Sony is frequently a name on which people depend for excellent electronics. In the portable DVD player category they haven’t disappointed me with the DVD-FX820. This is a beautiful little portable DVD player that offers 8 inches of 800x480 pixel resolution (WOW), an efficient swivel screen, nice sized remote control, and a six hour battery life. Its predecessor, the DVD-FX810 had very poor screen resolution, so this new system represents a huge improvement that responded to consumer requests.

Sony’s FX820 is a little heavier than most portable DVD players on the market, being just under 3 pounds. However, it’s still fits nicely into most luggage, and honestly the great screen resolution more than makes up for that less-than-one pound difference. After all, you buy a DVD player to WATCH movies! There is one drawback, however, for those who are addicted to all-in-one portable entertainment systems. You will not be able to use a flash card reader or play any digital audio files from the internet on this system (there’s no USB port). This may be something Sony will consider adding in the future.

In terms of overall design and functionality, the FX820 was well considered. Your controls are located below the main screen so that you can use them no matter the position of the hinge, which (by the way) goes a full 180 degrees around. The main controls allow you to fast forward and rewind (something overlooked on some systems), and then the remote control (included) offers even more options.

Similar to other portable DVD players, the Sony FX820 offers two headphone jacks (Dolby digital sound), and the ability to plug into a larger TV if desired. You also get a car charger and an AC adapter as standard items in the packaging. Better still, the battery really stands up to that 6 hour standard set by the company (this is unique!). For under $200, if you want a basic portable DVD player with fantastic viewing, this is the one to consider. It’s sturdy and dependable, and very usable by children. And for those fashion-minded buyers, Sony offers different colored bases including red, blue, pink, white and black.