Initial IDM-1810 Portable DVD Player with 8-Inch LCD and Car Kit
Doesn't work in car
The IDM-1810 is the same as Circuit City's Initial IDM-830.  That's what I bought.  The picture is crystal clear and the volume is loud enough for car use.  It's definitely a better picture than the comparable Mintek 8\\" unit.  Everything about the Initial unit is nice, except one fatal flaw.  The screen goes black when the thing is plugged into a car cigarette lighter.  I tried it in both our cars - a Honda and a Subaru - and with another car adapter also (the Initial adapter worked fine with another device too).  I tried it with the car engine running and with the engine off too.  So it's gotta be the DVD player itself.  One white flash and then black screen (but audio OK) every time you turn the unit on.  But when I used it in the house or with the battery, this only happened once.   Strangely there's a note in the package that says if the screen is black when using the car power adapter, turn it off, unplug it, then try again.  So Initial KNOWS about this problem!  What's the deal?  If you ever want to use this otherwise fine DVD player in your car, forget it.