Topic: To buy the DVD Player or not to buy the DVD player, that is the que...

[carnewb]

This one has got me stumped! We really like the idea of the rear entertainment system (DVD Player)on the Pilot for those long drives with the kids.... BUT we recently heard that "they" are changing the DVD technology, so naturally we are concerned that our DVD system becomes obsolete... and WHO would want to but  a vehicle with a system that has old technology. I don't know, maybe it'll take 10 years before our current DVD's are obsolete... it's taken VHS a long time to disappear even though DVDs have been around for a long time now.  

Any thoughts?

[dip]

My kid's been fine with just books on the long trips so far. And you can buy A LOT of them for a price of the average DVD system ;)

[Sterling]

Of course it's going to become obsolete. It's electronics. But it's not going to be tomorrow or the next day.

[barrie1]

Some of the Vans have them in a value package on certain models. DVD's are coming down in price as well so you will enjoy this as long as you have the vehicle. Even if you keep it 5-8 years you will use it.

[Mdxtasy]

DVD is not going away anytime soon.  I am not concerned with DVD's going away and I don't think there are very many people thinking it will.  

I have the DVD system in the back of the MDX....and it's nice.  I've only used it 3 or 4 times but I'm sure I will when my son gets older.....if I still own this car.  

[ovr50]

You won't so don't even worry about it........

I'm with Barrie and Mdx on this re:DVDs - don't worry about their obsolescence, it's a number of years yet. You'll probably have something else by then anyway.  

(Message edited by ovr50 on December 06, 2004)

[jeeper]

dont see anything wrong with it getting old...
DVDs are quite new and will last for at least another 10y....nuthing to worry about.

[Snowman]

I bought a portable DVD system for +/-$400 two years ago. Now they are $199 and disposable. I like the portable unit as you can move it from car to car, house to house, and plane to plane.

[johngenx]

I agree.  Forget paying big bucks for the in-car system.  If I got it for free, then I'd take it.  We have a portable unit and it works great (it's our only DVD player) at home and in the car.  We only use it on really long trips anyway, so we didn't want to spend a ton.

For 99.99% of the time in the car, books, colouring, and games work just as well as when I was a kid.

[Shnak]

All I know is that my cousins enjoy greatly their DVD system a lot... not really for movies, but for playing GameCube games. They plug that in, and they're busy for 12 hours at a time. And when they get tired of playing games, they put in a movie and are busy for another 2 hours.  

You wouldn't say "books will keep them busy" when you have 4 high-energy little guys in a mini-van, that will annoy each other, eventually making the younger one cry. I know DVD system is an absolute must when I get my own minivan.

And no, you don't have a single thing to worry about DVDs becoming obsolete. That's at least 15 years away. We'll see new DVD technology in the next years, but regular DVDs are here for another 10-15 years easily. Same phenomenon with Super Audio CDs and DVD-Audio discs that have slowly started appearing on the market for the last 3 years... but regular CDs will certainly remain the mainstream format for another 10-15 years.

[johngenx]

You wouldn't say "books will keep them busy" when you have 4 high-energy little guys in a mini-van,

Well, you're right about the mini-van part (I'll never have one), but I have no shortage of kid experience, with my own, and others.  I was speaking from experience, not speculating.

As to the video game part, I can't comment.  Not allowed in our house.  We have strict TV rules (30 min per weekday max, none on weekends) and I don't want the car to become a TV haven.

As to the DVD player, my daughter got that from her grandfather for Christmas, so I it's a treat.  On days where we will spend 10+ hours driving, one movie is allowed.

One thing about traveling with kids is stopping.  Cripes, so we end up stopping lots.  I used to be a marathon driver, stopping only when gas was required.  However, I like it better this way.  I was missing neat stuff.

[safristi]

Snowie ya forgot yacht to yacht..and private island to private island......I just tape wifey up in the trunk so I don't have to hear "There's another antique flea market,can we stop!!!" Hell mabe a dvd for her there would be nice on those 15+ hour trips......comic books and fun stops(frisbee,picnic etc) worked for me as a kid and my family later....

