It's hard to believe your eyes when you first pick up the DVD-L50. It's the smallest DVD player in the world and it's also the world's lightest. This feat is made possible by Panasonic technology, delivering creative innovation in all its high-performance parts, from the LSI chips and pickup motor, to the lithium ion battery and brilliant color LCD screen. Now you can enjoy great movie entertainment conveniently - wherever you go - with stunning performance on a par with home-size table-top DVD player models.The DVD-L50's 5-inch LCD screen has 280, 000 pixels to show crisp detail with widescreen images. TFT active matrix LCD technology presents a bright picture with a wide viewing angle and minimal reflections. At last, you don't have to carry along extra equipment just for battery recharging. Since the DVD-L50 has its recharger function built into its body, recharging the battery is easier than ever. Thanks to powerful, reliable technology, you can watch DVDs continuously for up to three hours. That's significantly longer than an entire feature film on DVD, so you don't have to worry about interruption. Go just about anywhere, and continue to be able to plug in, recharge your battery, and enjoy your favorite DVD entertainment. This adaptor lets you operate the DVD-L50 on a range of AC power supply voltages from 110V to 240V. Though it's styled like a credit card, this tiny remote puts control of all major functions at your fingertips. Its small size also contributes to light weight.
Now you can take your home theater with you--or at least a miniature version of it. The Panasonic DVD-L50 PalmTheater lets you watch DVDs on the road, at a friend's house, or wherever you feel the urge for entertainment.
The DVD-L50 PalmTheater's sleek steel construction looks great and provides added durability. Panasonic has done a great job of miniaturizing both screen and speakers without sacrificing too much quality. The virtual surround sound is impressive for such small speakers, although it definitely leans toward the high end, making some sounds too shrill or tinny. The sound improves drastically with headphones.
The picture is fairly good with an adequate viewing angle to either side--not what you'd get on a TV, of course, but still good enough to sit through for an entire movie. The DVD-L50 lets you choose between 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios at the touch of a button. It also offers a zoom mode that lets you fill the screen with a 4:3 picture, although you tend to get a rather pixellated image. (We found that we preferred the smaller but sharper non-zoom mode.)
The DVD-L50 provides video and digital audio outputs and can be hooked up to a larger home-theater setup. It strikes us as a good choice to take to a friend's house to watch DVDs or to use with hotel TVs on trips. It does have about a two-hour battery life, so you could conceivably watch a whole DVD without being hooked up to an AC outlet (on a plane, for instance). You can also use it as a portable CD player, with or without headphones.
Pros:
- World's smallest DVD player with built-in screen
- Virtual surround sound makes for impressive audio
- Bright, sharp screen
- Lightweight (only two pounds)
- Rugged steel construction also looks great
Cons: - Speakers make audio a bit shrill
1 Long-Term Review
I bought this player when it first came out in 1999. It's the most reliable electronic product I've ever owned. I've traveled all over the world with it, including to Canada, China, Italy, North Dakota, Vermont, and St Croix. It has saved me from going crazy on long flights. I've shoved it in my backpack and carried it all over the place. It even got wet in a rainstorm once. It's tough. After at least 1000 hours of playing time, I've never had any problems with it. The battery still keeps it's charge even after 5 years of frequent use. The display is just as sharp as it was when I first bought it.
I highly recommend it if you plan on getting a used player.
2 A Gem
This little DVD player has been a gem. I have had it for several years and paid much more for it than the current price. The grandchildren have used it and it has been loaned to my daughter to take on trips several times. I use it at least 5 times a week. It still works great. The battery still keeps its charge for approx. 3 hrs. Panasonic made this DVD player right. Don't hesitate to buy it.
3 Battery life too short
I get only 2:15 of battery life on average, barely enough to watch a good movie.
I'd love to see cheaper packs, or a camera battery add on option.
It plays +R but not +RW disks.
4 A fantastic reliable little machine
I own an L50 for two years right now. A sharp and clear image, plus great conveniance because it size. Beautiful sound with good earphones. I never had even a slight malfunction. You have all the controls you need. The device is hardly constructed, so you can take it with you anywhere without problems. I use it in my bed, at the office, in hotels rooms (great when plugged on the room's TV) etc... Not the larger image on the market, but surely one of the most precise. Don't even try to search for the pixels. I just say you can buy it without fear.
5 great dvd player
Recieved dvd player in 3 days,packed well,all accessories,looks great,works great,I would always shop this way,buy my dvd's from amazon.com and I'm always satisfied, Pete
6 comfort buddy--entertainment
IF YOU LOVE GOOD QUALITY SOUND AND FRESH CRISP IMAGES THEN, THIS IS YOUR LITTLE BUDDY. THIS DVD PLAYER WILL GIVE YOU HOURS OF COMFORT...I HAVE USED IT WITH A FRIEND AND DISPITE ITS 5 INCH SCREEN .... WE BOTH COULD VIEW IT WELL....I GOT THE EXTRA BATTERY PACK AND USE THE ELECTRICAL PLUG AT TIMES.. ITS WELL MADE ...QUITE DURABLE TOO! THIS COMPACT DELIVERS THE PUNCH ..IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE SOMEWHERE WHERE THERE IS A MONITOR, YOUR BUDDY HAS A CABLE THAT WILL TRANSMIT THE SOUND OR MOVIES ONTO THAT LARGER MEDIUM TOO! SO IT HAS MULTIPLE FLEXIBILITIES ! ITS WORTH EVERY PENNY,...I LOVE MY BUDDY!
7 Surprisingly good sound & picture for its size, but...
A couple years back, I was considering whether or not to get one of these when a friend of mine got one and started showin' it off to everybody in sight. One day I became one of the fortunate few to experience his new portable entertainment gadget as he popped in a fave platter and we watched the show together. It had amazingly crisp & clear stereo sound for its size, as well as really good picture quality for such a small screen, though the detail was somewhat limited by the screen's small size. It even came with a little clicker, complete with most of the functions & buttons you'd expect on a DVD player remote. I discovered that it can play music CDs as well, with sound quality that surpassed most portable Walkman-type CD players I've ever used or tried out.
But there were a few drawbacks that put me off purchasing this. First and foremost is the price; although it's significantly less expensive now than it was when I first looked at it, the PalmTheater is still a bit too pricey for me to consider it a good entertainment investment. For what's being asked, I'd at least like to see this machine be able to pick up the local broadcast TV and/or radio stations, which would be a great thing to have when I'm out in the boonies and I need my Monday Night Football fix during the season. Also, I noticed that this little guy got a bit warm after about an hour of continuous play. Although I probably shouldn't've worried about this as much as I did, I do know that heat is one of the big killers of electronic devices, especially something as small and undoubtedly delicate as this. Finally, this particular model being at least two years old as of my writing this, it's no longer as up-to-date or top-of-the-line as subsequent Panasonic (or other brands of) personal DVD player/viewers. If I do buy one, I'll probably go for a more recent model.
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8 Best gift I've ever had!
