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DVD Player Reviews and Buying Guide:2009/2010 Update:We try to update these guides annually, especially around the holiday time. Since electronics and product names and versions change so regularly, one thing we do to simplify is keep a link to the latest, best-selling DVD players at Amazon, so you can see, literally up-to-the-minute, what the most popular models are right now. So let's start with that: With so many DVD players on the market and each having a zillion options, buying a DVD player can be confusing. Having once sold for $500, they are now readily available for less than $50 for a basic DVD player (non-Blu-ray), and just over $100 for a Blu-ray player. Keep in mind that there are basically 2 formats out there right now in the DVD world. There is standard DVD, which are the regular DVD movies that have been around for more than a decade, and there are Blu-ray DVDs, which are high-definition DVDs that play only on special Blu-ray players. Keep in mind that Blu-ray players are backward compatible with the older DVDs - so if you buy a Blu-ray player, then you can watch any movie on it (you still need an HD TV to see HD video). So let's start there - if you can afford the extra $50-$75, buy a Blu-ray player -- it will play all your old DVDs, all the newer HD Blu-ray DVDs, and it will look better when connected to an HDTV, either now or in the future when you decide to upgrade. If you just need a basic DVD player for a smaller old TV in your workout room or something, then you can probably skimp and buy a cheap basic DVD player, skip the Blu-ray. The leading DVD player manufacturers are Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, and Toshiba. You'll find some other makers out there, but I don't see a reason to stray from the big names when making your purchase. I've had several Sony and Samsung players over the years, and in general I would recommend Sony over Samsung. However.... I also recently got a Blu-ray player from Samsung, and I love it, big improvement over their older, lower-cost, basic players. I also have a Toshiba portable DVD player, which I am quite happy with as well.
Best DVD Players - Sony DVD Players:
 (about $150). Mine was actually free with the purchase of an expensive Samsung LED HDTV, but I would have gladly paid full price for it. Controls are hidden behind a flip-down front panel or handled via the very adequate remote. This player supports pretty much all disc formats, including:
 instead of a stand-alone Blu-ray player. Blu-ray support is built right into the PS3 machine, so you get a top of the line video game system and a Blu-ray player, for about $300 -- that's what we did for our family room setup where our video games are located.
Reviews on the best car dvd players - Best Portable DVD Players:In car entertainment is the latest thing with dvd players being the most prominent. DVD Players for cars come in 3 categories - underseat DVD players, in-dash dvd players, and car dvd changers. All car dvd players offer premium sound and picture quality and can give you multichannel surround sound. Car dvd players are small and compact and allow you to mount them underneath a seat or in a cargo area for convenience. The underseat car dvd players cost from $139-$259, the in-dash car dvd players run from $149-$319, and the car dvd changers are more pricey at $349-$1099. I have had a portable dvd player in the car for years that mounts to the back of the passenger seat and is perfect for long drives. If you have kids, then this is a must buy for any driving trip. I also use the portable DVD player as a mini-player for movies in our bedroom -- avoids the big clunky, console-size format that most regular DVD players come in. It's small and hides under the TV stand so you barely see it on the dresser, and you pack it up and take it with you when you want it for the car. I would look for a minimum 7" screen, and go for a 9"-10" screen if you can afford it -- movies look better when they are bigger, that's just a fact. My pick would be the Sony DVP-FX930 9-Inch Portable DVD Player -- 6 hour battery, flip/swivel screen, large 9" screen, plays audio CDs and MP3 CDs, 2 headphone jacks, widecreen, plugs easily into a TV as well to work as a regular DVD player. Good deal for around $150.
DVD Player Software:The big thing for home computer users is copying DVDs and burning their own movies onto DVD. There is plenty of software to choose from, but we found ULEAD to have the best dvd player software for burning your own DVDs. You can visit their website for the latest versions of their software at Ulead.com. Corel and Roxio also make heavy-duty video editing suites that let you make your own DVDs. Full selection here .
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would be our choice. At just $60, it's inexpensive, yet still has all the features you want, like:
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