Yeah, I was considering those two. What about http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1108125394075

It has a 4.2hr Battery life and has zoom. What do you know about the Toshiba zoom features?

[Chewy]

all the tosh standalones I have bought get rid of half the black bars
top and bpttom of regular tv, which would be perfect for wide screen
like the portable, don't have the portable but you have got me wanting it.
the description of zoom fits

[TNT]

The LG looks nice as does the Samsung. Do I want Battery life or Divx? Hmm.

[cynthia]

I got one for some months ago. I wish there was some feature that could remember the last place you watched the DVD. Every time you turn it on - you have to jump manually to that spot.

[TNT]

I wish there was some feature that could remember the last place you watched the DVD.

I know some players do that. My mom's Mintek resumes. I believe the Lg has that feature as well.

[drfsupercenter]

I love this one, and it even plays both PAL and NTSC. Samsung L-70 (I got it for $200 from Circuit City). It has a 7 inch screen, battery life is only 2 hours but it comes with an AC charger and a car plug, and I hear you can get a 4.5 hour battery from Samsung.

[TNT]

The L-75 is the L-70 with the 4.2Hr Battery from Samsung from what I understand. DRF, I'm curious as to how the unit handles NON-Anamorphic Widescreen DVD's. Can it still fill the screen or entire width of the screen?
Is the battery that comes with the L70 a NiMH or Li-Ion?

Thanks!

[drfsupercenter]

Yes, what it does is automatically stretch the picture, and you have to manually use the "EZ View" function to set "vertical height" or something. This will not work on menus, which it automatically stretches no matter what. What makes me mad is that each time it jumps to a new title, it stretches it again, and you have to use EZ View again. That is why I asked what I did here. Other than that, it is an excellent player, the only thing I don't like is that I had to send it in for repair to Samsung because the DVD cover was faulty and wouldn't stay closed. At least the repair was free. I think the L75 has a bigger screen, or a slightly different design, but I am not sure. I will look into that.

--EDIT-- apparently the L75 is identical to the L70, with the longer battery. See here and here for more info.

[TNT]

I went to BEST BUT and bought the Samsung L75. In the end, the determining factor was Picture Quality. Toshiba had a fuzzier picture when compared to the Samsung. The LG had prominent horizontal lines which really bothered me. I went to another Best Buy to confirm and I came to the same conclusion. Best Buy never disappoints, their customer service is horrible and everything takes for ever. I would never buy from them if their competitors offered the same products. I was forced to go there because everyone else carries the L70 with the 2.5hr battery. Kind of disappointed that I can't seem to find a way for it to remember where I left off.

DRF: Do you know if there is a way to get this thing to remember where you stopped watching the movie?

Thanks, everyone for your help!

[Chewy]

The Bookmark function lets you select parts of a DVD so that you can quickly find the section at a later time.
Using the Bookmark Function (DVD)
1. During play, press the MENU button on the remote.
2. Use the UP/DOWN buttons to highlight Function, then press the RIGHT or ENTER button.
3. Select Bookmark using the UP/DOWN button and then press ENTER. The Bookmark icons will be displayed.
4. Highlight “_ ” and press ENTER to mark the point you want and the mark will change to a number.
Press CLEAR to delete the bookmark.
Recalling a Marked Scene
1. During play, press the MENU button on the remote.
2. Use the UP/DOWN buttons to highlight Function, then press the RIGHT or ENTER button.
3. Select Bookmark using the UP/DOWN button and then press ENTER. The Bookmark icons will be displayed.
4. Use the LEFT/RIGHT buttons to select a marked scene.
5. Press the PLAY ( ) button to skip to the marked scene.
6. Press CLEAR to delete this setting
Using the Bookmark Function

[TNT]

Thanks Chewy, but the Bookmark function disables when I turn the power off.

[Chewy]

does it play burned dvds(old ones)?

[drfsupercenter]

"DRF: Do you know if there is a way to get this thing to remember where you stopped watching the movie?"

No, there isn't. That is why I was mad when the cover broke, as it would randomly open at times, forcing me to start the whole movie over and yada yada. But yes, the bookmark feature does what you want (I think) if you add it manually. And Chewy, it does read DVD+R's and DVD-R's. I like that it reads both PAL and NTSC, because the little screen is probably a mix of both, since it is not a TV.

Good choice TNT! I love the quality of my L70!