I got a new product in the mail yesterday to use and review, from the P.R. firm that sent me the redesigned Swiffer Sweeper and the Reynolds Fun Shapes Baking Cups. And all I can say is, some days it is just not too bad to be me. I give you my new toy, the Insignia 10.2 inch Portable DVD Player:


When I first got the email asking me if I was interested in reviewing it, (um, DUH), my first question was “do I get to keep it?”. Why yes, YES I DO! Isn’t it pretty?


I was skeptical of my ability to operate it, as I am generally somewhat tech-challenged-just ask anyone who’s ever had to help me fix a simple piece of blog code (pretty much everybody). Fortunately for me, it comes with an easy to read manual that points out exactly where all of the important buttons are, and how to get started. It’s very user-friendly.

I was probably more excited than a normal person should be about the quality of the picture on the screen. Our TV has the older curved screen, so I had no idea how good a movie could look on a sharp, new, flat screen. So which movie did I choose for the maiden voyage?

It comes with cables to hook it up to a stereo, but I used headphones to get an idea of how it would sound on, say, an airplane flying to SAN JOSE CA. The sound quality is very good. I’ll get my husband to show me how to hook it up to our amplifier, and I’m guessing it will sound even better in stereo.

I only have one complaint, and that is that it is very noisy when the DVD starts up. There was a loud, metallic whirring sound that I could hear until I turned the volume up pretty high. I did notice that after about 15 minutes, the whirring was less noticeable. But Insignia might want to work on making it quieter. I might not have been able to hear the noise with the headphones on and the sound turned up, but I think someone sitting next to me on a car trip would.

Speaking of trips, I’m hoping to get a chance soon to take a drive down to Toledo to see my sister-in-law, and I’ll take the Portable DVD with me and test the car charger. I’ll also test how hot it gets sitting on my lap for a whole movie.

One and a half thumbs up to the Insignia Portable DVD player. Make it quieter, and I’ll give it two for sure. You can get them at Best Buy.

And now, a shout-out to Charlie Kondek at Hass MS&L. Dude, this was AWESOME of you! Thank you so much. You know how the theme of this year’s BlogHer is “How is your blog changing your world?” I would say that I am becoming the embodiment of that question.

Oh, and for Jess and Dawn, a slightly blurry screenshot of our imaginary TV boyfriend:

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