Panasonic DVD-LA95 9-Inch Portable DVD Player
Pricey, but worth it.
I was terrified when I first unpacked this thing - with grim reminders of the expensive and short-lived electronics of my youth (no matter how much I spent, every Walkman I bought lasted about a year).  That said, the LA95 proved to be a champion, worth every penny.  With its 2 hour battery, I had trouble-free watching while on an extended car-trip last winter.  A nifty speed-scan ring allows you to skip past the boring parts with no problem.  Though it's thinner than a Nicholas Sparks novel, and much lighter, the LA95 is durable and looks to be in about the same condition as it was when I unpacked it earlier this year - and since then it's been used largely by my 4 and 7 year old kids.  Since this is my first portable DVD player, I can't really say anything about the quality of its picture or sound - but it's a movie that comes in your hand, how nifty is that?  While 2 hours seems a bit short, the extended battery doesn't seem a bad buy considering that notebook batteries seem to cost about as much.  Though it doesn't come with a carry case, mine was packed in this nifty bubble packing which seems to be as durable as the unit.  (if it came with something to stick the adapter inside of, you wouldn't need to buy a case at all).  On the downside, for a player that sits on your lap, it does build up some heat.  I would have sacrificed some size and weight for a decent heat-sink.  That said, it's expensive, convenient and durable.  After months of trouble-free use, you'll know where your money went.