Panasonic DVD-LV50 5 in. Portable DVD Player

Facing a week on the road, I borrowed this gadget from a frequent travelling friend of mine. Described elsewhere as a DVD walkman, the Palm Theatre allows you to play DVD movies wherever you might be. Weighing a touch over 2 pounds including the battery (2.07 pounds for the technically minded)and measuring a touch under 2 inches thick, this is a marvel of miniaturization.

Operating the gadget is true simplicity, pop a regular DVD movie in, put on the earphones, hit "play", crank up the volume and you have your own mini-theatre in your hands. Viewing the screen from an angle is OK, as my seat mate on a recent flight to Atlanta can attest. The screen is an active matrix LCD, 5" diagonal and shaped so you can watch movies in their original, "stretched", 16x9 format instead of TV mode.

Panasonic claim the battery lasts up to three hours, although I never personally tested it much past 2 1/2. The L50 can recharged through a regular power outlet and even converts to 220/240v for those European trips. It also has a neat remote control about the size of a credit card.
The only downside to the L-50 is the cost - at over $1,000 its pretty expensive compared to a standard DVD. I would also expect laptops to be able to fulfill this role next year, although the sound from the L-50 will be tough to beat. As my travelling friend says "how can you put a price on my comfort" ? However, at this price, it is a luxury I can certainly do without.