Polaroid PDV-0820T 8 in. Portable DVD Player
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- Number of Discs: 1
- Weight: 2.1 lb.
- Progressive Scan: Without Progressive Scan
- Playable Disk Types: DVD Video CD (Audio) CD-R CD-RW
- Screen Size: 8 inch
- Playable File Formats: MP3
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473
An Impulse Purchase That Worked
Pros
Good price point, good screen size and resolution
Cons
A lot of plastic, some seeming flimsy
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
If this is the size you want and you like low prices, give it a try.
My purchasing style varies from heavy and near never-ending research to walking by something and grabbing it without much thought. My purchase of the Polaroid PDV-0820T Portable DVD Player with Screen was all the way over to the impulse side. I had thought about a portable DVD player but never seriously enough to research them. I was at Radio shack to get batteries for my hearing aid. My consulting business was showing too much profit. The DVD player was on sale with a rebate besides. I looked at it and left with it. So, in this review, instead of telling you why I decided to purchase this particular DVD, I will just have to tell you why I am happy I did.
Polaroid PDV-0820T Portable DVD Player with Screen
Let's start with what you get in the box. The main part is a DVD player with screen. The screen is 8" with a wide aspect ratio of 16:9. It is packaged so the top rotates up like a typical laptop computer. It measures 1.5" thick and is 8.5" long and 6" deep. It weighs 2 pounds.
Also in the box is a separate lithium ion battery that snaps to the bottom of the main unit. It adds less than 1/2" to the thickness and about 1/2 pound to the weight. The battery will fully charge in about four hours and will provide playback for 2 1/2 hours. There is an AC adapter that will run the unit on any international voltage and will charge the battery if it is attached. There is also a car cord that plugs into a cigarette lighter and will run the unit without a battery.
The full function remote is a very thin unit with easy to push buttons that runs off a small flat type battery. There is also an A/V cord to allow the DVD player to function with a TV and with a stereo system. The unit may also be used as an A/V monitor for something like a game player system or even a VCR. There is also a carrying case to protect it and to allow it to be strapped to a car headrest for portable viewing while traveling (back seat folks only, please).
Some of the Features
Following is a list of features from the owner's manual:
•
Dolby Digital output
•
MPEG2 decoding format achieves more than
500 lines of horizontal resolution.
•
Supports multi-angle, excessive language
caption.
•
Plays DVD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 and
Picture CD discs.
•
Multi-speed, fast forward, fast backward,
slow play and step playback, repeat playback
and programming playback.
•
Search for a certain time on a disc.
•
It remembers where you last stopped.
•
On-screen displays in your choice of
English/Spanish/French.
•
Audio output terminal for connection to
audio amplifiers.
•
Headphone jack lets you listen to movies or music without
disturbing others.
•
Turn the screen 180 degrees and then flip
it down so the screen is facing up like
a picture – ideal for viewing while it's in
your lap!
•
The supplied adapter automatically adapts
to the voltage requirements in nearly any
country.
Most of this list is self explanatory. A couple, however, need some emphasis. For instance, in addition to searching to a specific chapter or track on a disk, you can search by time since start, something like the search capability on a VCR or cassette tape player. I like this feature.
Something unique is the ability to rotate the screen 180 degrees and then fold it back on itself for a compact viewing option. Using the carrying case allows you (or your children if you are driving) to watch while it is hooked to the back of a headrest.
About the Controls
With the screen flipped up to a normal viewing angle most of the controls are there for your viewing/listening pleasure. The slide switch for power is at the front of the unit. A green LED lets you know you are powered and ready. In addition to the jacks for power, A/V and headset, on the right side, is a switch to set A/V for in or out and a rotating volume control.
The DVD cover pops up when the open button is pushed. I have to say this cover seems pretty flimsy and might not survive children. The cover takes up the left half of the top of the unit. The right side sports chrome colored pushbuttons that control most of the action. At the very bottom are left and right search buttons that allow skipping to the beginning of a chapter/track or to the next one. Just above this set is a round button surrounded by four directional buttons that control the action from the DVD menu. The center is labeled enter and the four arrow buttons allow maneuvering though either the player menu ore an installed DVD menu.
A cluster of six buttons allows control of audio, stop, play/pause, info, title, and menu. These work as one would expect. A nice feature is that when you hit stop, then play, the disc continues where you left off. Pause is also available and after five minutes of pausing, a screen saver starts to prevent LCD burn.
Below the LCD screen are more buttons as well as the two speakers. These buttons are available with the screen rotated and folded. The left set of buttons control color intensity. The center pair allows the screen image to be flipped and allow cycling the screen through its three modes, wide screen, normal, and stretched wide screen. The right pair allows brightness adjustment.
Missing from the on-board controls is a fast forward/reverse capability. It is only available from the remote. I find the buttons, particularly those on the main unit to be a little fussy. Sometimes a push doesn't make the expected action occur or sometimes it seems to act as a double click. The remote controls are, however, very smooth and reliable. The only function not available on the remote is the screen picture flip.
If the screen is closed (not rotated first) a switch senses this and turns the screen off. The disc keeps playing, however, allowing playing of music CDs with the unit closed.
But, Is It Any Good?
The short answer is that, for its price point, I rate it a best buy. The screen is clear with no smearing during fast action. The colors are accurate and crisp. The range of brightness control allows viewing in all but direct sunlight. For 2" speakers the sound is quite good and the stereo separation noticeable. I have dropped it to the floor with no ill effects.
