Insignia IS-PDVD10 Portable DVD Player Conclusion

Performance

To test the video and sound quality of the IS-PDVD10, we watched two movies. The first was a comedy, "Mr. Deeds," and the second was an action movie, "The Matrix Reloaded."

The screen is surprisingly large, wide enough for two, or possibly three, people to watch without straining to see details. Only after moving 35 or 40 degrees from center did we start to see a drop in brightness and contrast. The color reproduction was completely lifelike, and image detail was equally impressive in both slow-moving and action-packed scenes.

The images were harder to see in brighter light, especially outside or next to a window on a sunny day. No complaints watching movies indoors, however. The ability to swivel the screen completely around, as well as down and up, makes it easy to find the best viewing angle.

The single, built-in stereo speaker produces enough volume to drown out most background noises, but suffers from poor sound quality. You really can't expect much from one small speaker. Listening through headphones is a much better option.

This DVD player has better-than-average battery life. In our tests, about 3 hours and 15 minutes elapsed before the low-battery warning told us to shut down the player. This is impressive -- you should be able to watch just about any full-length movie without having to stop to recharge the battery.

The Verdict

The IS-PDVD10 is an outstanding portable DVD player that provides excellent video quality on a large, 10.2-inch display, plus useful features such as an antishock system and swivel screen. Add plenty of battery life, and you have an excellent entertainment device for when you're on the go.

Insignia 10.2-inch Portable DVD Player

Specs: 10.2-inch, 16:9 TFT LCD; supports all major DVD and CD formats, including recordable DVDs and CDs; rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

Pros: Outstanding video quality; 180-degree swivel screen; lightweight; long battery life.

Cons: Fairly expensive; no battery power indicator except when low.

Verdict: The IS-PDVD10 is an outstanding portable DVD player that provides excellent video quality on a 10.2-inch display, plus useful features such as an antishock system and swivel screen.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Price: $279