This was given to me more than a year ago and i just love it. It is very convenient when I travel. I can watch my favorite movies anywhere I go. Unfortunately, I have not been able to use it for over three months now because the middle part where the disc snaps to broke. I have been looking for the part and what it is called. Unfortunately also i don't have the manual anymore because of my moving. I just wish somebody who knows where I can get the part could tell me and help me with this. I really would appreciate it very much if I can use my DVD-L50 again. If someone could help me, my e-mail: jelizabeth_04@yahoo.com
9 Worth the Money
IF you can afford to buy this player, do. It is amazing. I have tried both the Sony and the Pioneer but I decided to buy this one. I found the others to be rather flimsy and more difficult to use despite their higher price. It it very easy to use and the input option is great so instaed of buying a handheld tv you can just buy a receiver for a fifth of the cost and hook it into the player to watch tv on the go. The speakers deliver great sound for their small size but do get sqeaky at higher volumes. The virtual surround sound works perfectly. The only problem is there is no way to change from widescreen to full screen when it is hooked up to a TV and it tends to get a little hot when it runs, otherwise, a great buy.
10 Still an awesome product...
My wife and I bought our L50 as a gift to ourselves around Christmas time. We had never owned a DVD player, but decided that it was time for a treat. Wow!
I agree with all the positive comments here. My experience, with the heat issue, is that while you don't want the player in contact with your lap, a pillow or tableteop will do nicely.
One complaint about the heat, though, is that as my unit heats up it starts skipping tracks and I can no longer follow a scene. Two things help remedy this: if you rent disks, always thoroughly clean your disks before inserting them. Get all the fingerprints and dust off. Occassionally you'll find scratches. I've found that using something like Pledge furniture polish helps a little (make sure you wipe the disk thoroughly, wiping straight out from the hole to the edge--don't go in circular motions). Be sure to look at the disks before you leave the rental store. You'll be surprised what scratches you'll find. Second, instead of putting your unit flat on the table, find some way to keep it raised off the table by an inch or two so that air can circulate under the it. This will keep it much cooler and you can continue with your weekend movie marathon!
The LCD screen *does* present a pretty small picture, and enlarging the move usually results in obvious pixelization at the highest setting. I usually just have the player stretch the movie borders to the left and right edges of the screen. Sure, it makes everybody look fatter, but the enlargement aids viewing without resulting in obvious pixelization. The picture is small enough that after 2 or three hours, you'll be feeling eyestrain. But it's large enough that you can make out most small details easily. On most movies it still passes my "credits" test (if you can read the end credits, the clarity is good enough to enjoy).
You'll be impressed with the video output of this little guy--even if you don't have an s-video hookup on your TV. If your TV doesn't support S-Video, you might want to run out and get a better set!
I've found that the audio output is best enjoyed with headphones--but that's mainly because my entertainment system is 7 years old and doesn't support Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound. This little player will pump that out--so if you're prepared for Dolby 5.1, you'll be very pleased. Otherwise, invest in a good set of headphones that will either block out external sounds (by fully covering the ears) or by using noise cancelling technology. You'll appreciate the investment. In fact, you might invest in two of those headphones and a splitter while you're at it because you and your significant other will still want to enjoy this together!
As for the audio splitter, get the splitter that is made of nothing but cables. The Y splitters that are all one-piece tend to cause the jacks in the unit to work loose after a while. (If you don't want to unwittingly trip over your audio cables in the dark, forget splitters and get a 900 MHz cordless headphones!)
You might also find a car stereo adapter useful for road trips. I'll admit, it can be distracting hearing a movie all around you without being able to watch (if you're the driver), but--oh glory--what a sound experience!
One upgrade I was actually thinking about was the Sharper Image LCD goggles... but I actually wasn't impressed with the quality. :: sigh ::
In the end, I wouldn't trade this puppy in at all, and I don't necessarily think Panasonic's latest DVD miniature is an improvement.
Regards,
Rich.
11 Anywhere you want
I recieved the Palmtheatre free through a contest. I never really thought about owning one, and I was not about to shell out the money to get one. However now that I have one and know how much that it is used, I would have no problem what so ever purchasing another one. I take it with us on trips, camping. When I go to a friends house that does not have a DVD player, I can take it along, take the patch cords, and my movies. Very nice and convenient product.
12 Do you travel and have kids?
Sitting in Tampa airport with a 2 1/2 year old and have 2 1/2 hours before the flight. No problem, plug the system into the outlet in the airport terminal and read the newspaper. Went on a cruise with the same child. Dinners are great, yet a 2 yr old has a problem sitting for a long period of time. Go as long as you can before she really gets to be a handfull and then put on the battery and put the DVD player in front of her and enjoy the food and new friends. Flying to Tampa from Los Angeles is a long way. Tell a 2 1/2 yr old to sit and color for 6 hours. Yea right. She would much rather color for 30 minutes and then play with the seat in front of her for 30 minutes, then the Airphone. You get the idea. How about color for 30 minutes, watch Barney, then have a well rested mother read some books to her, then take a nap, then watch Peter Pan, etc.
Granted it gets warm on the bottom. I worried about this before I purchased. It is a non issue as far as I am concerned. Bought a small travel bag for the DVD player. It is actually designed for a CD player. Works perfect for the DVD player. Almost as big as the player itself. Fits right in the diaper bag. Best money spent in a long time.
BTW -- Look for reputable sellers on Ebay. Save 2 to 4 hundred.
13 Two months, still love it.
If you love movies, or just hate being bored on airplanes then get this now. Also makes a great home player... price the home players with DTS, consider the portability factor and compare. It's well worth the money. If you get one, get a case and a set of good noise-canceling headphones. Noise-canceling headphones are REQUIRED for aircraft use. The bottom does get a little hot. Frankly, when I'm 35,000 feet in the air, sipping a drink while watching a movie, I don't care.
14 A view from Indonesia
I purchased the DVD-L50 a couple of months ago in Singapore on impulse and have not regretted this at all. I agree with the majority of reviews already given, especially with regard to quality and versatility. Comments about lack of car adaptor and the unit getting hot are also valid but far outweighed by the plus points.
Just to add a S.E. Asia perspective - it also plays VCDs (video compact disks) which are plentiful and cheap out here and it is great for our traffic jams. I also had the region for the player modified at no cost.
15 Great Product!
I bought this little thing because I was traveling and needed something to keep me busy during layovers and delays. But WOW. The screen resolution is fine, especially with the choice of three screen sizes. The sound is excellent and then I discovered that I can hook it to my hotel room tv and watch my movies for free. Beware of holding it on your lap...the bottom gets very hot after a while. My Daughter loves it as well....we use for those long car rides and those times when we go camping. Pricey but worth it...in my opinion!
