Initial DVD-5820 Portable DVD Player with 5.8-Inch Screen
Great Price/Value - Short Lifespan
I picked up the 5820 primarily becuase of the price - and I needed a portable for a cross-country flight with two kids. The playback quality and sound was what I expected for the price - not earth-shattering, but fine for movies on flights. I also have used it on some long drives, and it worked fine there as well. <br /> <br />A scant 8 months later, however, the dvd's started skipping, and sporadically just stopping with an image of Harry Potter hanging there in mid-flight on his broom. I thought it was a scratched DVD or something, so I popped another DVD in and it played fine until about 1/2 through the movie. I was then greeted by a loud whine that is apparently the DVD motor in its death throws. Movies seem to play until the movie gets to about 1/2 way, then the loud noise returned and the movie stopped.  <br /> <br />With some prior reviews about poor customer service, and the fact that I can pick up another portable DVD player (NOT an Initial) for a little over $100, I'll be simply trashing the old one and getting a new one. I never thought of portable DVD players as disposable, but that's what this Initial has turned out to be - use it till it breaks and get a new one... <br />