Author Topic: Read headrest DVD player/entertainment systems (Read 5758 times)

Jakster1 · « **on:** April 15, 2015, 09:45:30 AM »

Can anybody recommend good rear headrest entertainment units to pay DVDs/ games and anything else to keep kids occupied on long drives?
I want something that is easy to use and minimal maintenance and stuffing around eg Must be 12volt plug into car power.
And also compact and not too obtrusive into the seating space.
Do iPads/tablets work well for this?
Or just buy some of be cheap ones from big W of the like?

paceman · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2015, 09:49:46 AM »

we were in a similar position to you some time ago and investigated dvd players, etc...

we ended up doing this instead:

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=40432.msg664278#msg664278

the device can be powered by a 12v usb cigarette adaptor...

we just did an easter weekend in bundaberg, which is about 8 hours drive, and it didn't miss a beat... the kids used their ipads....

i made up a ghetto ipad mount for the car trip:

very flexible and can be used around the campsite at night as well...

rockinj · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2015, 10:14:42 AM »

The big w, target etc types I have had no luck with. I have gone through 5 and am sick of wasting money. They are great when they work but generally last 4-6 months. :-(

Sent from my GT-S5300 using Tapatalk 2

GGV8Cruza · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2015, 10:30:51 AM »

I would look at a tablet these days. When its a crap day and you are camping they can be in the camper watching something as well. A couple of games on them as well and they will be kept occupied when needed.

GG

plusnq · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2015, 10:37:27 AM »

iPads work great for this. Mine all have their own device and a set of headphones. Hardly hear a peep out of them. There can be an issue if they kids suffer from motion sickness with watching screens of any sort while driving.

Cheers

Shane

Marschy · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2015, 10:43:04 AM »

I had headrest DVD player, slave and master in my Ford XR6. They were lucky to get used once or twice a year. Tablet is a much more versatile option.

Beachman · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15, 2015, 11:10:56 AM »

We have a cheapish DVD player with twin screens which attach to the back of the headrests and for the last 2 years they have served their purpose. But my mate uses an Ipad for each child in conjunction with a wireless hard drive. This way the kids are able to watch different movies at the same time. So when our DVD player dies, I will be going out to buy a wireless hard drive especially considering we already have a couple of Ipads.

But whatever way you go, just make sure you get them headphones otherwise it means while the kids are watching a movie, it hard for the parents to talk or even listen to the radio.

tk421 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15, 2015, 11:32:57 AM »

Quote from: paceman on April 15, 2015, 09:49:46 AM

we were in a similar position to you some time ago and investigated dvd players, etc...

we ended up doing this instead:

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=40432.msg664278#msg664278

the device can be powered by a 12v usb cigarette adaptor...

we just did an easter weekend in bundaberg, which is about 8 hours drive, and it didn't miss a beat... the kids used their ipads....

i made up a ghetto ipad mount for the car trip:

very flexible and can be used around the campsite at night as well...

We have a ban on iPads when in the car but love the idea of the Verbatim for rainy days in camp - we've got three kids of various ages so it would be handy as the 7 year old won't want to watch what the 1 year old does.

Definitely agree on tablets vs DVD players as being more versatile. Can be used for email/blogging etc whilst on the road and for DVD's entertainment on those rainy days in the camp.

paceman · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2015, 11:43:24 AM »

Quote from: tk421 on April 15, 2015, 11:32:57 AM

We have a ban on iPads when in the car but love the idea of the Verbatim for rainy days in camp - we've got three kids of various ages so it would be handy as the 7 year old won't want to watch what the 1 year old does.

Definitely agree on tablets vs DVD players as being more versatile. Can be used for email/blogging etc whilst on the road and for DVD's entertainment on those rainy days in the camp.

as our boys are autistic, a ban on the ipads in the car might go badly for us...

but for your usage case (in camp), it's a pearler... just get a couple of sd cards with different stuff and away you go...

tk421 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2015, 11:52:52 AM »

Quote from: paceman on April 15, 2015, 11:43:24 AM

as our boys are autistic, a ban on the ipads in the car might go badly for us...

but for your usage case (in camp), it's a pearler... just get a couple of sd cards with different stuff and away you go...

We've got the poverty pack iPad with hardly any storage, but a whole draw full of USB's...

We are just lucky our boys will read books for hours on end.