16 Now Home Theatre is Anywhere I am
Received this great toy recently, and it was love at first sight. The picture was sharper than expected, and the controls are easy to use either on the player or via the diminutive remote (which is not really necessary for most use). It has a solid, well-made feel about it, even though it is light and easy to carry. The sound is ok through the speakers, and quite good through a headset (which will be most of my use). While the bottom does get warm, placed on a magazine or tablecloth, there is no problem. For me, this player finally puts DVD clearly above laserdisc. Up to now, DVD was only marginally better than laser in most respects and behind in some, but the portability of this player is something a laserdisc player could never attain. The DVD L-50 does for video what the Walkman did for music.
17 A great little DVD player
I bought my DVD-L50 about a month ago and am blown away by it. My job requires me to travel extensively to remote locations involving long periods of time flying. I agree that the bottom does get hot, but as I saw when I thoroughly checked the item out before purchasing it, it had a temp. warning label. I placed it on my seat tray on the airplane and was able to watch 2 movies before the battery ended. I really like the sound and visual quality on this player. While not the same as my home TV, the visual quality was better than I would've expected on a portable player. The size was perfect to fit in my digital camera case, and carry a couple DVD's in it, and place the rest of my collection in my checked baggage. I definitely recommend this product. Several of my co-workers were so impressed with the player they are going to purchase their own.
18 Good product but few flaws...
I recently purchased this product and i was so excited to use it but the picture quality is not nearly as good as you would see on a regular tv. It's kind of "fuzzy", it's pretty good for a portable but don't expect it to be super clear. Be careful of the base of the player, it can get pretty hot after 30 mins or so. But overall a great product!
19 Words fail me
My player arrived last night. I'm totally nuts about it. I only found time to write a review because I'm at work and can't watch. OK, the base gets a little warm after a while, but big deal. Fantastic device, highly recommeded.
20 Most awesome piece of video machinery I've ever seen
This is truly a great machine for viewing DVDs wherever you are: in your home, or even on the road. If you have the dough, I suggest this player for anybody with DVDs.
21 Best Little "Toy" a Person Could Have
This little DVD player is the best possible thing one could have. It fits perfectly anywhere you want it and fits into most overhead storage compartments. There are several things that make this an excellent buy though.
First of all, the quality of the picture is outstounding. This is almost as good as HDTV (High Definition Television) because you have a crystal clear picture projected onto an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen. Secondly, when it is output to a TV, the picture is just as good as any other DVD player, but the bonus there is that this device is extremely small, comapred to those large and bulky DVD players (sure they cost less, but you can't take them on a seven hour flight from here to England.).
There is also the controls and output. The controls on this DVD Player are quite easy to use. Without looking at the instruction manual, I was able to determain what a majority of the buttons did. The menus are quite accessible and manueverable due to a tiny "joystick" that allows you to swivel and pick your option. However, there are also output controls as well. The device uses fiber-optic cables which therefore means that it can be connected directly to a TV using the three wires (two sound, red and white, and video, yellow). When this is hooked up to a TV, the picture and sound quality is unbelievable.
Then the ironic question must be asked "why not just use my DVD player on the computer"? Well, of course if you have a laptop the quality is fine, and of course, you can manage your budget while watching a movie, put there are some good things to having a DVD player as well. If your want to play a DVD movie for your family, wouldn't you rather have it on a TV screen than on a small LCD screen? Of course, if you're on an airplane and want to watch it there, you can't exactly display it on the TVs there. Thus, I can only say that one is not better than the other.
In conclusion, I can only say that this DVD player is quite ideal because it is compact, picture-perfect, and can add whole lots of fun to your life.
22 THE BEST LITTLE GADGET FOR ANY MOVIE MANIAC
So, it gets a little warm, it is not a big deal! The sound is a little weak, but that should be expected, otherwise it is flawless in its performance. For the price, it is worth every penny.
23 Phenomenal
only drawback was that extra batteries cost $175!
don't listen to everyoen complaining about the ehat it puts out - it's not a big deal.
24 Excellent 2nd Home DVD Player and Road Warrior
I admit I am a bit of a gadget lover, but that aside, I thoroughly enjoy my DVD-50 Player, and use it all of the time.
ONE: The screen. Although the screen is small, it is bright enough to view comfortably in just about any indoor setting, and the swivel is such that it is easy to adjust to just about any viewing angle. The pixel quality is equal that of many high-end laptop computers, and it offers an acceptable viewing size for an average 2 hour film.
TWO: The controls. The mini-remote control is functionally complete, but a bit difficult to use in poor light. Perhaps back-lighting or glow-in-the-dark buttons would have been a good addition. However, the size of the remote is perfect as I can slip it in my travel bag with the player, and it takes up minimum room. It is not much larger then a credit card. While in hotels, I use it quite a bit and feel that the size and functionality is exceptional.
THREE: Is a laptop better? Often, a comparison is made between this unit and a laptop computer with DVD. However, if you already have a laptop which has sub-standard DVD support and you do not wish to go out and get a new one, this unit is your best choice. If you have $3000 to burn, then perhaps a high end laptop with DVD support is the way to go, but then you have a large laptop to deal with instead of the nicely compact DVD-50.
FOUR: A secondary DVD player. One of the greatest uses I have found for this marvel is to simply grab it, run over to a friend's or relative's house, and plug it in! It is always a hit to hook it up to another's TV and offer DVD to the "un-enlightened". Also, I can move the unit around the house and connect it easily and quickly to TVs that don't have DVD drives hooked up to them.
FIVE: Sound. This is probably the weakest area of the unit, but you really can't blame the unit too much because the sound problem is really due to the small size of the unit. Essentially there is no BASS. The speakers tend to sound like just the tweeters from a home audio system so the sound is very high and "tin-ey" sounding. With headphones though, the sound is quite acceptable.
SUMMARY: I enjoy this unit and use it almost daily. It is the smallest unit I found and offers the greatest bang-for-the-buck, especially since the recent price drop.
25 This is a VERY cool toy.
We use this when travelling on airlines. But to make it work the very best, you need a couple of additional items. 1. You need GOOD noise cancelling ear phones to get rid of the background noise on airplanes, trains, buses, cars, etc. Panasonic Model RP-HC100 or similar. 2. You need a 'splitter' so that two of you (if you have a significant other) can watch the movie together. (Radio Shack) Then all you need to bring is popcorn. 3. For those long flights, you'll need one or two extra batteries. The battery that comes with it will play for about three hours. It takes a LONG time to charge these batteries (about four hours) so be prepared. ENJOY!
26 Best Little Gadget Out There
I purchased this unit just after Christmas. I LOVE IT! We have watched a bunch of movies while travelling and while not as great sounding as my dvd and bose system at home it is wonderful.
The only thing I have to ask is where can I get a cigarette lighter adapter for this little guy?
Buy one they're worth the money.
27 I am MR PORTABLE
having everything portable and living out of my car VERY often due to business, I suggest this product to everyone. Sure it gets hot, so put it down.
The size is minimal, the quality is HUGE, the cost is high, but if you are into toys, this is the one. I can pack my whole trip-life into one small metal carryall. (Sony Watchman (colorTV and AM/FM), Gameboy, Laptop, mini tape recorder, letherman, GPS, camera, Palm pilot, and NOW the L50D) If you are a businessman who travels and gets bored, this is a lifesaver.
