Bigger screens—without busting the budget

If you're planning to buy a portable DVD player for someone on your gift list, there's good news and bad news.

The good news: These laptop look-alikes now start at less than $100 for players with large 7- or 8-inch screens. That's nearly half the price of similar models found on store shelves last holiday season. Even more good news: Shopping for these inexpensive players doesn't mean braving the crowds at a big-box warehouse club or your mega-electronics store. Odds are you'll find one of these wide-screen portables in your local supermarket or drugstore, alongside the batteries and disposable cameras.

Most of the models we've recently tested perform well enough for certain mobile situations—entertainment during long flights on no-frills airlines or to keep kids occupied during the long drive home for the holidays.

But the bad news: Don’t expect the picture quality from any of these new portable DVD models to look nearly as good as from a regular DVD player and TV screen. We hope to have the complete test results and Ratings for six portable big-screen DVD players on ConsumerReport.org soon.

[UPDATE: Dec. 13, 2007: We've posted our latest report and buying advice for portable DVD players on ConsumerReports.org. Subscribers have access to our latest Ratings of portable DVDs and our list of recommended portable players. —Ed.]

But if you are shopping for one now to give as a holiday gift, we'd recommend keeping an eye out for the LG DP781 (about $160). We found its 8-inch LCD screen was capable of displaying excellent video quality.

Another shopping tip: Pick up a set of decent headphones. We've found the audio performance of most players' built-in speakers to be mediocre, at best.

ConsumerReports.org has other tips and buying advice on portable DVD players if you need more help. And check back on our Web site for the latest Ratings of portable DVD players (available to subscribers).