Sony DVP-FX730L

Introduction I bought a portable DVD player about five years ago for my daughter. Back then they were quite the novelty and I bought a Shinco one from the Firebox website for £150. I picked it because it got great reviews at the time and because in comparison to better brands it was actually quite cheap. I spent an extra £50 on a spare battery for this machine as external Li-on batteries were de rigeur in 2004. The reason I embraced portable DVD players so early was for entertaining my daughter on long train or plane journeys. As any regular reader of my reviews is aware, she is autistic and ... more

It had never occurred to me to buy a portable DVD player. I have a laptop which will play DVDs, and on long journeys I am usually the driver, so I never felt the need for one. I came to acquire this Sony model through my work - it was bought for me by my boss as a reward for some good results - a totally unexpected gift which delighted me completely. To be fair, I love praise, so he could have bought me a box of Roses or just thrown me a Bonio with much the same effect! The DVD player remained in its box for a couple of months, and I shoved it to the back of a cupboard with the mercenary ... more