The car is packed, gassed up, and ready to go. Everyone’s excited about the upcoming trip. Two hours and 120 miles later the kid’s are complaining and bored. This would be a great time to have a dual screen portable DVD player.
The advances in technology have made so many things in our day to day life easier. One of those things is the easy accessibility of entertainment. Of course, car trips aren’t the only use for portable DVD players, just one of the most common. Most players have a number of features in common, but, in reality, all are not created equal.
Most, if not all, players function by having one of the units being a player with a screen mounted to it. This “master unit” then feeds a second screen. Commonly you’ll find the player/screen unit having output jacks that send the signal to the second screen. The second screen has input jacks and can only receive the signal. Both screens will have headphone jacks with the player frequently having two sets. Other common accessories are an A.C. adaptor, AV cable, mounting straps, and very importantly, a car adaptor so that you can recharge the battery while in the car.
Some players have additional features that make life a little easier. One of the things to look for is a mounting system that lets you quickly add and remove the monitors. Leaving electronics easily visible from outside the vehicle is an invitation to thieves. The ability to easily remove the player for secure storage just might save you a broken window. Something else to look for is the ability to play games. Sometimes video alone just isn’t enough.
As a general rule, any player that has an AV jack should be game compatible. You’ll also want to look for players with some type of anti-skip circuitry, especially if the primary use for your player is in a moving car. Another desirable feature for parents of young children is some type of parental lock controls. This will let parents have more control over what their children are watching. If headphone cables are a problem, look for a DVD player that has an IR transmitter for wireless headphones. Wireless headphones can make it a little easier to do all of the shifting around that seems to go with sitting in a car for long periods.
Sitting in a moving vehicle watching a movie or in a hotel room playing a video game, a dual screen DVD player can be a great way to pass the time.