When the DVD player first came out it was designed exclusively as a home entertainment system that was not intended as a portable item. In fact, the early DVD players came with plastic plugs designed to keep the DVD's internal component in place when transporting the player. (This was done to avoid damage to the interior components) There was, however, much rejoicing when laptops developed the ability to play DVDs because now an easily portable DVD player existed.

However, and the DVD drive was a fringe benefit to owning a computer. If you did not have $1500 for a laptop or a need for a laptop this really wasn't an option. Then, along came the very cool portable DVD player that can be taken anywhere and it often is. However, selecting a portable DVD player is not as easy as it looks.

If you look at the various DVD players on the market you will notice that there are a number of name brands and prices. This would definitely lead to a little confusion on the part of the consumer as to which portable DVD to purchase. Well, this is only a minor hurdle because it is not difficult to select a portable DVD player provided you examine certain criteria. Probably the most basic area to take into consideration is the size of the DVD player which ties into the size of the player's screen. If you spend a lot of time riding coach on airplanes you probably won't have all the much room for an oversized DVD player.

In this case, a seven inch screen becomes the right option. If you want to keep the DVD player in your suitcase and only use it in your hotel room then a ten inch screen becomes a better option. So, always take into consideration the size of the screen relative to your use of the player into consideration before making a purchase. And speaking of screens some screens is better than others. If you are a stickler for crystal clear picture quality then you may wish to purchase a portable DVD player that possesses an LCD screen. Of course, LCD screens may be quite expensive so if they are out of your budget there are a number of excellent "standard" screens that are quite nice as well.

Now, no matter what size screen you have or how clear the screen is it will be utterly worthless if it doesn't play the DVD. That is, there are a number of different types of DVDs that some DVD players can't play. For example, some players are unable to play DVD-R's or DVD-R/W's and if you possess a number of these types of DVDs then you will certainly want a DVD player that can handle these formats. As such, when you purchase a portable DVD player it is critical to read the box it comes in and look for the section that defines the formats the DVD player is compatible.

It is always best to perform a little research prior to shopping. This way you will already have a heads up in regard to which name brands are top of the line and which name brands are best avoided. Thankfully, there are a number of excellent consumer electronics review magazines that can greatly aid in this role and make your selection process a little easier. As you can see, selecting a portable DVD player is no where near as tough as some would be lead to believe.

All it takes is a little patience and due diligence and you can find the perfect player for your needs.

Richard Adams is the founder of a brand new site offering discount portable dvd players