Product Reviews

Considering Nextbase Portable DVD Players

by Steven Sutherland in 08.10.2007 02:15

“Digital Versatile Disk”, or DVD, technology has made superb video, and audio, available at the touch of a button, with convenient searching facilities, and without the constant winding to and fro associated with analogue tape technology. Portable DVD players free your favourite DVD titles from your living room, and allow you to take them with you, almost anywhere you go.

Key Considerations

A portable DVD player is intended, first and foremost, to be portable, that is, you should be able to carry it comfortably, and use it, away from mains power, for adequate periods. Even the latest, most expensive technology will soon become irksome, if it is a nuisance to lift, or store, or if it can only be operated for, say, an hour on a single battery charge.

The overall physical dimensions, and weight, of a portable DVD player are determined by the size of its display, or screen. Screen sizes between 4 inches and 17 inches are available, although 7 inches, measured diagonally, is a typical compromise between visibility and portability. Bear in mind that larger screens require more electronics, and larger, heavier batteries, to drive them. The Nextbase DVM235 model, for example, has dimensions of 165mm x 165mm x 39mm, and weighs just 430g, without battery.

Look for a portable DVD player with a battery life that is adequate for your needs. Battery life, for most players, is typically between two and three hours, although this may be longer in some of the more expensive advanced players. If battery life is your main concern, it may be worth investing in a secondary battery pack, which you can use to replace an exhausted battery on long journeys. Lithium ion, or “Li-Ion”, rechargeable batteries are becoming the battery of choice, not least because they are 40% more efficient than some of the older battery technologies. They are, however, also more expensive. The Nextbase DVM235 player, for example, offers a playback time of between 2.5 and 3 hours, from 2300mAh rechargeable batteries.

Nextbase as a Manufacturer

Nextbase invented the world’s first tablet DVD player, and has since filed numerous patent and trademark solutions worldwide. The company is well respected, with more than 15 years’ experience in the portable DVD player industry, and has formed strategic partnerships with other leading players, amongst them Philips, Sony, and Microsoft. Nextbase is committed to the integration of new electronic technology into its market leading product ranges.

Conclusion

It is a good idea, before you start shopping, to write down all the essential features that you, personally, require in a portable DVD player. If, for example, you want to watch DVD films while travelling, by train, or by aeroplane, you may be more interested in the overall size, and weight, of a portable DVD player, and the life of its batteries, than in a large screen size. Making this kind of assessment will help you to focus on the models most appropriate to your needs, and, ultimately, to derive the most benefit, and pleasure, from your purchase.

Steven Sutherland is a freelance writer specialising in consumer electronics, financial and business subjects.

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