Initial IDM-1731 Portable DVD Player

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Watch movies, listen to MP3 CDs, or review camcorder footage--all from one portable device. Initial Technology's IDM-1731 puts a world of entertainment at your fingertips. The built-in seven-inch widescreen TFT (thin-film-transistor) LCD displays favorite movies in their native aspect ratios, and the player's onboard antiskip protection--a surprisingly rare feature in portable DVD players--paves the way for media enjoyment during more active uses.
Connections include a composite-video output (switchable as an input) and a switchable analog audio input/output. A coaxial digital-audio output lets you hook the player up with an audio/video receiver and multichannel speaker system to enjoy immersive DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround from discs (coaxial digital-audio interconnect not included). The unit gets about 2.5 hours of playback from the supplied rechargeable lithium battery. Amazon.com Product Description

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Great player!, April 21, 2005 Reviewer: Michelle Topham -
My father bought this player for me as a gift back in November. I have since used it on the plane coming back to Thailand (where it worked for 3 hours before the battery ran out) and have used it every week since at home. The manufacturer says it's not possibly to recharge the battery by plugging it into the wall socket in a different voltage area than in the US(I currently live in Thailand) but I recharge it every week here in Thailand WITHOUT using an adaptor and have never had a problem with it.

It's a great player, nice screen, nice sound (with headphones, pretty bad without headphones) and seems to stand up to wear and tear very well. I've had it for 6 months and no complaints so far.

I PURCHASED 2 OF THESE FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, March 29, 2005Reviewer:M H (INDIANA) - I PURCHASED 2 OF THESE FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. THE 1ST LASTED ABOUT 3 DAYS BEFORE I REPLACED IT. THE 2ND LASTED ABOUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE I REPLACED IT. BOTH WOULD FREEZE AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO READ THE DVD. THE 1ST REPLACEMENT WENT BAD IN 3 MONTHS. THE HINGE BECAME VERY LOOSE AND THE SCREEN STOPPED WORKING. THE SECOND REPLACEMENT WENT BAD IN 2 MONTHS. THE SOUND WOULD ONLY WORK WHEN YOU HAD THE HEADSET ATTACHED AND EVENTUALLY THE SCREEN STOPPED WORKING ALSO. I AM WAITING FOR THE WARRANTY TO REPLACE THEM. THE FACTORY WARRANTY IS FOR 3 MONTHS PARTS AND LABOR. THE REMAINING YEAR WARRANTY IS PARTS ONLY. I AM NOT PLEASED WITH THE PLAYERS BUT I KNEW THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE HIGHEST RATING WHEN I PURCHASED THEM. I DID TRY TO PROTECT MYSELF BY GETTING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THOUGH. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT REPLACES THE UNIT INSTEAD OF JUST OFFERING CREDIT TOWARD YOUR NEXT PURCHASE. MY WARRANTY OFFERS CREDIT AND TO REPLACE THE PLAYERS I WILL HAVE TO PAY EXTRA BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO BUY THEM ON SALE THE FIRST TIME.

Skips and freezes, March 21, 2005 Reviewer: DJANNIE "Annie C" (Long Beach, CA) - I bought this DVD player a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately I tore off the code to send in with the rebate before using the player. The second movie I viewed on the player skipped all over the place and I couldn't watch the movie. I returned it and wanted a refund but the store wouldn't do it because the URL was not on the box so they exchanged it. However, the second DVD player froze 2/3 through the first movie I viewed. I went back to the store and asked if I could exchange it for a more expensive one of another brand. They refused, saying I couldn't do that without the code on the box. They exchanged it again. In two weeks I am on my third DVD player and hope and pray this one works. I am stuck with it!!!

Great product, so long as you don't expect it to play DVDs.., March 7, 2005 Reviewer: drqshadow (Sarasota, FL USA) - I purchased an Initial IDM-1731 this past holiday for one specific purpose; my fiancee and I had a long holiday road trip planned, and we needed something to shake the monotony of a voyage from southwest Florida to northeast Indiana by automobile. After reading up a bit on the available models in the price range I was comfortable with, I decided on this unit. I understood that others had run into problems with it in the past, but assumed it was just a case of a few bad shipments to specific regions and not a flaw in the product itself. Just as a failsafe, however, I purchased a retail chain's extended warranty plan along with it (to cover any of the long-reaching problems that I'd read this unit was particularly susceptible to) and took it on a short, hour-and-a-half long drive before the big trip... a sort of trial by fire. The IDM-1731 performed with flying colors. The picture quality was outstanding and the limited number of buttons on the unit itself managed to keep its physical appearance uncomplicated without sacrificing too much usability (for instance, we effortlessly changed the aspect ratio from widescreen to fullscreen to avoid stretching the TV-series disc we were watching without the use of the remote control). The screen size felt just right, and though the audio was a little weak and tinny when using the built-in speakers, the various output options made the incorporation of an FM Transmitter a breeze. The inclusion of a car-adapter for unlimited use on the road was a godsend, and a major selling point.

