Portable video for the kids

[Rain]

In 5 years I've been thru at least three portable DVD players. The kids just destroy them.

Considering going with an ipod or itouch solution. Whats your opinion on this and what size should I be looking for? (what software are you using to rip DVDs for playback on these units?)

thanks in advance,
Rain

[AAA]

for portability, cost, battery life and a bit more durability, we got the kids iPod Nanos. Smallish screen, but they do not complain.

For better image quality, less battery life, and potential for less durability for kids, a bit less portable too, iPod touch.

I STILL use VisualHub to make movies into iPod Nano size.

[bazookaman]

we got our daughter an older ipod nano off ebay for cheap b/c she saw a video on daddy's ipod and was instantly hooked. However it was really sad to sit there and watch her watching a video on her little nano with NO sound. It didn't seem to bother her in the least but it painful for me (hey! she's my daughter). So we got her one of these. And she absolutely LOVES it. We use it all the time.

Oh. and i just use the lo res ipod setting in handbrake to rip movies for it.

[jdc]

why didnt she have headphones?

[Rain]

I was going to ask the same question? (or was it cheap because the headphone jack was dead)

[deckeda]

The Sno-Lep'd MINI 9 also serves this purpose in the car. Screen is big enough so that both kids can see it. One or two SD cards holds plenty of videos. No disks to mangle, no disk drive to mangle. I think the exposed laser mechanism in most portable DVD players is their Achille's Heel with kids around.

[binky]

For us, the current Nano is great -- not too expensive, has speakers (albeit tinny sound), fairly durable. Much cheaper to get the kids each a Nano than buy an in-vehicle DVD player. We also have used the Mini 9 on the plane as the SD card can hold more videos (plus you can switch them out).

[lazydays]

Both of my kids have nano's from the last generation. They enjoy watching shows on the plane or long car rides.

[Wailer]

deckeda wrote:
The Sno-Lep'd MINI 9 also serves this purpose in the car. Screen is big enough so that both kids can see it. One or two SD cards holds plenty of videos. No disks to mangle, no disk drive to mangle. I think the exposed laser mechanism in most portable DVD players is their Achille's Heel with kids around.

Ditto here. My DM9 also has a slingplayer so we can watch whatever is on the TV or DVR. We get at least 4 hours of video on a single charge.

The DM9 makes a great video player if you have your media in mpeg4 format. I agree that optical drives tend to fail easily and need lots of battery power.

I don't like my kids watching for long periods on the ipod touch. The screen is too small and I think they strain their eyes.

[bazookaman]

To answer the headphone question.

We did have headphones. The nano came with some earbuds...which are next to impossible for a 2 year old to wear. So we got her some kid size hed phones, but she never really liked them. She'd wear them for a few minutes than take them off and watch the video with no sound.