It's impossible to take an airplane anywhere these days without seeing at least a few passengers watching a DVD. Air travel sure has gotten easier with the advent of portable DVD players and other portable media players. The distraction of endless Spongebob videos (for kids) or sword and sandals epics (for adults) really helps time fly - pardon the pun.
When researching and writing reviews of the top portable DVD players, it occurred to me that many frequent fliers travel for business, hence likely travel with their laptops. Since even the cheapest laptop has multimedia functions, a portable DVD player alone may not be necessary. However, if your travel plans don't include any business, is the laptop a necessary travel item? Not every business trip necessitates bringing a laptop, after all.
Laptop vs. Portable DVD Player:
Pro Laptop:
- Laptops, from cheap to ultra high end, play DVDs of course, and virtually always with bigger screens than DVD players.
- It goes without saying that laptops are capable of much more than playing movies. Gamers can easily upload their favorite video games, and work files can be reread and edited while flying as well.
Pro Portable DVD Player:
- Portable multifunction media players are bulkier and less easily packed than simple portable DVD players. The exception, of course, is the video iPod - but that itty bitty 2.5" screen can be hard to get used to, and it certainly doesn't do justice to special-effect laden movies.
- Battery life in laptops never comes close to the battery life in portable DVD players.
- The cheapest laptop is still more expensive than the top portable DVD player.
- During security checks, laptops and other portable media players may be subject to more in depth checks by the TSA than the humble-yet-high-tech DVD player.
If you're planning to travel with your laptop or other multifunction media player, a portable DVD player would be redundant. But if you simply want to watch the movie of your choice during air travel, a relatively cheap portable DVD fits the bill just fine. And if you're combining a business trip with family travel, you're probably going to want to take both. After all, kids mistreat consumer electronics; you don't want them wrecking your work laptop, do you? That, right there, is an excellent reason to pack a lightweight DVD player, regardless of whether you're taking your laptop along for work or not. A work trip - family vacation - combo is a great excuse to pack a portable DVD player. That way, no one's bored, and everybody wins.
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