It wasn't until we began our wintery trek and crossed the border between Florida and Georgia that we ran into our first problem with the unit. After what I'd estimate as a total of three hours' worth of use in its lifetime, (including the "test voyage" we'd taken the week before) the unit suddenly froze, mid-scene, in the middle of playback. It wasn't attempting to move between chapters, we didn't hit a bump or even budge it physically. Just a freeze frame of the last scene that had aired and nothing else. We attempted to troubleshoot, powering it down, removing the disc, reinserting and powering up again, but had no luck. The unit would recognize that the lid had closed and bring up a "DISC LOAD" message, but never proceed from that point. The two of us assumed it had overheated (since the base was growing a bit warm) and closed it up for the night. The next morning, I tried again and was met with the same "DISC LOAD" message. We began looking out for another location of the retail chain we'd originally purchased it from. When we reached Chattanooga, Tennessee, (roughly the two-thirds point of our voyage) we spotted one right near the highway, turned off, and exchanged our faulty unit for a brand new one. We climbed back into the car, popped a disc in to ensure the unit would function before we left the parking lot, and were pleased to see the DVD loading without a problem. We left the parking lot secure in the knowledge that our nightmare was over.

An hour and a half later, with about ten minutes remaining in the first disc we'd ever attempted to play in the unit, the screen froze once again. We were having the exact same problem... the disc refused to play again, the "DISC LOAD" screen was staring us down, and we were more than a bit frustrated. Upon arriving in Indianapolis, we returned the unit (and the accompanying, unused, extended warranty) for a full refund. This isn't a mild problem that affects only a few unlucky regions in the United States (as we can attest, thanks to our experience with units from both Florida and Tennessee)... it's a flaw with the unit itself that's left me questioning Initial's credibility as a manufacturer. Don't waste your time with an IDM-1731... you'll spend more time troubleshooting, scratching your head and waiting in line to exchange it than you'll spend actually enjoying movies on the road.

Awful experience with two players, March 2, 2005 Reviewer: Serrano (Florida) - I got 2 DVD player and both had problems. The first I received had an annoying "tac-tac-tac" and got really hot. I returned it and I was sent a replacement. The replacement although the same model, was an older one with same estrange features like having to connect the battery with a cable to run the player with it... still this model also had the annoying "tac-tac-tac" so I returned it. Finally I bought the Milata 710V, although a little bigger a much better one

I'm on my 9th Initial Portable DVD Player, February 25, 2005Reviewer:Don (Sandy, Utah) - See all my reviewsThis is a horrible piece of equipment! I have owned 9 players and also purchased the 2 year free replacement extended warranty (thank goodness). My first lasted 7 months before the screen broke. My second lasted 4 months before it quit playing. My third free replacement broke in 4 days. Every time it was a different defect. Comp USA has replaced so many of these that they no longer offer a free replacement warranty on this machine. Spend a little more to get a good machine! Don't forget to buy the extended warranty...it's worth it!!!

Very Good results for low price!, February 17, 2005 Reviewer: Tracy (Atlanta, Ga) - We have had a 5 inch model for a few years and it has the skipping problem every once in a while. We decided we needed another unit due to family issues and wanted to keep in the Initial family. Prior to purchasing the the 7 inch, I contacted Initial customer support and mentioned all the issues that were reported here. We were informed that they had made software modifications that eliminated the skipping and freezing. We were advised to look for newer serial numbers. We have had no issues with our new DVD player. We have found that the motor noise is helped by using Earplugs. All in all you just can't beat the price.

ZERO FOR TWO!, February 11, 2005 Reviewer: S. Broome (South Georgia) - I have had 2 of these, first one from Amazon and second from another store. When I turned on the first one and it said "NO DISC" ...tried several DVD's ( that work in the other players in my house) Finally got one to start. It worked for a couple of minutes before the picture and sound started to skip. Started over and it would stay stuck on "LOADING". Returned for credit.
The second one seemed to work better the first day. This is day 2 and I am having the same problems I had with the first one.

Two units- we haven't even watched an entire movie!

I'll be returning another one and looking for a different brand!

The greatest little DVD player...ever, February 7, 2005 Reviewer: K. Reed "dangergrl0" (Dallas, TX) - I purchased this DVD player over a year ago. We love it. Obviously, convience is the key to how great it is, but it's a great player. I have never had any problems with it. It is tough. We took a 10 hour trip with a two year old...who had to hold it...well needless to say, it took a beating. It's still ticking! It is so easy to use. I love the display...you can actually see! I would definately recommend this item to everyone! The price is right!

Great Portable DVD Player, January 29, 2005 Reviewer: E. Cabrera (San Diego, CA United States) - I was apprehensive when I first bought this player because what most people said in the reviews. But I owned this player for over six months and so far so good. I haven't had a problem with it. I take it everywhere and even play it in the car. The battery seems to last more than 2.5 hours that it states. I can almost watch 2 movies on one battery before it goes out. I actually bought an extra battery on ebay. I think it was a great investment. Most name brands go for twice the price. I bought the extended warranty just in case. The screen and sound is clear, but my only grip it that it's sometimes hard to get the DVD out of the player without finger printed the disc or getting it scratched sometimes.