Sony DVPFX810 8-Inch Portable DVD Player, Black

I spent weeks researching portable dvd players before finally purchasing this one. My general findings from my research were 1) no players seem to be quite loud enough when used without headphones, 2) less expensive players don't seem to stand the test of time, 3) most battery lives seem to be around 2.5-3 hours.I bought this Sony DVPFX810 player in October 2006 and am still as delighted with its performance as I was when it first arrived.The picture quality is great, and the screen size makes for easy viewing. I have taken this player on a couple of trips and find that its size works well even in the cramped quarters of airplane seating. The volume is more than sufficient with headphones. Without headphones the volume is also fine -- if there is not much outside noise (in a room full of talking people you would need the headphones). The battery has been lasting for around 5 hours of playing time -- a stand-out feature of this player.This player also allows for plugging in the player and using it while the battery is detached, which lets me feel free to watch a movie at home without worrying about zapping the life of the battery.The swivel screen looks pretty cool, but I almost always use the player in its "laptop" formation.ADDITIONAL NOTE: I've had this product for 4 1/2 years now, and it is still working as well as the day I got it! Battery still even good! I love this thing!I bought the case "Case Logic Koskin DVD Player Case w/SS" for this player, which fits very nicely.

As mentioned in earlier reviews, the sound could be better - you really need those headphones or small external speakers. And the picture quality of the DVDs is better on my laptop than this machine.But the player is solidly built and the battery life is over six hours. And this is perfect for hooking up to the larger screens at school when I want to use DVDs with my students, and it will show a CD of jpg photos as well. This purchase is well worth it (it is black, not pink).*****Unfortunately, after just six weeks, the discs began pausing in the middle of the scene and "check disc" appears. Same thing with each DVD. I never know when the player is going to function perfectly. Disappointing.UPDATE - 10/20/2008 - When I wrote the above I was primarily using the player on house current. As soon as I began using it on battery - and letting the battery run out and recharge - all the "check disc" problems disappeared! It's been perfect for three months now.

Overall, I'm pleased with this Sony DVD player. It appears well made and plays fine. Comparatively, it is priced fair. It is also nice looking; I appreciate the material it is encased in.My personal dissatisfactions with this unit include the following:Initially, there is glare on the screen. It is easily remedied by the ease in which you can change positions of the screen but as a result of this problem you will discover a need to alter the position of the screen as often as you move to get comfortable while viewing an 8" screen.Secondly, the volume/speaker does not increase in sound to what I perceive to be an acceptable level. As a result, it is sometimes necessary to rewind to catch audible bits missed.Lastly, all the function keys (play, stop, rewind, ff, pause, etc.) are placed directly under the screen itself and these keys are unusually small. As a result, it is necessary to have the room lit in order to see the key functions (I keep a small flashlight near my bed) and to use them (it is awkward to press on a single function due to the small key size). Other portable units I have used in the past had these function keys on the lower half, near where the dvd disk is placed. I find this is much better planning because the light from the screen is sufficient to operate the various functions and the keys are larger since there is more spacing to place them.Despite these personal inconveniences, it is a well made player and priced fair and I do recommend it. I have viewed and used many portables and this takes third place of my favorite top three. And, since one unit which I was fond of is no longer available, it now actually takes second place:) The unit that holds first place is missing the rewind feature with various speeds (it only rewinds by frame). This is a function I find necessary to my personal viewing pleasure -- which is why I elected this Sony player over my first preference! Hope this is helpful.

Picture quality is so/so, need to look at the screen almost at a slight angle to see it better. From certain angles, the picture is not viewable at all. The sound quality out of the speakers is NOT great - using headphones however is a different story- better quality there.Wouldn't it be great if Sony & Bose got together to create a portable DVD player? Sony makes a good picture product, and Bose makes great speakers (as well as radios & CD players). Doesn't that make sense? HELLO? It's like Chocolate & Peanut Butter! Nobody's going to know how good it will be unless ya' try it!

I bought this as a gift to replace a dvd player that had broken. I bought it used, at significant savings. It works perfectly. The controls are located just below the screen. Love the swivel feature. In addition to a complete swivel, you can fold the screen down, then hold it like a tablet. This was a gift for a 5 year old, who has no trouble operating it. It comes in very handy when several kids (different ages) don't want to watch the same thing. They take a few dvd players, put in their favorite movie, put in some headphones or earbuds, and everyone is happy. It came in very handy to the adults too, during a prolonged power outage during Hurricane Sandy. We had charged these before the hurricane. At least we had something to watch while waiting for the power to be restored. Very happy with this purchase. It is one of the better dvd players I have purchased.