Not knocking those who do use them - I say each to their own and whatever works for you. Totally understand your case though - have close friends with kids on the spectrum and a wife who used to work for a care organisation.

paceman · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2015, 01:03:20 PM »

Quote from: tk421 on April 15, 2015, 11:52:52 AM

We've got the poverty pack iPad with hardly any storage, but a whole draw full of USB's... We are just lucky our boys will read books for hours on end.

Not knocking those who do use them - I say each to their own and whatever works for you. Totally understand your case though - have close friends with kids on the spectrum and a wife who used to work for a care organisation.

we are the same with our ipads... no sim cards, smallest storage... works for them and us...

cancan · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2015, 01:07:55 PM »

Ipads/Tablets for my kids as well, they spend more time playing games now than watching movies plus not restricted to car only use

Andrew_C · « **Reply #12 on:** April 15, 2015, 01:22:40 PM »

Is there an easy way to carry, store and use movies for the Ipad, we have the Target DVD system ($100 - bought in Alice Springs when our old one that had done our trip from Melbourne to the Cape and back died on its second half trip of the continent, the new ones did the other 15000 kays no worries

) we are old school with a big pile of DVD's but do have an Ipad but it seems harder to carry and shift around the movie files, also given the limited memory on the Ipad.

paceman · « **Reply #13 on:** April 15, 2015, 01:46:26 PM »

Quote from: Andrew_C on April 15, 2015, 01:22:40 PM

Is there an easy way to carry, store and use movies for the Ipad, we have the Target DVD system ($100 - bought in Alice Springs when our old one that had done our trip from Melbourne to the Cape and back died on its second half trip of the continent, the new ones did the other 15000 kays no worries ) we are old school with a big pile of DVD's but do have an Ipad but it seems harder to carry and shift around the movie files, also given the limited memory on the Ipad.

check the link in my first post in this thread...

tk421 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 15, 2015, 04:25:33 PM »

Quote from: Andrew_C on April 15, 2015, 01:22:40 PM

Is there an easy way to carry, store and use movies for the Ipad, we have the Target DVD system ($100 - bought in Alice Springs when our old one that had done our trip from Melbourne to the Cape and back died on its second half trip of the continent, the new ones did the other 15000 kays no worries ) we are old school with a big pile of DVD's but do have an Ipad but it seems harder to carry and shift around the movie files, also given the limited memory on the Ipad.

I hear you. I have ~2TB of movies at home. Yes its a schlep to get them onto and off the iPad. Apple want you to use and therefore purchase through, iTunes. My next tablet will be Android.

I use Handbrake to rip the DVD's to MP4 format then sync to the iPad via iTunes. Using the system linked above it'll be much easier for us. Just rip, put on USB/Memory card and away you go.

Jakster1 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 08, 2015, 09:11:23 AM »

Ok so I've been lazy and still haven't done anything, but I would like a few suggestions about which tablet to buy.
It dosent have to be the latest and greatest coz the kids will probably break it anyway and I'm hearing yas about using iTunes to transfer files to iPad bing a PITA. So I am looking for something good, middle of the range and fairly cheap e.g A few hundgy or so.
Oh and it needs to be strong and mountable in the car.
Even a suggestion of good second hand units worth looking at.
Thanks everyone

me217 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 08, 2015, 12:43:47 PM »

i have heard good things about the pipo w4s.
its only about $200 it has windows 8.1 and android. it can be dual booted. only downside is you cant buy them in stores.

Ozsnowman · « **Reply #17 on:** December 08, 2015, 06:50:10 PM »

Have a look around Dick Smith stores while the clearance is on - scored a couple of these for $10 each to go with our ipads:

http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-pocket-playlist-p-h4d65aa-abc--1

Were $79 beforehand

Diesel Power · « **Reply #18 on:** December 08, 2015, 08:56:20 PM »

We purchased a 1Tb wireless hard drive. Ripped every DVD we own onto it and the kids can watch what ever movie they want on their own iPads.

Jakster1 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2015, 12:04:05 PM »

Lenovo tab2 A10 $200 for a 10" tablet seems good. Anyone got one?

tk421 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 10, 2015, 12:30:25 PM »

Quote from: Diesel Power on December 08, 2015, 08:56:20 PM

We purchased a 1Tb wireless hard drive. Ripped every DVD we own onto it and the kids can watch what ever movie they want on their own iPads.

We ended up doing the same. 500Mb wireless hard drive that stores music and videos. Streams to multiple devices simultaneously in HD, and doubles as the stereo around camp via the iPhone and a Jawbone Jambox speaker. All of which charge via USB so no can be run of the 12v.

News:

Author Topic: Read headrest DVD player/entertainment systems (Read 5758 times)

Marschy