[Snowman]

“As to the video game part, I can't comment. Not allowed in our house� Great!....I’m not the only one. We also limit TV time and Sponge Bob is a tool of Satan. It is Lazy parents that dump off their kids in front of video games and TV. Lots of things to do…practice violin, read, art, card games, board games, and play with the room full of toys.
 
No.1 gets one movie to watch on our road trips. He may get an extra one if I’m traveling alone with him. I like to concentrate on the road ahead so I will give into the pressure.  

Saff….I usually leave at least an hour or two early for “unplanned� stops by Wiffy…drives me nuts.

[johngenx]

Great!....I’m not the only one.

But, we are a shrinking minority.  I see them as nothing but time wasters designed to knock your brain into neutral.  You can go on all you want about "hand-eye" coordination, but I am sure you gain better physical skills by actually doing something like shooting a basketball or climbing a rock-wall.

We stop lots now, which makes for longer days, but makes them easier in many ways.  We've also learned to compromise between kid's things, mom's things, and my things.  Heck, some of them even overlap!

We didn't have a TV in our house until about three years ago, when my Mom was terminally ill.  She wanted to have one, so I went and got one.  Well, she's been gone for about 2.5 years, and I should put the thing back in the box, but since I have Touching the Void on DVD, I do need it once in a while!  My wife makes me watch it now and again to make sure I don't have visions of grandeur about climbing something like Siula Grande.

Clifford is on CBC from 8:00 to about 8:25am (no commericals) and it's a decent kid's show.  It's on while snow pants, boots, etc. are being donned for the WALK to school.  Yup, even at -25C this morning, everyone walked.  Thats what downfill was invented for...

As to the original topic, if I got the DVD thing for free or super cheap, I'd probably take it.  Might help resale too if you're planning on selling in the future.  If it was more than $2-300, I'd take a pass and buy snow tires with the moolah.

[ziggy]

Wow!  I am suprized that there are others out there that have a similar opinion of in-car DVD's.  We had an oportunity to buy a minivan with a DVD and declined.  The long road trips are a good time to play games and actually communicate with the kids.


At my in-laws family reunion this summer, a cousin's grande caravan with a DVD system pulled up with their three kids in the back.  The three kids stayed in the van for 45 minutes to finish watching their movie, while about 20 of their little cousins were having fun playing together outside.  This made me realize that I didn't want a DVD system in a van.

[Mdxtasy]

While this thread is slowly turning into a parenting session....the DVD player is a useful tool for road trips.  However, it does take the child's ability to think away from them.  It's the parent's choice in the end what they want their child to do in the car.

I personally find the screen a little small and awkwardly positioned in the car.  You have to look up at this thing and it may strain your neck.  The best place to have the screen is on the headrests.  Also, dropping the screen down does obscure the rearview mirror.  

Ovr...you are probably right...I probably won't have the MDX...but stranger things have happened.  

(Message edited by mdxtasy on December 06, 2004)

[ovr50]

Too late for parenting advice for me. If our kid is all screwed up (at 22), it must be totally our fault!! Or if he just chooses to go his own way in the world, he's only doing what all kids do as part of the what growing up and becoming an adult is all about. You can only do some much guiding and rule making, but in the end, all you can do is hope it was enough and was listened to. I'm just glad I don't have to go thru all that stuff again.

[safristi]

Hell we'll ALL be in the back seat again some day....I'll need a DVD then ta watch "Debbie does Dallas" just ta keep ma heart pumpin'.......are we at the restroom yet....Depends Granpaw...depends....

[Drivesideways]

Do hearses have back seats?  Yep...no built in DVD systems for me.  I'm taking mine with me.

Saffy, you have progeny? God help us all!!

[safristi]

No I have Rogers...Progeny doesn't carry the dirty stuff...!!!