Recommendations for a DVD Player
Oct 17, 2009, 11:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: US Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hertz 5-Star
Posts: 923
Recommendations for a DVD Player
Do you have any recommendatons for a DVD player for a 3YO? We have upcoming flight that will be 3 1/2 hr long and since there is no IFE on US Airways metal, I was thinking of getting a DVD player for our son as a back up to his coloring books, reading books and etc.
Oct 17, 2009, 6:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 333
I picked up this one at Costco last fall for an extended car trip. It's been great for both in the car and on planes. If you're going to use it in the car at all, I like that it came with a bracket to attach it to the headrest.
Oct 18, 2009, 2:20 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Berlin and Buggenhagen, Germany
Posts: 3,509
Maybe this thread would get more specific answers in the Travel tech section?
Otherwise, what they said. Any cheap, generic thing will do. But if you want it to be a bit nicer, ask the people in Travel Tech or have the mods move this thread.
Till
Otherwise, what they said. Any cheap, generic thing will do. But if you want it to be a bit nicer, ask the people in Travel Tech or have the mods move this thread.
Till
Oct 18, 2009, 2:20 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: US Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hertz 5-Star
Posts: 923
Oct 18, 2009, 2:02 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: (not Montana. Nor is my name really Helena, nor am I female)
Programs: Delta, USAirways, Starwood, Priority Club, Marriott, Amex
Posts: 2,557
I've been looking for an older version PSP (Playstation Pro) as a kid's video player to replace a DVD player, but still haven't found one priced close to what I could get a cheap DVD player for. Even though I'd have to convert DVDs to play on the PSP, I think it'd be a simpler option en route than a DVD player. But I'm not (yet) willing to pay a big premium for it.
Oct 19, 2009, 7:51 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, AS MVP, HH Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 1,848
Before investing, you should check whether he'll tolerate the headphones. Master PVDProf (also 3YO) just won't, even to watch his favorite movie (Cars). So, we read LOTS of stories, play with his matchbox cars, talk, look out the window, and have slow-to-eat snacks (e.g, raisins, goldfish, grapes), and the next thing we know, we're at LAX!
(I'm not trying to claim any high ground here. All that play is exhausting for me, and I wish he'd watch the blasted movie so I could get a break.
)
(I'm not trying to claim any high ground here. All that play is exhausting for me, and I wish he'd watch the blasted movie so I could get a break.
)
Oct 19, 2009, 2:52 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,519
As noted, choosing good headphones is particularly important. See this thread for some thoughts on specific models. We found it helpful to "practice" before the trip. Don't let the kid watch anything for a couple weeks prior to the flight unless (s)he uses the headphones. That worked great with our not-quite-2yo last spring, but I would think it would work well with a 3yo too.
As for specific portable DVD players, they all seem to be crap these days, so I'd probably just get the cheapest one you can find if you really want to go that route.
But we skipped buying a DVD player and just use a laptop. On a 3.5 hour flight with other activities (coloring books, etc.) as your first line of defense, a typical laptop should work just fine for playing an hour or two of video--particularly if you've ripped them to the hard drive so you're not wasting battery spinning the optical drive.
Another option if you don't want to schlep a laptop is to get a "portable media player" (iPod Video, Archos, etc.). These are really coming down in price, and they should be smaller, less fragile and longer-lasting (battery-wise) than most portable DVD players, for not a whole heck of a lot more money. If I was going to be doing a lot of flying with my toddler, this is probably the route I'd go.
As for specific portable DVD players, they all seem to be crap these days, so I'd probably just get the cheapest one you can find if you really want to go that route.
But we skipped buying a DVD player and just use a laptop. On a 3.5 hour flight with other activities (coloring books, etc.) as your first line of defense, a typical laptop should work just fine for playing an hour or two of video--particularly if you've ripped them to the hard drive so you're not wasting battery spinning the optical drive.
