Hi
Readers!
We have a fantastic issue in store for you DVD buffs out there!
Today's issue is a product review for portable DVD players.
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We are reviewing three portable DVD players of various size
and shape. All would be players that you could buy at a local
store and our readers should know what is best on the market
both in quality and in price. On with the reviews!
Have a great one!
Brandon White HiTechEdge Team
Brandon's Corner
Joe grew up in a small town, then moved away to attend college
and law school. He decided to come back to the small town because
he could be a big man in this small town. He really wanted to
impress everyone. He opened his new law office, but business
was very slow at first.
One day, he saw a man coming up the sidewalk. He decided to
make a big impression on this new client when he arrived. As
the man came to the door, Joe picked up the phone. He motioned
the man in, all the while talking. "No. Absolutely not. You
tell those clowns in New York that I won't settle this case
for less than one million. Yes. The Appeals Court has agreed
to hear that case next week. I'll be handling the primary argument
and the other members of my team will provide support. Okay.
Tell the DA that I'll meet with him next week to discuss the
details. "
This sort of thing went on for almost five minutes. All the
while the man sat patiently as Joe rattled instructions. Finally,
Joe put down the phone and turned to the man. "I'm sorry for
the delay, but as you can see, I'm very busy. What can I do
for you?"
The man replied, "I'm from the phone company. I came to hook
up your phone."
Initial DVD-9510
I have had about three weeks to review all
of the products and have been very diligent in trying to find
the faults of each. The Initial DVD player retails for under
$200 and has been the most impressive by far for the cost.
This player has versatile playback formats which include: DVD,
CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3, JPEG, and the Kodak Picture CD. So really
any disk that you put in it will play back with relative ease.
The screen size is 4" color TFT high resolution display which
is a little small compared to our other two players that we
are reviewing. The screen size hasn't effected the picture resolution
so the size would only matter in preference. And let's be honest,
for $250 less than the nearest in our review, it simply can't
be beat.
The Initial 9510 player allows you to hook it up to your home
TV and then unplug it to take with you on the road.
The special features are the same that you would expect in a
DVD player at home and you can expect them in the portable version
as well. They include: composite video output, multi-language
capability, multi-subtitle, multi-angle, multi-aspect ratio
capability: 4:3, 4:3 Letterbox, 16:9.
It also has zoom play (2X/4X), fast forward/reverse play (2X/4X/6X/8X),
slow forward/reverse play (2X/4X/8X), frame by frame play, search
play, programmable play, shuffle, repeat(title, chapter, all,
A/B), still frame, parental lock control, intellectual upgrade
function, screen saver/power saving function, auto power off,
Hi-Fi stereo, headphone output, anti-shock circuit, built-in
stereo speakers and a four-hour lithium battery.
The Initial 9510 gets my highest recommendation based on performance
and price. This little guy has all the features of the larger
models at a fraction of the cost. So, if you or someone you
love is in the market this holiday season, the Initial can be
purchased at Wal-Mart.com for $197.64(not including shipping,
of course).
Take
a look at the Initial DVD Player here
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Panasonic
DVD-LV50
The Panasonic has a slightly larger screen
than the Initial at 5 inches. The player has an LCD screen just
like the others being reviewed and this LCD allows you to watch
movies in the standard 16:9 widescreen format or conventional
4:3 formats such as letterbox and pan-and-scan. It can play
a variety of audio and video disc formats, including the following:
DVD-Video, DVD-R, video CD, audio CD, and CD-R/RW, including
MP3 files.
The rechargable battery has a stated life of 2.5 hours but I
watched the Godfather in its entirety without a problem. I even
pressed pause a couple of times to use the bathroom, so I would
say you could add on another hour to the expected time.
As for sound quality, the Panasonic LV50 simulates a surround
sound effect using only the front two speakers much like the
Initial. You can enjoy Dolby Digital 5.1 channel discs without
an elaborate home theater system. The DVD-LV50 also features
a Hi-Speed Smooth Scan which enables fast-forward/reverse at
up to 200 times normal speed. This lets you scan a two-hour
movie in 40 seconds, offering a quick way to access desired
scenes. I could see how this could really come in handy but
you have to question why you would want to scan an entire movie
that fast. Isn't that what the chapter selection is for?
The Panasonic MSRP is $499.95 but I have seen it for about $50
less at many on-line retailers. This player was the lightest
but overall, the price just didn't make up for what the Initial
does for almost $300 less.
Take
a look at the Panasonic here
Samsung DVD-L100
If you have the money to spend (around $800),
the Samsung would be a very nice buy because of all the extras.
It's only 23.5mm thick, has a 10" LCD Screen, comes with a built-in
Memory Stick Slot, and allows you to enjoy music as well as
still pictures.
The 10" screen is very impressive and gives you a very clear
picture. I can't lie, I thought the thing was a laptop when
I first saw it. This player has more extras than the other two
with the ability to read a digital camera with the memory stick.
The standard battery (you can purchase a larger one) allows
you to watch a movie with 2.5 hours of power. The optional battery
roughly holds twice the power so you can watch one more movie
on the trip. I didn't have a chance to review the larger battery
but the standard wouldn't allow me to finish the Godfather which
the other two players afforded.
The Samsung plays all the formats that the others play with
the exception of MP3s. This player did come with a case which
the others did not. Then again, for $800 it should come with
a couple of movies, too.
If I had an unlimited amount of money to spend on these three
players, I would probably purchase the most expensive, as would
all of you I'm sure. But, in the real world, we all have budgets
and all the extras the L100 provide could not convince me to
go with this product over the $200 Initial.
After reviewing these three players, I highly recommend the
Initial based on price and performance. It really is a fantastic
buy for the money and either way you chose, I know you will
be satisfied.
Here
is the Samsung DVD
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