Mintek 10.2-Inch Portable
Extremely Versatile Player - Plays NTSC/PAL and Region Free Capable
I looked around for a portable DVD unit that would play multiple disk formats.  This player fits the bill - according to its specs, it will play DVD+-RW, CD-R/RW, and Kodak Picture CDs.  So far, I've only tested it on commercial DVDs and DVD-Rs, all which play fine.<br /><br />Video quality is fine and audio via headphones is more than adequate.  (Audio quality via the small onboard speakers is about on par with laptop speakers.)  The player makes some noise spinning up a DVD upon first play and spinning down a DVD after a stop but there is virtually no noise during playback.  Video and audio outputs are fairly minimal so it's not the ideal player if you plan on routinely hooking it up to your TV.  Additional accessories are available including a component (RGB) video adaptor.<br /><br />Most invaluable about this player, however, is that it can be made Region Free - i.e. you can change the region code to \\"0\\" so that it will play foreign DVDs.  Go to videohelp.com to find the simple 5 step process you can follow using the included remote (no firmware update required).  It will also play PAL-formatted DVDs as well as the U.S. NTSC standard.  I can now play my DVDs from the U.K., as well as Australia.<br /><br />Because it is so highly versatile, I highly recommend it if you are an avid DVD fan who views both U.S. and foreign DVDs.  (Note, as of the time of this review, Costco is selling the unit for under $200, including a bonus accessory pack which includes a carrying case and 2 headphones).