Panasonic DVD-LV55 Portable DVD Player
Excellent value for the cost
I bought one of these immediately after a particularly frustrating transcontinental flight, so I wasn't in the best frame of mind when I made my choice.  I also only had a choice between this one and one made by Pioneer.  <br />Nevertheless, after two very long business trips I have been extremely satisfied.  I not only used it during the flights to watch videos, but also to listen to CDs.  The battery lasts for slightly longer than 3 hours (just about as long as I want headphones on my head) and easily charges up overnight.  (In the future, if I do longer trips, I might consider buying a second, backup battery.)  Additionally, the unit seems rugged.  I use a soft-sided totebag for travel, rather than a hard-sided briefcase, and it gets thrown/stuffed/mushed around a lot.  I liked the fact that the unit was small enough, even with the battery pack, to allow me to cram a lot of other stuff in with it.  (You know how we women are with our handbags and travelbags!)<br />The hotels I stayed at only had about 10 channels available for viewing on their TV, so I also used this unit in the evenings, for both DVDs and CDs.  This allows me to catch up on all of those alternate soundtracks on DVDs -- something that I'm often too busy to do at home.  <br />One very small complaint I have is that the picture seems a little grainy.  However, I could have bought the Pioneer unit sitting in the display case next to this one, which had both a very good quality picture as well as a slightly larger one, but cost ($) more.  Obviously, price was a factor in my decision.<br />This unit didn't come with headphones, so make sure you purchase a set when you get yours.  The unit's speakers sound pretty tinny - but what else could you expect in a small DVD player?  Use the headphones, which have a perfectly acceptable sound.  And don't forget, you can select two settings that simulate surround-sound.  I found that some DVDs had an improved sound with these settings, but some didn't.  (There may be a technical explanation for this but I can't tell you what it is.) <br />The unit comes with a remote but it only works when the unit is running off of a wall outlet.  I found that for basic watching, the unit's own buttons can get you through any DVD menu selections, forward/freeze/reverse/zoom options, or player setup you wish to do.  (Note that most home DVD players don't have enough buttons, and require the remote for accessing all of its functions.)<br />I found the instructions easy to follow -- I'm the type of person who reads almost every page -- and was soon able to navigate through the unit's setup menus.  <br />Overall, considering this unit's price, the amount of features provided, and the enjoyment I've gotten with it, I consider this a very good deal.<br />One last thought.  If you travel with a laptop, why get one of these?  Well, if your laptop has a DVD drive, you don't really have to get one of these.  However, I like how compact this unit is, allowing me a little more privacy.  No...I don't watch any X-rated stuff, but I also do consider my fellow travelers who might not want to see any explicit scenes in their peripheral line of sight.  I can also fit this along with a cup of coffee, a snack, or a book (when listening to a CD)on the seat tray.  When listening to a CD, this unit fits into my lap or between me and my handrest more easily than a laptop would.