Pocket DVD players?

[sky captain]

I'm thinking about getting the Philips Pet 320. I figure it's a great cheap way to listen to DVD commentaries while I'm walking around.

One drawback is that it doesn't seem to play DIVX avi discs. I'd love to play DIVX files away from my computer.

Before I buy the 320, I thought I'd ask if there are any other similar players on the market. I haven't seen anything like it, but I'm no expert.

[NG]

There was a model like that from a no-name company (like Apex or Venturer etc) but:

It had a MSRP of $180 so even retail I'd imagine it'd be more than the Philips

Looked cheaply built compared to the Philips

Was bigger than the Philips

And *didn't* do divx - just like the Philips

It looks like the one you've found is your best bet. Shame it doesn't do divx - esp since Philips makes *alot* of standalones that do.

Thanks for pointing this bad boy out. If I can find one cheap used/refurb'ed in a few months I might grab one.

p.s.

If it reads MPG's on DVDs it's not quite as good as divx but is still something and with the screen size I'm betting they'd look pretty good.

[sky captain]

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, at $130, the Philips sounds like the better deal. Funny that it doesn't have the DIVX option that the PET 710 and 810 have.

I don't think it has MPG video options, either. Just JPG. For audio discs, there's MP3 and WMA in addition to CD.

I did some more searching and found these pages:

Pet 320 review and hack
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=1491586

Pet 320 multi-region hack
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/t296963.html
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?select=Philips+PET+320

Pet 320 specs
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers?DVDnameid=6932#comments

[NG]

No problem. Glad I could help.

I did some checking around (and asked about VCD/MPG on DVD) in one of the threads you posted above.

Odlly enough the Philips press release doesn't even list VCDs as an option: http://www.press.ce.philips.com/apps/c_dir/e3379701.nsf/0/A5CE90436D947FFEC125711F00341E54/$File/PET%20Press%20Release.pdf

I'm betting it does it so hopefully it'd do mpg on dvd.

My only guess is that the hardware required to play divx would increase the size of the unit - or that their saving it for the Pet 320(A) to force people to upgrade.

[sky captain]

Do you know of an actual next version player coming out? Or are you just guessing?

One more drawback: the 320 doesn't have S-Video output. Just composite.

[NG]

Do you know of an actual next version player coming out? Or are you just guessing?

Hmmm....well I have *no* insider info on this or read anything anywhere however there'll always be a revised version within 6 months from my experience.

One more drawback: the 320 doesn't have S-Video output. Just composite.

The SVideo thing doesn't suprise me. I'm betting it'll only only output in Dolby Surround even when hooked up to a DD5.1 reciever w/ decoder built in like the screen-less piece of junk portable divx player from RJTech.

I remembered another unit earlier today as well that is worth mentioning - iRiver IMP-1100 :

http://www.pvp4u.com/archives/2004/09/worlds_first_me.html

I *so* wanted one when I first read about it however it's got alot wrong with it.

Only a 2 inch screen

*every* review just menioned cd's and not dvds so if it can only play divx cds then that makes it next to worthless imho

It never made it to N.America except for one EU reseller who included the proper voltage converter to N.A. buyers.

Expensive

and it looks like it isn't for sale anywhere. I checked froogle, ebay.com and ebay.co.uk

[sky captain]

I'd hate to buy too soon and get shafted later.

Other folks have said to me to spend another 100 bucks on a real portable, like those from Shinco. It would be bigger and more expensive, but would have a large screen and take Divx.

I'm surprised I haven't seen too many Philips 320 reviews out there. The only place I see it for sale is on the Philips site.

I guess if I don't like it I could always resell it on Ebay.

[NG]

I'd hate to buy too soon and get shafted later.

It's a game either way. Wait too little you'll over pay for a inferior product. Wait too long and you'll save a minor amount while losing the pleasure of using the device for those extra months, years...

Other folks have said to me to spend another 100 bucks on a real portable, like those from Shinco. It would be bigger and more expensive, but would have a large screen and take Divx.

If the size of the unit doesn't matter to you then why not? Portable DVD players are *alot* more of a proven technology.

One thing tho - $100 more for shinco? Ummm...I don't know where you are but here in Canada I've seen 7" inch screen portable dvd players for $100 on a regular basis. Wal-Mart actually has a model at regular price sans divx and I've seen a divx on on sale at Best Buy before. Or there's ones with SD/USB for about $200 and brand name units for about the same $200 price.