Trust me, an entire techie life is now portable thanks to the L50D. GET ONE!
28 Quit complaining about it and buy it! It's awesome!
Lots of people complain about this player's few faults. First of all, who cares if it gets a little bit hot? All high-tech devices that have to decode DVD's, display a picture, and spit out sound gets hot! It's a fact of life! If you don't like how hot it gets, put the thing down instead of holding it! Second, it's not a better deal than a laptop. A laptop that could play DVD's would be 2 or 3 times as much, have worse sound, and a choppy, slow picture unless you spent 3000 dollars on it! And who wants to lug around a heavy, ugly laptop and boot it up, stick it on your lap and watch part of a movie before the battery runs out. Anyone would rather have something sleek and palm-size that plays movies, and pay less for it then a laptop! When you get down to it, laptops aren't as portable as the DVD-L50, so why settle for it? This player, for its size, features, and prices, has hardly anything wrong with it. It's about time that we can watch digital movies on the road or in the air, CONVENIENTLY!
29 good for movie lovers
if you like dvd watching on planes or in airports, this player is excellent. it does get a little hot, but not too bad. the amount you pay for this unit has come down now due to a new model out in a few months with a 7 inch screen.
30 A LIFE-CHANGING PRODUCT...
...just kidding, wanted a catchy title. =D but this is seriously one cool dvd player. its small, its light, the picture is great- this little guy meets & exceeds expectations of a portable dvd player.
31 A Great Buy.
I bought this unit a little over two weeks ago, and have used it extensively. Here's what I've found. Everything good that's been said about this gadget is true, and out of everything bad, only one statement is true. The bottom does get hot. Not overly so, but it is just something to watch out for when watching very long movies. But think about it, are you really going to hold it in your hand for 3 hours? No. Overall, I recommend this to anyone who can afford it. One last thing though, to those of you who don't know, there are actually five different palm sized units on the market, the DVD L-10, DVD L-50 (both by Panasonic), the PDV-LC10 (by Pioneer), the PBD-V30 (by Sony), and the DV-L70U (by Sharp). I have had the opportunity to see ALL of these DVD players in action, and the L-50 blows them all away, it's cheaper, sleeker, smaller, and easier to use then the other players. This one is a great buy!
32 a wonderful little adult toy!
I am not a tech buff, but this little technilogical wonder is a must have. The picture is crisp...you do not realize that the LCD is small...the speakers do give a shrill though when the volume is high. I bring it to my job on Sundays...and work slows down for the duration of a movie...Everyone loves it...especially the guys. They have that "how did this get past me" look on their faces everytime...I love it!
lcd
33 Great Portable Entertainment
Unlike some of the other models available on the market (Pioneer & Sharp), I like the fact that I can change the screen image according to my taste. The picture is incredibly sharp, better than some high quality home sets. It connects to your home setup easliy and it Totally Portable! Unlike, some people, I have not had any problems with my unit skipping. It does however, heat up considerably after an hour or so, but does nothing in the way of compromising sound or video quality. I do suggest pluggin the unit in your wall when you are at home and saving the battery for when you go out. The charging is a pain for only a 3 hour charge. All in all I am truly amazed and very happy.
34 IT RULES!
Hi, I've been enjoying reading the reviews and have a few things to say. After having the L-50 for a few months all I can say is that I LOVE IT. The image resolution is awesome, It is much lighter and less bulky then the previous version (the L-10) The battery lasts for a solid 3 hours, long enough for anyone to get through most movies. And although it heats up a bit, why are people complaining about that. It is not like the Palm Theatre is hot enough to burn you! In the few months I've had it, I LOVE it, it is definitely worth spending the money. And best of all, it hooks up perfectly with my home theatre system, something that a laptop does not!
35 Not a bad start
Since it is the only one on the market, there isnt any comparison. I have found that the picture clarity isnt the best, and that it has a tendancy to start skipping after the unit has been on a while and gets hot. I have an LCD in my suburban and used it to keep my little girl entertained on a long road trip. I feel that this is just like the very first portable cd players, they will get better.
36 Astounding, worth every penny.
I ordinarily wouldn't consider myself to be a gadget freak, but knowing I had an 8 hour flight to Hawaii coming up, I decided to buy this as a birthday present for myself. All I can say is "wow". This is hands down the greatest electronic gadget I've ever owned.
Now that I've had the unit a few months, I thought I would share my thoughts. First, although a number of people have complained about overheating (and it does get hot), I have watched nearly 100 DVDs and not had a single problem. The battery life is adequate (3 hours as advertised) which is fine for just about everything. However, I would definitely recommend getting a second battery ($150). For one, this is nice on long trips. More importantly however, it takes nearly 6 hours to recharge the battery--making it impossible to simply jack into an outlet during a layover and get a fresh charge (sigh). Finally, in comparing this to a laptop computer, I find that the display on the L50 is much brighter and crisper than that on my laptop (so crisp in fact, that if you look closely, you can sometimes see slight artifacts left by movie special effects such as wire removal in action shots). Also, there's no way I would be able to use my laptop and eat an in-flight meal at the same time (something that is easy with the L50).
My only complaints with the unit are the long battery recharge time (see above) and the fact that it is sometimes difficult to get enough headphone volume on noisy flights. I'm not sure if this is really a problem with the L50--movies seem to have a lot more dynamic variation than a music CD (and I suspect that listening to classical music on my discman would be equally difficult in this environment).
The only other minor gripe (which is not related to the L50 specifically ) is that non-anamorphic DVD's look absolutely terrible on the 16x9 widescreen. This is because a non-anamorphic widescreen disc shows up as a small letterbox inside a 4x3 square in the middle of the display (utilizing only a little more than 50% of the available display space). Although it is possible to blow this up to fill up the entire screen, the resulting image looks fairly pixelated due to the lower source resolution. The bottom line: make sure that you look for discs that are labeled as "anamorphic" or "enhanced for wide screen TV." Most new releases fall into this category although a few studios (such as Disney) still haven't gotten the point.
Overall, great unit. I love it.
37 WORTH THE MONEY
I PURCHASED THIS ITEM AS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO MYSELF AND I LOVE IT. MY FAMILY THINK IT'S THE GREATEST THING EVER INVENTED. I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO BUY ONE.
38 Panasonic PalmTheater Portable DVD
The picture is crystal clear. Also it is easy to connect to your tv. And it doesn't skip while riding in an automobile. It is not cheap, but it is worth the price.
