RCA DRC600N Portable DVD Player with 7" LCD Display
Portable, stylish, functional - no major complaints!
I've wanted a portable DVD player ever since they started making them, but a year or two ago you couldn't touch one for under $1200, which seemed excessive. I patiently waited for them to drop to under $500, and once they did, I began researching a purchase. I finally settled on the RCA \\"Life\\" DRC600N, and I have no regrets. It's sleek and stylish, with an interesting off-white finish reminiscent of 60's avocado kitchen appliances. The generous seven inch widescreen is more than adequate, and has several display options (you can get bigger screens, but why spend twice as much for something twice as bulky? If a big screen is that important to you, just stay home!) After taking the unit out of the box and plugging it in I popped in Fellowship of the Rings (widescreen, of course) and a pair of headphones, and after about two minutes I forgot I was looking at a portable DVD player and became engrossed in the film. Suddenly, I can't wait for my next major business trip (typically something I dread). How extraordinary is it that in modern times, we can carry our favorite film around with us, not much bigger or heavier than a large hardcover novel? My complaints about the system are few. Some of the controls are only available on the included card-sized remote, but that isn't a major headache, as the important ones can be found on the console. I had a problem at first with movies stopping automatically as though I had hit the stop button, but this seems to have corrected itself. I tend to enjoy high volumes so for some movies I find myself turning the volume up all the way and wishing it were still louder, but the average individual who doesn't have a deaf wish will probably find the volume adequate. The battery is bulky (adding about a quarter of the unit's total mass) but hey, such is life. The player easily makes up for these flaws with impressive features, including multi-speed scan and slow motion, zoom and bookmark capability, and more. At $499, (I'd recommend you purchase an extended warranty too, just in case) I don't think you could ask for a better player. A similarly priced Panasonic would probably have a much smaller screen, and honestly, I don't think you'll notice a big difference in the picture quality despite what the salespeople might tell you. All in all, a great (and very handy) little toy!