Another option if you don't want to schlep a laptop is to get a "portable media player" (iPod Video, Archos, etc.). These are really coming down in price, and they should be smaller, less fragile and longer-lasting (battery-wise) than most portable DVD players, for not a whole heck of a lot more money. If I was going to be doing a lot of flying with my toddler, this is probably the route I'd go.
Oct 20, 2009, 1:45 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: France
Programs: United Plus
Posts: 1,761
Great tip about putting the movies on the hard drive! It does seem to eat up batteries.
ITA about the headphones. Read that other thread. I don't recommend the "bud" style at this age.
For such a short flight, any DVD player should do. Some have a battery life as little as 1 1/2 hours so maybe one with 3 hours would make more sense (check the difference in price). You can put the screen on "night mode" to save battery life.
We do long haul flights so I had to get one with at least 5 hours but with the cheaper models, you can actually buy a second battery. In the car, you would plug it in so it's not an issue on long drives.
Be clear to him that using the speakerphones is NOT an option. Do what I did and don't even let him know that it can be done. For ages she thought that the sound only came through the headphones. There's something about the acoustics on an aircraft that makes these devices extremely annoying, even when played softly.
ITA about the headphones. Read that other thread. I don't recommend the "bud" style at this age.
For such a short flight, any DVD player should do. Some have a battery life as little as 1 1/2 hours so maybe one with 3 hours would make more sense (check the difference in price). You can put the screen on "night mode" to save battery life.
We do long haul flights so I had to get one with at least 5 hours but with the cheaper models, you can actually buy a second battery. In the car, you would plug it in so it's not an issue on long drives.
Be clear to him that using the speakerphones is NOT an option. Do what I did and don't even let him know that it can be done. For ages she thought that the sound only came through the headphones. There's something about the acoustics on an aircraft that makes these devices extremely annoying, even when played softly.
Oct 21, 2009, 2:24 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 206
Having just done this, I reccomend you skip the DVD player and get a cheap "MP4" player instead, they can be had on ebay for $25-75 depending on features and capacity. Then, rip your DVD movies at home and store them. These things are really tiny, so can be handheld easily even by my 2 1/2 year old.
As to headphones, kids seem to prefer the big padded variety, we got a pair that was sized for small heads, and had some kid friendy graphics, etc.
Good luck.
As to headphones, kids seem to prefer the big padded variety, we got a pair that was sized for small heads, and had some kid friendy graphics, etc.
Good luck.
Oct 23, 2009, 11:58 am
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 3
I'd definitely second the mp4 route.
My husband kindly ripped and transcoded (with software freely available on the internet) a slew of Arthur and Dora dvds for my mp4 player (aka the "tiny tv") and it's brilliant. Not only do you not have to carry DVDs but the battery lasts for ages (8 hours for my player), our daughter can hold it to her liking and it's tiny so it's no big deal to bring.
I would recommend a sturdy pair of earphones though. Ear buds fall out so make sure you get onese with an adjustable over-the-head type.
Best of luck,
K
My husband kindly ripped and transcoded (with software freely available on the internet) a slew of Arthur and Dora dvds for my mp4 player (aka the "tiny tv") and it's brilliant. Not only do you not have to carry DVDs but the battery lasts for ages (8 hours for my player), our daughter can hold it to her liking and it's tiny so it's no big deal to bring.
I would recommend a sturdy pair of earphones though. Ear buds fall out so make sure you get onese with an adjustable over-the-head type.
Best of luck,
K
Oct 27, 2009, 7:55 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,474
We got this one a couple of years ago. It's pretty solidly built, but apparently it's been replaced with a new model. Don't know if that one is as good.
I second the comments about headphones. Try to find small ones; Target has one or two collapsible, smaller size headphones. Airline headphones were too big for my daughter at that age, but she tolerated the small ones pretty well.
I second the comments about headphones. Try to find small ones; Target has one or two collapsible, smaller size headphones. Airline headphones were too big for my daughter at that age, but she tolerated the small ones pretty well.