Portable DVD Players

Ever since portable DVD players became available, they've made travel a lot less monotonous. In cars, they've provided peaceful travel for moms and dads, especially if you buy one with headphones (and if the kids can agree on a movie.) Today, some vehicles come standard with DVD players built-in, or you can add your own DVD player or multimedia system into your existing vehicle.

Not only will your DVD player help kids remain quiet on road trips, it can also provide diversion for front seat passengers when the highway scenery is bland. Of course, this depends on where in the car you mount it. Because it is unsafe and illegal for drivers to watch while driving, some systems allow passengers to use headphones to listen to the DVD, while a CD is playing through the stereo speakers for the driver and other front seat passengers.

Choosing and Using Your DVD Player

Depending on your needs and budget, you could also purchase a portable DVD player and plug it into your car's cigarette lighter for power. A portable DVD player in your car is very easy to remove, whereas one built strictly for vehicles is permanently mounted.

If you choose to go with a component system, you can mount the monitor on brackets. Or you can replace your standard headrests with monitor-embedded headrests. There are also fold-down monitors that are installed in the ceiling, much like the ones on airplanes.

As with buying a DVD player for your home, buy one that plays the types of DVD formats you use, especially if you record your own. For example, if you burn your own DVDs at home, you would need one that plays DVD-R, DVD-RW, or DVD-RAM, depending on the format you use. Bring a sample DVD to the store and test it out.

Most battery-requiring DVD setups come with their own rechargeable batteries. Some can take AA batteries once the rechargeable ones run out.

If you go with a full-fledged theater system that has a TV tuner, be sure to buy a good antenna for the best reception. Experts recommend dual antennas.