Sony DVP-FX820/R 8-Inch Portable DVD Player, Red

My boyfriend was thrilled with this Christmas present - it may be the first thing I've gotten him he won't return! Perfect size and easy to use. Fast shipping!

Previously I watched DVD's on my computer but this is so much better. I was amazed at the quality of the image, almost 3D. I don't get those messages about skipping over damaged parts. Battery lasts a long time. I'm at 6 hours and still counting. I am so glad I bought this.

This player has great sound, and runs longer on battery than last year's model (although we have not tested whether it lasts six hours as claimed). The battery can be charged at home or in the car while playing.

Paid a little more, but the quality and features on this Sony out-weigh the price difference between it and cheaper dvd players. Nice unit.

My mother bought this DVD player for my 2 year old as an Xmas gift. The truth is, the gift is really for me, as it gives me a little bit of relief in the event that we are delayed at the airport, stuck waiting at the DMV, or during long car rides. Since the other reviewers covered so much ground on this item, I'm going to review from a parent's perspective.

Pros:
* The picture quality is amazing, probably the best feature on this product. Unlike other players, which are sometimes not backlit well enough, the Sony's screen is well lit and colors jump out at you.
* The screen size is perfectly adequate, though I wouldn't place the player too far away from the viewer.
* It's dummy proof. I was worried that getting it started would be complicated, but I just plugged it in, popped in a DVD, and the movie started on its own. The buttons are user-friendly and self-explanatory.
* The swivel feature is nice, especially since the "open" button to pop out the DVD is very sensitive so you try to avoid little fingers pushing that button throughout the film. You can turn the screen all the way around and then fold it down so that you hold the player like a little tablet.
* The sound is very good. Not too loud, but not too quiet either.

Cons:
* The battery makes the product pretty heavy, when added to the unit. And let's face it, you're most probably going to be using it with the battery instead of plugging it in to an AC adapter. It supposedly lasts 6 hours, but only on the most optimal settings, i.e. shutting off digital output and using headphones.
* For parents, it would have been nice if the play/pause/stop/forward/rewind/etc. buttons were put on base of the unit (i.e. not the same part as the screen). I would think that the most beneficial aspect of the swivel mechanism would be to keep the buttons out of the way, but this is not the case since the buttons are right below the screen for little fingers to stop, start, and mess with the film. That would normally be fine, except when the owner of those little fingers start screaming, "MOMMY! It stopped! Fix the video!"
* The player makes pretty loud clacking noises as you can hear the DVD being spun. A little concern of mine, makes me wonder at the life of the product.

All in all, I'm happy with it and would recommend it to others.