39 BUY IT!
Well, after reading quite a few of the one hundred or so reviews on this page, I've come to a few conclusions. Number one: If you have the money... BUY THIS UNIT! Number two, the three major problems (Low battery life, Overheating, and bad sound) are actually only one problem; Battery life is solved by the many adapters that are now out there, and bad sound is easily solved by a pair of headphones. Now, as to the overheating... ever walk into an electronics store? I have. Ever see one of these things on display? Do you think they stop it every two hours or so and let it cool down? NO! I walked up to one as a movie was ending on the screen, and felt the bottom and yes, it was a little warm, but this was hardly the scalding hot surface that some people complain of. Before you buy one of these, try to see one up close, I promise you that you'll fall in love instantly. The crystal sharp screen, the sleak small remote, the easy to work controls. This player is worth every cent it sells for, and its pros outweigh the cons ten fold. DVD players on laptops are nowhere near this quality, and the other units out there (though they have larger screens) are no way close to the quality of this unit (the Sharp and Pioneer are even more expensive! ACK! ) bottom line: Buy IT! But be warned... if you expect a magical machine with big screen TV display and Dolby surround sound (with it's 1/5 inch deep speakers) YOU WILL BE DISSAPOINTED, DUH! That's it, I've convinced myself... I'm gonna buy one :-)
40 So Long Hand Held TV!
Hey, this is by far the biggest step up in portable tube-vision that will ever happen. Great picture and sound quality comes from the 2 speakers. The only thing that you might want to think about here is the battery life! This was a major frustration in trying to watch any movie more than 2 hours long since the battery life is approximately two hours. This was pretty good however, and the battery life doesn't hurt the rating for me since I got the power adapter!
41 Amazing!
This product is simply amazing...it has everything you need to have fun watching a movie in just a small easy to use gaget...and you can hook it up to a tv, so technicly it does two things at once... you can keep it at home for the whole family or keep it in your room for your privacy...I fully recommened buying this DVD player for your entertaiment...
42 You will love it!
I received this DVD player as a Christmas gift. It is one of the neatest little gadgets I have ever received. The display is crisp and sharp. The two speakers put out great sound, although a bit high-pitched but still very good sound for such a little player. A good pair of headphones pick up sounds you have never heard before, even the smacking of lips! The bottom does get rather warm but that's not really a problem. Overall, you will not be disappointed with this dynamite little player. It's worth every penny!
43 Best Thing Ever Invented
I got the DVD-L10...and it has been mymost prized possession ever since. Not only can you hook it up to aregular TV, but you can take it anywhere. I bought an adapter to take it in the car. I recommend the Case Logic Portable DVD Case because it offers much more padding than most other portable CD cases.
44 Technology is always going out of style
This is a great little unit. See movies anywhere! Great! However, the technology of this is very new and since this is a product that can go with you anywhere it surprises me that you can't plug it into your car jack since this would be a great product for families on the go. In my opinion, wait for the technology to disperse to other companys. Currently, only Panasonic and Pioneer are selling this technology. Between the two, Pioneer is the better product, sleeker in design and far better sound and picture quality. All in all, wait for the technology to come down in price. Save your money, buy later-this stuff can only get better! Cheers!
45 not that great
for a little bit more money you could buy a laptop computer with a dvd player in it with a bigger screen and all the same stuff. this is a cool little dvd player though if you just want the dvd.......
46 DVD L-50, a traveler's must
If you travel a lot, or even if you just have an appreciation for high tech gysmos, this is just the thing for you. More than just a toy, I myself have watched over 20 movies so far on numerous plane and car trips, I'd have to say this little gem was worth the small fortune I had to cough up. The one problem with this is, even though you can get pretty much every single new movie that comes out on video, many of the old movies, unless they are 1 of the 100 greatest movies of all time, aren't out on DVD. But, not to worry, every day oldies are coming out on this format, and I'm confident that soon there will not be any movie that you can get on VHS that you won't be able to get on DVD, and then this prince will become a king.
47 Video entertainment is now easily portable!
We have had the LD50 for over a month now, and it works great! The video is what one would expect on DVD. The audio is a bit tinny through the small speakers, but otherwise OK. Through headphones, the sound is CD-quality. The player accompanies us on both plane and car trips.
48 great DVD
This DVD player is great for home or travel. Only two little quirks: the bottom gets really hot, and you can't plug it in to a car outlet. Otherwise it is really cool!
49 WOW! The best gadget out there!
The price of the this little gadget may turn you off, but I've only had it for about a day and it is amazing! I can play DVDs and CDs (cuz my minidisc player broke and it's gonna take about 6 weeks to get it back :[ ) on the go now! My bus trip to school is quite long (about an hour back and forth) and I get quite bored, so this will occupy my time. It's flexible in its uses too, like I said, playing CDs and DVDs, and u can hook it up to your TV. The display is shocking, too...my mom despises HDTV for it's price ($7,000-10,000? ), so the widescreen presentation is terrific...especially DVDs enhanced for widescreen TVs. The remote is cool, especialy cuz the select thing on the unit is far too small, and the remote fits in my wallet like a credit card. I recommend getting top of the This is one Christmas present I won't soon forget, and will impress people at school...thanx, Mom and Dad!
50 An incredible little device
This little DVD player is amazing. As a frequent traveller I use this while waiting for planes, on the plane (yes it is allowed on ALL US based airlines after the flight reaches 10,000 feet), and hook it up to the TV set in my hotel room. The sound quality, as mentioned by others, isn't great through the speakers, but it's not bad for the 2 small speakers, the sound is MUCH better using headphones, somehow the surround sound even seems to work through headphones. The little "joystick" for the menu is a little hard to use, but it just may be my big fingers, the remote is great. I would recommend this for anyone who does a lot of travelling, or who is taking a long drive with kids, show them a movie and the trip may just be a little more enjoyable!
51 WOW What power u can have in the palm of your hand
Just think 20 years ago who would ever thought of something this small can play your favorit movies on a disk so small u could almost put it your pocket... The picture is so clear, the sound is better than my TV.
52 I LOVE IT ...
I THINK THIS IS AN AWESOME LITTLE GADGET... FOR THOSE WHO ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE REMOTE BEING TOO SMALL... THATS THE WHOLE POINT... I TRAVEL QUITE A BIT AND IT COMES IN HANDY... I CAN BRING MOVIES WITH AND WATCH THEM IN MY ROOM EVEN... THE SOUND IS FINE TOO .... PEOLPE NEED TO TRY DIFFERENT EARPIECES... I HAVE IT HOOKED UP TO MY SURROUND SOUND AND IT IS JUST AWESOME...
53 I love it!
The unit it a must have, especially for those long plane rides to Hawaii with my infant and toddler. Man, let me tell ya'...I would not get on that plane if it weren't for this device.
54 Little product..Lots of uses...
Technical data aside..from a personal standpoint, this is a great product. I still have my stand alont DVD unit cause I don't like the hassle of having to plug and unplug things, but this smaller portable does what my stand alone does not. It can go out the door. I take it when I'm waiting at registration lines, breaks between classes, shopping lines, waiting for girlfriend to finish shopping, over to friends' houses for the new anime dvds out, bank lines, tax lines, while working out on the treadmill or bike...See, there are alot of uses for this machine. Heck, if you get bored of movies, you can always play music CD's too if you want, but why do that when you can play music videos now? Overall, I say its a great buy and definitely worth its expense if just to make life a little less stressful.
