Registered: Feb 2004
Location:
Posts: 63

Hi all. I am asking for some opinions here.

I have a Panasonic DVD recorder (DMR-E55K) and I have started to off load some of my 200+ hours from my DSR7000.

We plan on taking my 2 year old on a vacation and I though of how great it would be to take some of her favorite shows with us. I started looking at some portable DVD players.

I am looking to spend about $300 or so. The problem that I have found, is not all players support DVD-R / RW discs. I was looking at the Mintek 1770 which has gotten pretty good reviews and my local Costco has it for $219 including a case, 2 sets of earphones and car adapter. It doesn't support DVD-R and I even called the manufacturer to confirm.

I know that although the manufacturer doesn't "say" they support DVD-R discs, often some players will play DVD-Rs just fine. I don't want to be hundreds of miles away from home when I find out with a screaming child, if you know what I mean.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them. I know the new GoVideo DP7030 supports them, but I haven't found and reviews on this unit yet

Thanks!!

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: sunnyvale
Posts: 526

I haven't checked one out in person, but Fry's has ads for one for $150. It's probably junk.. but I'll probably look into portable players after I get a DMR-E85 or maybe the Toshiba, since the Toshiba does DVD-RW (even though I hate DVD-RW).. and that'll play in more regular players.

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location:
Posts: 89

I bought that Mintek DVD player from Costco last week. I haven't tested any burned material with it yet. It works fine, although as the cheesy feel (cheap buttons, etc.) that you would expect at $200. The same unit is sold under a variety of namebrands (memorex,shinsonic, US Logic,etc.) at around the same price.

The battery appeared to last about 2.x hours for DVD playback.

The quality of display seems fine. My unit has one green hot pixel, but is otherwise fine.

You can find out other consumer reviews with an eye towards media compatibility over at VCD Help

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: MO
Posts: 2929

The Mintek 1770 as well as a bunch of different brands of 7" LCD DVD players are manufactured by Shinco, a Chinese OEM. Various models from GoVideo, US Logic, Initial, Mintek, Memorex, Shinsonic, and Shinco as well as others are all made by Shinco. Not all models by these companies are made by Shinco but if you look, you will see many look identical. I am not sure the GoVideo DP7030 is made by Shinco. The GoVideo GVP-7811 is. I bought the Initial IDM-1731. A few links and forums you can check and ask questions:

http://www.initialdvd.com/index.asp

http://www.govideo.com/Index.asp?GV=GVP7811

http://en.shinco.com/indexs/main.php

http://www.nerd-out.com/forum/viewf...hp?forum=23&282

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shinco/

The Shinco equivalents the SDP-1770 and SDP-1731A play all region discs out of the box, which was not important to me since I have only region 1 discs. I like my 1731 but I haven't played anything other than DVD video. One difference among different models, the batteries seem to vary from 3000MAh to 5400MAh. Build quality and playback quality probably doesn't vary much.

Chris

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 214

I purchased a Panasonic portable that could also play DVD-RAM disks that the Panasonic DVD recorder uses for rewritables. It plays DVD-Rs just fine, too.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: NC
Posts: 30

I bought a 8" Initial brand about a month ago. Mine plays DVD+-R/RWs. Supposedly, the Mintek, Initial, (and one other I cna't remember) are made by the same company. Although, the form factor b/t the different models is different, the internals are the same. Firmware varies b/t models as well.


Cheers,
bluemodena

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: MO
Posts: 2929

quote:

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Originally posted by bluemodena
I bought a 8" Initial brand about a month ago. Mine plays DVD+-R/RWs. Supposedly, the Mintek, Initial, (and one other I cna't remember) are made by the same company. Although, the form factor b/t the different models is different, the internals are the same. Firmware varies b/t models as well.


Cheers,
bluemodena

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: NC
Posts: 30

I believe portable DVDs are measured width-wise, so a 8" has alot more are than a 7'' one. I can instantly tell the difference b/t the two just from their screen size. CircuitCity has the 8" Initial onsale this week for $299. Anyway, Walmart carries Initial as well. I believe BestBuy carry Mintek, as well as CompUSA.

Good luck with you selection!

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: MO
Posts: 2929

quote:

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Originally posted by bluemodena
I believe portable DVDs are measured width-wise, so a 8" has alot more are than a 7'' one. I can instantly tell the difference b/t the two just from their screen size.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: NC
Posts: 30

Cool webpage! I knew it was more, just not quite how much. That would have been useful when I was deciding to buy a 32" 4:3 HDTV or a 30" 16:9 one.

I remember reading when I was trying to decide on the Mintek or the Initial, they shipped with different f/w loads. So, there is always the potential one brand might not play all the formats. I know mine plays all of them from my own personal usage and what others have posted at various sites.

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