Unless you mean like a Shinco 3.5 inch hard drive based portable video player - in which case I didn't know Shinco had a model out

I'm surprised I haven't seen too many Philips 320 reviews out there. The only place I see it for sale is on the Philips site.

I found a few with a froogle search but they all appeared to be about the MSRP.

I guess if I don't like it I could always resell it on Ebay.

It is an option. I'll be doing that on the other end for this unit if nothing better comes out by the end of next month or so. Either buy a used unit off ebay, a refurb from somewhere or hopefully Philips will saturate the market so they're $69.99 on sale at Best Buy or something.

[sky captain]

I haven't done a lot of research yet, but my initial web searches showed the 7 inch screen Shinco DVD's in the $180 - $280 range. I'll keep looking.

There's a smaller, square, 5-inch model at $230.

I hadn't seen the hard drive based player before, but those are pretty cool. 400 bucks, though. And no DVD option.

[NG]

I haven't done a lot of research yet, but my initial web searches showed the 7 inch screen Shinco DVD's in the $180 - $280 range. I'll keep looking.

There's a smaller, square, 5-inch model at $230.

I hadn't seen the hard drive based player before, but those are pretty cool. 400 bucks, though. And no DVD option.

That is a *sweet* badboy (the $400 HD unit). I *think* if someone really shopped around they could snag the 7 inch Archos for not much more - but it'd require alot of searching not to have to go the ebay route but I've never been the most confident with the Shinco brandname. For the right price it'd be worth it but $400 is alot of coin if it's junk.

Wal-Mart does have a few 7 inch in the US for under $100:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4344995
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4938631

For $130 you can even get a brand name Poloriod:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3600688

Can't vouch for the model but I've heard from alot of people they like Poloroid DVD players. I'm just using Wal-Mart as an example btw - in Canada I've always been able to find something for about the same price elsewhere with a bit of shopping around.

There's also a 7 inch model with Divx on sale at Target right now for $130:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-1/qid=1146703919/ref=sr_1_1/602-3412888-9704...sin=B0007PZM6A

btw - that $230 for a 5" is a *huge* rip off btw. I bought one exactly like it from a Canadian no name label (Curtis) for $50 on clearance awhile ago.

[sky captain]

Thanx for the links.

I think the only reason I'd go with the larger unit is for the DIVX playback. And if it's cheap.

So, the Initial 7" from Target looks nice. Seems to play everything I want (but doesn't mention mp3 discs for some reason) for $130. I'll have to look it up to see if there's a multi-region hack. That wouldn't be a deal breaker, though. I have more Divx product than non-region 1 DVDs.

Today I found a review of the Pet320 at CNET.

Which led me to a mention of the Coby TF-DVD500.

Which led me to finding the Coby and the Audiovox D1420 at Amazon.

Both those last two look like a circular walkman with a screen (as does the Pet). I'm still hung up on how cool that is. The Audiovox has the largest screen, which is the only one that's 16x9. Unfortunately, according to the customer feedback, the batteries won't hold a charge.

[NG]

[quote]

Thanx for the links.

I think the only reason I'd go with the larger unit is for the DIVX playback. And if it's cheap.

So, the Initial 7" from Target looks nice. Seems to play everything I want (but doesn't mention mp3 discs for some reason) for $130. I'll have to look it up to see if there's a multi-region hack. That wouldn't be a deal breaker, though. I have more Divx product than non-region 1 DVDs.

I know what you mean - that little 5" Curtis portable I have doesn't have a (known) hack but I decided for the price I could just burn a R2-6 to DVD-RW if I really wanted to watch it while out [Note to mods/the man: In Canada we are legally allowed to back up media we have already purchused]

Which led me to a mention of the Coby TF-DVD500.

Coby! That's the generic one I was referring to earlier. Just so you know I believe the base is actually the battery so it's not that "pocket" sized. Personally I'd of gone with a standard battery that wasn't all curved so it couldn't fit into a pocket as well.

The Audiovox has the largest screen, which is the only one that's 16x9. Unfortunately, according to the customer feedback, the batteries won't hold a charge.

Wow...well that's not good. I checked the pic and it's kinda big (like alot of plastic around the actual screen) so I'd wonder how small it is but damn...it is funky looking 8)

Honestly...between all the portable options I'm still liking that Philips model (or the divx Target one if divx means alot to you).

Damn when I see one cheap I think I'm gonna grab that Philips