55 Perfect...
I absolutely LOVE this product. The picture and sound are both great. The unit comes with enough cables to get you hooked into a TV. It even has on optical out, so you HI-FI buffs will enjoy pure digital...
I travel quite a bit and this thing has been great for occupying my time...
As far as not using it on an airplane- I disagree. I beleive the line goes- "Portable electronic devices may now be used with the expection of cellular phones and pagers..." Most all laptops have cd-roms and they have not been the cause of any plane crashes to date.
In summary- if you travel a lot get it, but shop around for the best deal.
56 Not worth it
It heats up too much, the remote is too small and it is WAY too expensive. The sound quality is awful unless you have high-end headphones. The lone bright spot is the display, but it's nothing a laptop computer doesn't have. Panasonic should strip off the sound, and ability to connect to your home theater to lower the cost.
57 Decent Product - Flexible Usage -> but a bit costly $$$
I was lucky to receive this item for free! So to me, its like having a luxury item marked off my wish list that I would never have to pay for. After inspecting the unit and reading some of the manual (which is quite thick with pages of features), I did have to go buy a DVD movie to test it out. What I found was this:
1). It plays well by itself, the 5" LCD is crisp and renders color very well. The stereo speakers sound okay but this unit is best listened with headphones. Get yourself a good pair if you don't have one. This unit only deserves the best.
2). I could connect it directly to my Sony 27" TV using the supplied video/audio cable and it worked great! Now I can start to collect DVDs.
3). Unfortunately, I could not connect it to my JVC Pro-Logic receiver for audio output to my home entertainment speakers. It might still be possible, but I just haven't figured it out yet.
4). I also have a Pentium II 350 Mhz computer system with a Pinnacle PCTV card that I connected with using the S-Video. Wow, that was cool because now I can view my cable TV on my computer or use this portable DVD player for movies on my computer. Now I don't need to buy a DVD player for my computer! This works just fine with my 19" monitor (full screen mode) and my Dolby-Digital Computer speaker system. Yea Buddy!
5). Lastly, I did notice the player gets very warm after 2 or more hours of play. At one point, the player stopped on me during playback, and I could not figure out what caused it. But, I pressed the play button again and it continued to play until I stop using it. Oh well...
My finial analysis is that I would not buy this unit first. Instead, I would invest in the THX Dolby-Digtal Home entertainment system (complete) and a large screen 50" TV. Set yourself up at home first, then think about the portables later. Good luck shopping.
58 A couple questions for everyone.
I happen to own the DVD L-10 and I'm not sure why everyone here happens to think that it has terrible sound when using the speakers. I think the sound is excellent quality. Also could everyone please tell me what better features the L-50 has over the L-10 and if it would be worth it to get the L-50 since I already have the L-10. I definitely think the L-10 was worth every cent I paid for it. My only complaint is as everyone else has said it gets really hot, but that is to be expected. Otherwise it's unbelievable.
59 It rocks!
I bought this unit about 3 months ago on a whim and it has been fantastic. It's great for long flights although you will probably want to get an extra battery if you're going to be up in the air for more than 4 hours. I've also found myself watching 2 to 3 DVD's a week at home which has been great--especially since I don't own a TV.
60 NOT TO USE ON A PLANE!
I can`t understand why everyone says that they use it on a plane. It`s a great product, but there`s NO WAY you can use it on a plane. All CD drives are forbidden, DVD is even MORE dangerous. It`s a great gadget, but don`t even think of using it on a plane!
61 Heaven on-screen!
I just got the DVD-L50 from my parents as an early Christmas gift, and I can't speak more highly about this gadget! I have become obsessed with growing a huge DVD collection, and this machine lets me play them anytime anywhere. The sound isn't terrific with the player's own speakers, but it is awesome with headphones! The only problem is that it tends to get warm. Otherwise, keep the good products coming my way Panasonic!
62 This gizmo is the future.
I recently got the DVD player and its come in very handy. Its great on road trips and on planes as well. The picture is great, and although people say its too samll, its perfect for the size it is. Its just a bit bigger than your standard discman. My one concern is the way it heats up. You can't watch more than 1 movie continuously. But its still worth every penny.
63 Great toy to distract kids on a long trip
Endless hours of entertainment in the car/plane/whatever to keep little kids (too little to see the plane's movie screen) busy for at least an hour at a time (buy headphones for the sake of your seatmates). Plus, DVDs are much smaller and easier to travel with than the usual videos--which they can't watch in transit. You can hook it up to any tv when you get to your destination.
64 Great for business travelers & movie buffs.
If you're a frequent traveler and a movie fan then this is a great product for you. Most airline flights show movies that I don't enjoy much. Now I just take my DVD with me and watch one of my own on the trip. It makes a long transcontinental or transoceanic flight more bearable. I've also used this in my hotel room when I've been stuck for a few hours between meetings and don't have much interest in the local TV. You can use this as a home DVD player by plugging it into your TV, but it's a bit of a pain to keep connecting and disconnecting it. Also the tiny remote isn't well suited for home use. As a travel toy however, it's great.
65 its the bomb!
i bought mine one month ago and i love it!...my dreams have been answered and i just can't say enough about this player. Just the fact that i can watch movies anywhere i go is the biggest plus. if you are looking for portability this is it....
66 Too new, too expensive, what's the point?
Neat unit... but for $1000 you're halfway (or more) to a full-on laptop computer with DVD-ROM and FAR more functionality and power! This is just too expensive for a DVD-ROM and itty-bitty screen. The value isn't there. Spend the money on a laptop computer or, if you have one, buy a DVD-ROM drive. You'll thank yourself in the morning. This unit will be worth $100 or less in a year or two... ouch!
67 This is a great product
I just got my dvd player and i love i take it almost everywhere with me. they did a great job building this product and i am so happy to have one.
68 Amazing Gadget
Although I have the older version of this machine, which is slightly more bulky, especially with the battery pack, since buying this in February this year, I have used it to death. The picture quality is excellent, sound quality is great (Through the headphones), and as you can plug it into a TV, it can act as your main DVD player. I work in amsterdam, but as I live in england, I get to use it on the plane every weekend, and on the bus to and from work every day. About the only anoying thing, is that whenever people see it, they keep asking questions when I am trying to watch a film. I would most definitely reccomend this, if you are a gadget freak, show off, or just enjoy watching films on the move.
69 Unbelievable value, incredible machine, I love it!!
I first saw this unit in a retail store and was amazed by its abilities. However, the $1000 price tag didn't look too good for a student's budget. However, I knew i could get a better deal, and in fact i did. Within a week, I won an auction for $722 including shipping and received the unit flawlessly the next week. It's the absolute best thing i've ever spent my money on. I don't need my old panasonic a-110 dvd player anymore so i sold that one. Now I have a player that i can bring with me anywhere, including England, where I am for a semester of study abroad. I bring it with me on the plane, train, bus, cab, and even around campus to pass time with a wide selection of movies. I have become the hit of the school with groups of up to 5 of us gathering around the small screen to watch a movie. It's extremely versatile for viewing angles from the sides, much better than any lap top I've seen. This has everything I could ever want. I love it.
