With the high popularity of widescreen television, portable dvd player manufacturers have picked up on the concept of players capable of providing widescreen television without compacting the image. However, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind when you purchase a widescreen system. First, out of necessity, the widescreen portable dvd player is larger and heavier than standard models. For those who travel frequently, this can be an inconvience. However, if you are planning on using a dual screen system for your children in the back of the car, widescreen may be the ideal option for you, as it allows for higher quality. As those who use widescreen portable dvd players for in their car typically only carry the units between the house and the car, the additional weight is not an issue.

In addition to this, it is important to remember that if you do not have widescreen formatting on your dvd, there will always be a black frame around the image or the picture will look distorted. This is due to the fact that the ratio between widescreen and standard viewing is different. Your options are to either have a black bar above and below widescreen formatted movies, or a black frame around non widescreen formatted movies. With the high popularity of widescreen televisions, however, most shows are compatible with a widescreen portable dvd player.

Once you have determined that you wish to purchase a widescreen portable dvd player, you will need to decide on if you want a single screen or dual screen player. Dual screen players have more components and are harder to travel with, but excel at keeping children occupied in a car for long periods of time. On the other hand, a single screen widescreen portable dvd player is more versatile, suitable for travel almost anywhere you go.

When you go to choose your specific model of widescreen portable dvd player, you will need to check the battery life of the player. At the very least, you will want two and a half hours of battery life. This is sufficient for the average movie or several episodes of a television show. If you want a system with a longer battery life, expect to spend a small fortune on them, as long lasting batteries are extremely expensive.

You can purchase a widescreen portable dvd player online or through a local retail store.