Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I must admit that acquiring a portable DVD had never crossed my mind but I was offered the Philips PD703 for review and decided it was worth a shot. Impressions follow.
The Philips PD703 has a 7" LCD screen and comes with a wireless game controller that assumes the end user is familiar with its operation (i.e., it has no instructions), a DVD containing a number of games (the instructions for which, unlike the excellent instruction booklet for the unit itself, are provided both in hard copy and on disk in a truly execrable attempt at English), and--I was truly appalled to discover--the means of attaching the unit proper to the back seat of an automobile--what on earth happened to kids looking out the window, listening to the radio, and/or talking to each other and their parents?! ("I see something...green," anyone?) It's no wonder we're in trouble if a ride in the car without some sort of video pacification is impossible, But I digress.
DVD playback, with regard to both video and audio, is surprisingly good. I played both an "Academy standard" and an anamorphic widescreen disk to test the setup: if left on the standard setting, the widescreen disk's image plays in the correct format but doesn't fill the screen and is somewhat vertically compressed as well, hence manual setup is necessary for each title unless your disks are all of similar AR. Setting up and operating the Philips PD703 is very easy.
The games are cute but ultimately dumb. The stickers on the unit REALLY stick; I still haven't decided how to go about trying to remove the residue mine left (some of it on the border near the screen). The battery is rated to last 2.5 hours which I feel is rather short--perhaps they based it on the perceived attention spans of the backseat passengers who comprise part of the target customer base.
Bottom line: for what this is, it seems okay. I used to be a huge fan of Philips--a Dutch company who have never been properly credited for their innovations over the years--I only wish their manufacturing base was still in the Netherlands. I'm not really sure, in these days of inexpensive laptops, why someone would really need this but for those who do, this one seems just fine.
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Philips PD703/37 7-Inch LCD Portable DVD Player with Wireless Game Controller, Black7" Tft Lcd Color Display; Dvd, Dvd+/-R/Rw, (S)Vcd, Cd Compatible; Mp3-Cd, Cd & Cd-Rw Playback; View Jpeg Images From Picture Disc; Up To 2.5 Hours Of Playback With A Rechargeable Battery; Full Resume On Power Loss; Includes Wireless Game Pad, Games Cd, A/V Adapter, Car Adapter & Mounting Strap; Dim: 6"H X 7.7"W X 1.5"D
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