Our friends have generously invited us to stay at their holiday home in Tenerifé. Not being churlish we have accepted graciously, though since we have been before we remembered that their largesse did not extend to the provision of a TV set.

My wife would like to portable DVD player and because I always research stuff and end up wanting the best, biggest, and all important - shiniest, I frightened myself by doing a spot of Googling on the matter.

Two hundred quid plus for a nine inch portable DVD player? Why would there be any advantage to buying one of these over say, a second hand widescreen lightweight laptop that'd do other things besides play DVD's?

Or am I missing the point?
Last edited by rhubarbe : 06-12-2006 at 14:14

I'm not sure the batteries in a widescreen lightweight laptop would actually last long enough to watch a film, especially if second hand!

OK, that's a fair point. We won't use it on batteries anyway. Just want to take it on holiday to a place there is no TV. They do have mains electricity.

I've got a 7" Shinco and it's been working perfectly for nearly 3 years now(and I use it nearly every night), multi region too, really good imo. The colours are brilliant too.

Being a "top brand" person,you may not be interested in this no brand(or it could an Orbit ) portable dvd player,but it does include DTT/analogue tv,as well as being multi regional,and oooh... a swivel screen for £165(including delivery),(Buy now):
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/9-2-Portable-D...em250057094339
or auction:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/9-2-Portable-D...em230061759161

If you do buy a laptop,your current problem won't go away,you'll want to surf,and Mrs Rhubarbe will want to watch her tennis dvds
Last edited by TV DUNIYA : 06-12-2006 at 18:03

why not buy a portable video recorder with screen
a little extra but more convenient you don't need to
carry dvd's and you can record tv programmes on it
http://www.archos.com/products/video...global&lang=en
Last edited by thms : 06-12-2006 at 23:18

I see. Right. The DTT would appeal but this is going to Tenerifé where the local patois, although preferable to the mainland lisp, is still sufficiently Greek to make me need satellite. I don't suppose there are any of these with a satellite tuner and portable 2m dish?

Tennis DVDs. You have a point there, and I am going to have to think of a way round it for sure.

Ooh. Shiny. Now you've gone and done it.

My dear wifi tells me that I have computers on the brain. I think that the 7" Shinco is the sort of territory she was doing her imagining in. May save me a few bob, too. Thanks very much, I'll take a look at that.

I was walking down the highstreet over lunch today and one of the retailers was advertising 50% off a number of portable DVD players. Not sure which brands they were, but I think the shop was either Argos, Woolworths or Currys/Currys.digital

We have a cheapy Goodmans one that my wife got through a rewards programme at work ... think it had an RRP of around £100 give or take £15. It's good, reliable ... not amazing, but certainly good enough!

Ooer. My wife has been off work today going shopping with her mother. It could all be over without my even realising it.