70 The best of both worlds...
I bought this primarily to keep my companions occupied on the trip from my Long Island home to my beach house on the Eastern Shore of Delaware. I am quite pleased with the unit and I can easily hook it up to my big screen TV in a flash. I enjoy it more than a laptop since its footprint is quite small. The battery life is adequate and the sound quality with headphones is outstanding.
71 WOW!!!
What a neat little deal. With the headphones, the sound is maximum real. The screen resolution is fabulous. Almost looks 3D. This baby goes wherever I do. Anybody sitting on the fence? jump on in. You won't regret it. It's FAR better than my laptop with DVD drive. Smaller. gee. you won't believe how light this unit is. I would not trade it in for anything.
72 Finally I can watch movies!.........Portably!
I don't have the L-50 but the newer to come out, the L-10. They say it's better, but all I can see is a nicer design. The only problems I see is that the bottom of it gets really hot! It worries me that it's going to explode! The battery is about one third the size of the player itself which makes the DVD Player not as portable as I had hoped, but it's still better than a laptop! I bought mine from a catalog that gave me 15% off so I only paid (with tax and all)$926 and some change. I took it to the doctors office the other day where I had to wait a half an hour and wasn't bored at all!
73 Worth Every Penny - No Regrets!
I see all the negative reviews here in which people say you should get a laptop with a DVD drive instead, but I completely disagree. The laptop is heavier, more expensive, sucks up battery life faster, and isn't as readily connected to various pieces of audio-visual equipment in your home. I bought this unit so I could have the best of both worlds: I keep it hooked up to my home theater system on a day to day basis, then unplug it and take it on the road with me for long car trips and flights. Its value cannot be exaggerated when you're looking for a means of keeping a four-year-old happy and quiet while buckled into a seat for two or more hours. Also, it's perfect for family cabin and timeshare trips since you can bring a whole library of movies and plug the unit into virtually any TV once you get there. And if there's no TV just use the flip-up screen. About that screen---I've found that my movie watching experience is different when using it, and in fact I feel MORE "pulled in" than when watching on my bigscreen TV. Finally, regarding the speakers on the unit: if you use headphones instead of the speakers, the dolby surround effect will amaze you. I don't know how they did it, but it's just like being in the theater.
74 Great for travel, your laptop is to big on a plane!!!
I also workout with this unit on a stairmaster at the gym. Try that with a laptop... Have the laptop for business, and still carry th portable DVD due to it's smaller footprint!
75 AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
This Panasonic DVD player only has two weaknesses. And only ofthem is a problem. The weaknesses are 1) The price-If you have themoney You will not regret it. 2) gets warm. <--Not really a problem. Sound is nice, especially through the headphones. The screen is so nice you will forget that it's small it will seem huge, if you are watching an interesting movie. I would recommend it to anyone. Thanks Panasonic--Great product, the Best Toy on the market regarding DVD's today.
76 A Great Entertainment Inovation
This portable Dvd player is excellent for people who are constantly travelling and need something to occupy their time. The DVD player offers excellent sound for such tiny speakers and the viewable image is great. The best part of this portable player is that you can easily hook it up to your existing TV. The image and sound come out crisp and clear, something you don't really get with VHS tapes. All in all the Panasonic portable DVD is an excellent buy for those who can afford it. Congradulations to everyone at Panasonic.
77 For once a gadget that you'll actually use !
I ordered one of these in a moment of madness and then spent the next couple of days thinking how could I have just spent 800 quid on a glorified CD-player.
Now I'm really glad I have it - it was purchased mainly for my girlfriend who travels alot. She really likes being able to watch a favourite film in a hotel thousands of miles from home or while waiting in the departure lounge when your plane has been delayed - again !
The display is better than my laptop and you don't have to wait 3 minutes for it to boot. Sound isn't bad, build quality is excellent.
Definitely 5 stars for me.
78 Not quite ready for prime time
I compared this unit side-by-side with my Compaq laptop DVD. The computer is better, period. Of course, both suffer from the limitations of the display, which cannot match the resolution of the TV set. And neither can match the performance of a home DVD player (when the L50 is used portably). Digital artifacts are apparent on both computer and L50. At $1,000, the Panasonic is an overpriced novelty. If money is no concern and you don't want to lug a laptop, buy it. But the screen is too small for true enjoyment and the colors are not very close to the original. If you get one, do a simultaneous display on your TV and see what you're missing.
79 If you got the $ - BUY IT!!
If you have a grand burnin a hole in your pocket, this player is worthy of it as any other Luxury purchase. I would definately recommend it for anyone who travels a lot and enjoys movies. Also, for anyone who has kids - you know what a pain it is to keep them occupied and relatively quiet during a car journey of a couple of hours. I took it along for a 2 hour car journey with my 2 kids of 8 and 10. They quietly watched Bugz Life for the entire trip! I've read previous reviews on some of the negatives about this product. I would only agree with one - the price. It's steep, however, I don't regret my decision to buy it. Some reviewers said it gets hot, it gets warm - certainly not too warm to hold in your hand. The sound is not anything to rave about, but hey, considering its size - What the heck can you expect?!?!? Overall, I'm very pleased with mine and would recommend it to anyone else.
80 Amazing!!
After some internal debate, I finally bought one of these things and have loved every second of it. No longer will I dread plane rides or long car trips. The picture is amazing! The sound is amazing! The price is ... well, nevermind! Just treat yourself. You will not regret it! It's worth it to be the talk of the plane.
81 Portable, but too small
This is a gimmick item. The picture is just too small to enjoy watching for any length of time. I sent it back.
82 This little thing is AWESOME
This is the best toy for any road warrior out there. Forget trying to get work done in those little seats on a plane, just sit back and watch your favorite movie!!!! Combine this with a set of noise reduction headphones and the trip is a lot more enjoyable. The sound through the speakers isn't great, but it's passable. The screen has to be seen to be believed, the detail on the small screen is incredible, and the fact that you can hook it up to a regular TV just adds to it's value. It also plays audio CDs, so if you just want to listen to music, there's no need to carry 2 devices on board.
83 A reviewer whos strapped for the billz
it's a decent unit but a laptop is better because you get a 14 inch screen for like 600 dollars more. i dont see the point in getting it until it comes with surround sound bose or jbl speakers.
84 Whiners: Notice that most of the "bad" reviews are 5 stars!
This ultimate gadget is a must-have for a true gadget junkie (like myself). I got the DVD L-10 when it first came out and now, the DVD L-50. Sure, it runs hot after a few hours, but so does every portable PC DVD. Please notice that almost everyone that complains about this unit still rates it 5 stars because the movie watching experience itself is awesome. The "1 star" folks obviously didn't buy it or even see it up close. Mine stays hooked up to my home theatre system with the optical audio and S-video connectors when I'm not traveling. I own a Sony VAIO notebook computer with DVD and would ALWAYS choose to view a movie on the DVD L-10 because the quality of the viewing experience is that much better. The hardware MPEG of the DVD L-10 instead of the software MPEG of every laptop except the Apple G3 powerbook is the main reason.
