Entertainment on the go

Most of us have put on a movie to keep the kids occupied and buy a little time – 15 minutes to prep dinner, or a few minutes to make an important phone call. Holiday car trips to visit friends and family are just around the corner, and the prospect of being able to pop in a movie on the road to ensure a quiet and peaceful drive is very appealing. Great idea, but it sounds expensive and complicated, right? Take heart – some car DVD players cost less than you think, are as easy to operate and install, and have cool accessories.

Pocketbook punch
DVD players for cars are now widely available, and there's something for every taste and budget. If the $1500.00 price tag doesn't give you sticker shock, check out the Sony Dream System - it includes a 7-inch overhead monitor, a DVD player and cordless stereo headphones. It also plays CD's, CD-R/RWs and comes with a remote control. At the other end of the spectrum, a more affordable option is the Centrios Portable DVD Player, which costs about $300.00. Like the Sony, it plays CD's and CD-R/RW's and comes with a remote. A carrying case to suspend or mount it in the car is sold separately.

Plug and play
If you're not handy, don't sweat it – installation is a snap! All you have to do is plug the DVD player into the 12V power supply of your vehicle (translation - location of your former cigarette lighter!) and you're ready to go. There are three ways to secure a DVD player in your car:

1 Invest in a simple headrest mount - it positions the machine on top of a front seat so the people in the row behind have a clear view.

2 Use mounting brackets (they come with some models) to attach the DVD player to the ceiling of the car.

3 Look for a carrying case that suspends the machine between two front seats.