Polaroid PDV-0700 7" Portable DVD Player
New update for PDV-0700
The report is edited again mainly to highlight a few issues. Despite my lengthy review, people do not read carefully. As I spend more time with this machine, the more I am impressed with it. Therefore, the rating is changed from a 4 to a 5 stars. There are few good reasons to pick this portable DVD player over others. First, let's talk about the good points. All DVD players made in China are actually made to view DVD's from all regions. They use programmable software to make it region specific. Polaroid is no exception. To make it region-free, all you have to do is to press Setup on the remote and advance to \\"Preferences\\". Then, you simply enter \\"1379\\" and then use the arrow keys to change to Region \\"0\\" and press enter. (This is confirmed in the online manual and it also works for the 8\\"). Potentially, you can do the same with other brands from China but the code may not be availabe at present. Those from Japan with big names, such as Sony, Panasonic, etc., are truly regional specific except for the older models. They cannot be \\"hecked\\" except with powerful software on a dvd or one actually has to open the case and remove the \\"chip\\". There is always a risk of rendering the machine less functional or not usable. Seven inches screen is a must. Don't settle for anything less or you will have eye strain. The Polaroid screen has a very wide angle so having 2 or 3 people watching at the same time is not a problem. The quality is impressive only AFTER adusting the contrast, color and brightness. A larger screen gives you a better view but will likely drain out the battery much faster. For the Polaroid PDV-0700, it will up to 4 hours starting new, enough to watch one long or two short movies with the build-in speakers at normal volume. It will be frustrating if you have a bigger screen but the battery pack only last less than 2 hours. The PDV-0700 comes with almost everying you need. The AC adapter works for 110 to 240 volts. A car adapter is included, along with AV cable for both output and input. You have to buy you own earjacks. It also plays VCD's. So far, I have not tried any othe format except DVD and VCD. You have to set the unit to Region 0 to play VCD. At one time, I connected the machine to a 47\\" big screen TV to play a region 2 dvd in Pal format. It worked great and the video output is excellent. Of course, it does not have progressive screen and sometimes you may be able to tell the difference. In addition, The electronic shock protection (ESP) is a very important feature. Don't buy any portable player without one. At one time, I ran the unit for more than 6 hours and the unit did NOT overheat. It has other build-in features such as zoom, normal/wide view, multiple angle view, screen saver, password, parental control and other ordinary DVD features.   Now, for the bad sides, like all brands made in China, quality control is always a concern. When I got my first unit, the door lid did not close properly and the player would stop almost everytime I touched the lid. I had to exchange for another one the next day and the second one has been working well so far. Polaroid is still a bigger name than other brands from China. Sound is adequate but I have not tried the earjack. The case is not very robust so you have to handle it with care. I also don't like the manual color and brightness controls. They do not give you any indication what levels the machine is set but there is better than nothing in other dvd playes. With the battery pack, the unit will become quite thick, but all parts fit well together. The battery can be OVERCHARGED so you have to watch out. The remote unit works fine but there is no volume control.   In summary, in terms of the overall quality, it is only slightly below other big Japanese players but the price is very attractive. Besides, if you really need it as a portable unit, why pay big bucks for a better one? You are alreay paying a premium for the smaller size. If you insist in having better quality, then settle with an ordinary size DVD player, why a portable? This machine, PDV-0700, is adequate to meet all your need. In addition, this is actually a \\"toy\\", not an investment. With time, the price will drop and there will always a better machine out on the market. So, you should consider only buying those that fill your need. Finally, due to the lack of consistent quality control, you should test the brand new unit extensively for the first two weeks to ensure that there is no manufacturer defect. For example, if the lid does not seem to close properly, change it or ask for a refund. Second, NEVER buy a used or refurished product. The factory is in China, not in North America. The defective machine can never be repaired up to the factory standard. Edited on June 30th 2004.    UPDATE (November 26th 2004): If you own this unit, eventually you will encounter this problem with \\"lid open\\". This is actually a mechanical failure due to poor design. I consider it as a manufacture defect since it will not last through normal wear and tear. If you open the lid and look at the inside edge, you will find a very tiny button at 11' o'clock. When you close the lid, the button should be and has to be pushed down for the unit to function. When the dvd player is brand new, the closed lid just barely pushed the button down enough to allow the unit to function. The hinge is made of the soft plastic of the case. The left side is further stressed with the spring. So, with routine use, no matter how careful you are, the left side hinge will become loose. All it takes is 0.5 to 1 mm movement and your unit will remain permanently in the \\"open\\" position. If your brand new unit occasionally stops playing because the lid suddenly goes \\"open\\", the problem will get worse. There is nothing you can do. There is no access to the hinge and therefore you cannot fix it. One SOLUTION is to glue a small piece of thick tape or thin rubber underneath the lid and directly above the small button. So, whenthe lid is close, the button will be pushed down. Despite my previous biased view favoring this unit, I can no longer able to recommend it to anyone. I brought it in the first place because it allows me to play DVD's from other regions. Polaroid should have cancelled this particular model and redesign a new now. For those who want to buy this model, DON'T. For those who just bought it, RETURN it if possible. For those who can't, use it extensively within the warranty period. If it breaks down, at least, you can get a replacement. For those who get struck with the unit, PRAY that it will last for as long as possible.