When you're considering purchasing a portable DVD player, how do you make certain that you're getting the one that meets your needs? The choices at your local department or electronics store can be a bit bewildering and the prices vary by quite a bit, but they all look the same. There are several factors to consider in making your choice and they all affect the price you're likely to pay.

The first thing to consider is whether you want a single screen player or a dual screen player. Single screen players are typically flip top or tablet style, dual screen players are usually designed to be mounted in the car although many are not permanent and can be used outside of the car. Dual screen players are handy if more than one person is going to be watching the same thing. There are models that can play two different DVD's on up to four screens, although the extra screens have to be purchased separately.

After determining whether you are looking for a single or dual screen the next thing to decide on is screen size . The display size can be as small as 6.5 inches or as large as 10.5 inches. This is the biggest contributing factor in the difference in price. A small screen will be just fine if you plan on using it strictly as a handheld device, but if you intend to mount it in your car in anyway you may want to go with a larger screen so that more people can appreciate it.

If you plan on using your portable DVD player on long plane flights, you will want to make sure that you choose a player with an extended life battery. Most players have a two and a half to three hour battery, which is enough to watch a single movie but that's about it. Several manufacturers make players that have batteries that last as long as six hours and the battery companies make external batteries to give you more battery life.

After deciding on your DVD player, consider purchasing a case and headphones to go with it. Headphones are definitely a necessity if you are purchasing the player for the children, unless you want to listen to the movies they're watching. You will also need to buy headphones if you plan to use your portable DVD player on an airplane or any other form of mass transit. You may also consider purchasing an extended warranty for your player because they can be fragile and even the best manufacturer has some percentage of players that are defective. Most extended warranties will cover replacing the battery should it stop holding a charge in the first year and in my experience that's usually the thing that goes first. Hopefully this article has provided useful information and made it easier to make a choice when you purchase your portable DVD player.

Learn more about this author, Ann-Katherine Souilliard.
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