I have used it hooked to a TV to show a picture CD and used it with a recorded DVD that had a Power Point presentation. The larger screen shows the 500 line resolution capability of the laser to good effect. It will read both single layer and double layer DVDs and so far has handled every format of CD and DVD I can record with aplomb. It runs cool enough to be comfortable on your lap even after playing an entire movie.
Unlike some of my impulse purchases, this one is a winner.
Update 7/10/06 - I was lucky enough to receive a new 10" portable DVD in May. The Polaroid has been passed on to my daughter who is as happy with it as we all were. If you are interested in a larger screen, however, you might want to check out the new one here Insignia 10.2" Portable DVD Player
Polaroid PDV-0820T Portable DVD Player with Screen
Let's start with what you get in the box. The main part is a DVD player with screen. The screen is 8" with a wide aspect ratio of 16:9. It is packaged so the top rotates up like a typical laptop computer. It measures 1.5" thick and is 8.5" long and 6" deep. It weighs 2 pounds.
Also in the box is a separate lithium ion battery that snaps to the bottom of the main unit. It adds less than 1/2" to the thickness and about 1/2 pound to the weight. The battery will fully charge in about four hours and will provide playback for 2 1/2 hours. There is an AC adapter that will run the unit on any international voltage and will charge the battery if it is attached. There is also a car cord that plugs into a cigarette lighter and will run the unit without a battery.
The full function remote is a very thin unit with easy to push buttons that runs off a small flat type battery. There is also an A/V cord to allow the DVD player to function with a TV and with a stereo system. The unit may also be used as an A/V monitor for something like a game player system or even a VCR. There is also a carrying case to protect it and to allow it to be strapped to a car headrest for portable viewing while traveling (back seat folks only, please).
Some of the Features
Following is a list of features from the owner's manual:
•
Dolby Digital output
•
MPEG2 decoding format achieves more than
500 lines of horizontal resolution.
•
Supports multi-angle, excessive language
caption.
•
Plays DVD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 and
Picture CD discs.
•
Multi-speed, fast forward, fast backward,
slow play and step playback, repeat playback
and programming playback.
•
Search for a certain time on a disc.
•
It remembers where you last stopped.
•
On-screen displays in your choice of
English/Spanish/French.
•
Audio output terminal for connection to
audio amplifiers.
•
Headphone jack lets you listen to movies or music without
disturbing others.
•
Turn the screen 180 degrees and then flip
it down so the screen is facing up like
a picture – ideal for viewing while it's in
your lap!
•
The supplied adapter automatically adapts
to the voltage requirements in nearly any
country.
Most of this list is self explanatory. A couple, however, need some emphasis. For instance, in addition to searching to a specific chapter or track on a disk, you can search by time since start, something like the search capability on a VCR or cassette tape player. I like this feature.
Something unique is the ability to rotate the screen 180 degrees and then fold it back on itself for a compact viewing option. Using the carrying case allows you (or your children if you are driving) to watch while it is hooked to the back of a headrest.
About the Controls
With the screen flipped up to a normal viewing angle most of the controls are there for your viewing/listening pleasure. The slide switch for power is at the front of the unit. A green LED lets you know you are powered and ready. In addition to the jacks for power, A/V and headset, on the right side, is a switch to set A/V for in or out and a rotating volume control.
The DVD cover pops up when the open button is pushed. I have to say this cover seems pretty flimsy and might not survive children. The cover takes up the left half of the top of the unit. The right side sports chrome colored pushbuttons that control most of the action. At the very bottom are left and right search buttons that allow skipping to the beginning of a chapter/track or to the next one. Just above this set is a round button surrounded by four directional buttons that control the action from the DVD menu. The center is labeled enter and the four arrow buttons allow maneuvering though either the player menu ore an installed DVD menu.
A cluster of six buttons allows control of audio, stop, play/pause, info, title, and menu. These work as one would expect. A nice feature is that when you hit stop, then play, the disc continues where you left off. Pause is also available and after five minutes of pausing, a screen saver starts to prevent LCD burn.
Below the LCD screen are more buttons as well as the two speakers. These buttons are available with the screen rotated and folded. The left set of buttons control color intensity. The center pair allows the screen image to be flipped and allow cycling the screen through its three modes, wide screen, normal, and stretched wide screen. The right pair allows brightness adjustment.
Missing from the on-board controls is a fast forward/reverse capability. It is only available from the remote. I find the buttons, particularly those on the main unit to be a little fussy. Sometimes a push doesn't make the expected action occur or sometimes it seems to act as a double click. The remote controls are, however, very smooth and reliable. The only function not available on the remote is the screen picture flip.
If the screen is closed (not rotated first) a switch senses this and turns the screen off. The disc keeps playing, however, allowing playing of music CDs with the unit closed.
But, Is It Any Good?
The short answer is that, for its price point, I rate it a best buy. The screen is clear with no smearing during fast action. The colors are accurate and crisp. The range of brightness control allows viewing in all but direct sunlight. For 2" speakers the sound is quite good and the stereo separation noticeable. I have dropped it to the floor with no ill effects.
I have used it hooked to a TV to show a picture CD and used it with a recorded DVD that had a Power Point presentation. The larger screen shows the 500 line resolution capability of the laser to good effect. It will read both single layer and double layer DVDs and so far has handled every format of CD and DVD I can record with aplomb. It runs cool enough to be comfortable on your lap even after playing an entire movie.
Unlike some of my impulse purchases, this one is a winner.
Update 7/10/06 - I was lucky enough to receive a new 10" portable DVD in May. The Polaroid has been passed on to my daughter who is as happy with it as we all were. If you are interested in a larger screen, however, you might want to check out the new one here Insignia 10.2" Portable DVD Player
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