85 Movie fanatic's Must have!
I brought one of these and I never regret a penny of it. It's amazing. Portable, plug in to a wide screen tv, watch anywhere. If you got the cash by it!
86 Ho-hum...Just another 5 star review.
There's little I can say about this machine that hasn't already been said 10 times before. I can only perhaps persuade some users of the older model L10, why it may be time to move on up the latest model, the L50. The fact that the the L50 will accept video and audio inputs (like from a video camera) without first having to remove the battery was a selling point for me. Also, the L10 sounds terrible through its speakers. I can only stand to listen to it through headphones. The L50 has a much more pleasing sound, although admittedly still not great. But at least, I don't have to go running for the heaphones when I turn the L50 on. True, the L50 has a smaller screen, but oddly enough I don't seem to particularly miss the slightly larger screen of the L10. The Li-ion battery of the L50 is a definite improvement, although I have been warned it's only good for 300 charges. On the plus side, the cost of these batteries have already dropped from around $250 to about $180 and hopefully may drop even more. And the weight - forgitabouit! - the L50's too light to believe!
87 A "must-have" for videophiles!
When I first saw the DVD-L10 early this year, I knew I had to buy it and I never regretted having paid more for such a wonderful piece. My family, especially my three-year old son loves it. He watches his favorite movie every night before sleeping - the player beside him on top of the bed!!! With the new DVD-L50, I know watching DVDs will never be as great!
88 Get one!
Folks, forget the computers with the DVD drives as a reason to keep you from buying one of these. The L50 is worth it, even at this price. Five star all the way!
89 Great for keeping your small kids busy on a long plane trip
The things I liked about this player are it's portability, small footprint compared to laptops w/ dvd players, excellent picture quality, excellent sound quality with good earphones and most importantly a way of keeping my small kids quiet during long plane rides. It even has a HOLD option to prevent the buttons from doing anything so my daughter doesn't accidently press anything.
The areas I think it can improve on are the sound of speakers isn't that great (if only it sounded like Bose speakers), gets extremely hot which will cause the screen to go wacko if you keep it on too long, and it's sometimes difficult to choose the right menu options using the joystick.
90 Forget watching movies on a laptop. There is no comparison!!
I have seen what DVD's look like when played on notebook computers, and you cant beat the Panasonic player. The picture is so good, you forget you are watching the movie on a small screen. It is a must have for all you technophiles and toy lovers. You will be the envy of all your fellow travellers with this machine.... The only things I wish could be changed on the machine are the sound and the lack of an adapter for the car and plane. The 3 hour battery is great, but what about for those longer trips? Not all of us can afford the Concorde to Europe and back. :) I was expecting better sound after reading how Panasonic went on about the superiority of it in the ad, but it just isnt so. However, with a good pair of headphones, you forget the regular speakers. It does heat up, but so do a lot of notebook computers when you use the CD ROM or DVD players in them. I stand firmly by my 5 star rating.
91 Great technolgy
Used it on plane from Denver Co to Buffalo Ny Im retired & I bought movies It was just fun on a no frills airline The people near couldnt believe it They thought it was movie in the sky !!
92 DVD L10 - Two Years Later
I purchased the DVD-L10 as soon as it was released and have used it almost every day since then with no problems ever. No need to buy one of the bigger machines - I just plugged it into my TV and started buying movies (from Amazon.Com of course). The DVD L50 represents Panasonics next step in the evolution of this fantastic piece of electronics and you can only imagine what it will look like in a few years. But why wait - buy it now and enjoy the fun toys.
93 A delight to own this well designed toy!!
By far the best electronic toy I've ever purchased. The resolution on the little screen is fantastic and can be seen even if you're not right in front of the unit. Very convenient battery system. Battery lasts at least 3 hours. The achilles heal of this machine is the heating up problem. It gets REALLY hot during use. I hope this won't be a problem later. But right now its SO much fun.
94 Excellent, but could be better
This is a great toy! My biggest complaint is that there is no 12 volt adaptor for car use. I bought this for my kids to use on long car trips and for me to use on the plane. I have been able to use the battery for 3 hours. A 12 volt adaptor by panasonic would be a big asset.
Video is very good. Sound is fair with internal speakers and very good with headphones.
The unit has stopped a few times and my guess is that it has overheated. This unit get pretty warm on the bottom. I have found that if I prop the unit up so that it gets some air on the bottom of the unit, it helps.
95 Absolutely fabulous! I'd buy it all over again!
My wife and I agonized over the purchase of our DVD-L50. We finally bought an open-box unit for $200 off the best price we'd found. We're very conservative financially, to this was a big step for us!That said, this is one investment that has already proven worthwhile. We've never been so entertained in our lives! Sure, my G3 has a DVD, but I cannot seperate work from play long enough to sit through a movie. The Panasonic doesn't provide me with the temptation to go work...I remain glued to the screen.Those who say this product is destined for oblivion overlook two things: First, portability is a premium in our society, no matter what you do. Second, enough Wintel users are going to become fed up and longing for something simple...something they can use with a single push of a button. For all the posturizing over DVD on computer, unless you own a Mac, that sort of simplicity eludes you. The Panasonic brings it all home. Expensive? Sure. Worth it? You bet!Thanks, Amazon!
96 Beats a laptop with DVD drdive
I travel...a lot. My first pass at watching DVD movies on planes was a high-end DVD drive for my laptop (connected via PCMCIA). It was nifty, but jerky, and the sound wasn't great. My wife and father-in-law got me this unit for my birthday. I'll never watch a movie on my laptop again -- there's simply no comparison. For those of you who question the value of the Panasonic when you can buy a laptop with DVD -- you're just plain wrong. This is made for one thing only: Watching movies. And it performs that task splendidly.
97 Imagine traveling cross-country with 2 children under 2
Okay, I had a bit of apprehension trying to justify buying this little machine to entertain my kids, but it has proved to be worth its weight in gold. From airplane trips to car trips to boat trips. . .anytime my kids had struggled to stay seated prior to portable DVD this gem has been a god-send!
98 Awesome
The Panasonic DVD-L50 is a must for gadget guru's. The picture is a little small but sharp. It is perfect for use as a home DVD player and a portable player that plays DVD's, video CD's, and music CD's. This thing is just plain AWESOME!
99 Palm? Of the human hand? No way!!!
I own this player and have been delighted with the freedom of watching movies anywhere. I agree with a previous reviewer who wrote about the inadequacies of the earphone jack as being to low in power and volume, but generally this is a great machine. But, PLEASE, to claim you can hold it in your palm? Maybe if you want an extended hospital stay for 3rd degree burns! The bottom of this machine heats up, oven-like, and is a hazard, so please be careful where you put it. Defenitely NOT on the palm of your hand.
100 Picture a little small and price a little high
Otherwise very good - Never tested limits of the battery - have used on AC generally - works very well, pricey - I would wait for one more generation if too expensive
