Customer Reviews

Initial IDM-1731 Portable DVD Player with 7-Inch LCD

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(42)

 

 

I purchased this product only 1 week ago, with some hesitation based upon reviews. However, all reviews of this type of produce were luke-warm at best, no matter what the price of the product. It seemed that approximately 30% of people who purchased any portable DVD had some problem, requiring return/replacement. Also, most factory warranties are similarly anemic. I normally purchase online for the discount, but chose to purchase this product locally (same as online price), so that I could have more personilzed service if necessary. Also, I normally do not purchase the extended warranty through the store, but for this product, I did because of the potential for problems (and the poor manufacturer warranty of 1yr parts / 3 mos labor). The first thing that I noticed is that everything I needed was in the box - including DC adapter, video cables (unlike some more expensive models - and these things are expensive to buy separately). The unit had a good feel to it, and the screen hinge felt solid, not flimsy like some. My biggest complaint so far, is that the screen does not fold all the way flat (almost), which is pretty important if you will be hanging it off the back of a seat in the mini-van. The battery is a bit awckward, being a rather bulky separate piece that attaches to the back of the unit (limiting screen opening angle), with a wire plugging into the same port as the AC adapter, but you get used to it. With the battery pack attached, the screen only opens up a bit beyond 90 degrees. The picture is sharp, and the colors very good, with an excellent wide viewing angle - even in the sun. In the store, the difference between the model several hundred dollars more expensive was negligible (and the sound better). Unlike other reviews, I found sound quality to be good (for portable), and was clearly able to hear it in the car over the background noise (if you are looking for theater sound without headphones, don't buy portable). With headphones, the sound is outstanding. The battery has lasted longer than the advertised 2.5 hours even after mutliple charges, and I have been able to watch 2 movies before recharge. It attaches very easily to my home TV, and works nicely in that capacity. (unfortunately, my 2 year old thinks that it is now his - "MINE!" - ugh ) I have been using the unit constantly since it's purchase to find any problems while still in the 30-day return period. Overall, I am pleasantly surprised, but did not give 5 stars due to inability of screen to fold flat, and unit's features which are only available with using included remote (both which are acceptable IMHO). Most problems I have seen in reviews have occurred immediately, a few more approximately 6 months out - hence the extended warranty purchase. I have recorded a few MPEGs from the internet onto VCD, and it has played them without any trouble whatsoever. Good luck.

UPDATE: 11/27/2003
Still using the player nearly daily. Working great! Very pleased with investment.

I purchased this player prior to a 8-hour car trip with my 10 year-old son. The player worked great! When we got back home, I hooked the player up to the TV in my bedroom and am pleased with the quality of the sound and video. Another bonus that I did not realize when I bought the player is that it also accepts audio and video input. Though the documentation that comes with the player does not describe how to do it, I hooked the player up to my son's Gamecube and it worked fine. So next time we take a long car trip the Gamecube is coming too! Some minor nits:
1) The included documentation is mediocre and could be more complete
2) The power connection to the DVD player needs to be securely seated; on a couple of instances it jostled out which is annoying in the middle of a movie

i did extensive research on portable dvd players. Being a toshiba and panasonic fan, I didn't look much into the Initial brand until I saw the prices of similar players. i compared the picture quality of the Initial with the toshiba sd-p1200 and was quite suprised to see that the Initial hung in there with the Toshiba, and at almost 1/2 the price!! Plus, you get all the necessary cables needed to go on long trips (this is why I wanted a portable dvd player) The sound quality through the speakers is ok, although the toshiba sound isn't any better. When you use headphones, the sound is terrific. Plus, this player has an anti-shock system similar to that found in cd players, so it won't skip in the car or when you child drops it a dozen times. If you want a nice size player (7 inches is plenty big enough for portable) that plays dvd's/cd's, this is by far the best bang for your buck. I only gave it 4 stars because it doesn't come with all the frills of the higher end players, such as progressive scan, numerous menu options, and the battery pack isn't the best, but it certainly isn't the worst either. I saw no justification on spending 200-300$ more on the higer end players. They're not that much better.

I loved this little player. I spend a lot of time on the road
suttling my daughter around (the life of a divorced dad who
child lives 160 miles away!). My daughter loved it too.

But then, tragically, one day it died.

We closed the top with the unit still on. The unit overheated and melted inside. Shouldn't have done that, but it did.
AN automatic off button MIGHT be nice... but it didn't have
it.

Chearfully, I sent it too Initial for repair. It was out of
the 90 day warrenty, so, it was going to cost 44.99 for repair.
I gave my credit card number. They said it would arrive right
away. THat was... lets see... last November. It is now late
January. After numerous calls and "yes, we will get back to you"
"No, I don't know why it hasn't shipped" etc... the
unit has not arrived.

I think there could be a worse customer service department. I
am saying that because I always want to be conservative
and leave room for an extreme case. But it is hard for
me to envision in my mind what worse customer service would
be like.

The bottom line is: Consider this a disposable unit.
Then think if the low price is really worth it...

I did extensive research in prior to purchase of an Initial DVD player simply it was never heard of. I finally made my purchase and I am very IMPRESSED. The 7" screen delivers great image quality, as well as its speaker sound. Its accessories ( S-Video, DC charger and etc)comes with purchase and that is a big plus, consider you have to pay extra $ 45 or $50 for it.
I am very pleased with this unit given the fact it is only half the price of a Toshiba and Panasonic!

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.

I bought this unit because of the great features and a good price. It would be phenomenal if the screen didn't freeze and skip every few seconds. It's extremely frustrating. Mine is going back after only three days. Hopefully the manufacturer can get it together to fix this flaw. Otherwise it would be absolutely perfect. The picture is great, the sound, the fact that you can view pics or listen to music as well is a big bonus. I should have read reviews first.

I have seen plenty of reviews on this item, and I must say that I wish I would have seen them before I purchased it. All of the negative reviews have all happened to me too. The problem is, it takes longer than just a few times of using it for the problems to arrive, they start after the warranty is up. Every positive review this player gets is from people who have just purchased it. The most annoying thing is that the picture freezes up and you have to keep resetting the movie. This was frustrating to me, but even more to my kids. We purchased this player because it was the cheapest we could find. We have now decided that you should not buy a DVD player by that criteria. Spend a little extra money, and save yourself the trouble.

I actually have the 8" version, but played with a demo unit of the IDM-1731 (with 7" LCD measured diagonally) at the Circuit City store in Union Square, Manhattan. I had just purchased a "Bedazzled" DVD at the store, and was able to try it out on this little machine. (Yes, many CC stores let you load your own DVDs to play on their demo DVD players.)

As with my 8" player, this model delivers good picture quality. It plays pretty much all kinds of video disc formats out there: DVD, VCD, SuperVCD, etc., as well as CD and CD-R with MP3 files. WMA files are supported as well. My 8" player, which I use on the bus a lot, is surprisingly resistent to road bumps: I've never experienced a frame drop due to bumps or even when I move the player around, so I expect the 1731 model will be the same.

The verdict on quality is rather mixed. Overall this is far less refined than portable DVD players from Panasonic. The paint on my player, for example, is already coming off after less than a year. The buttons on the player are not very responding, so you'll have to press hard or even press twice to make them work. The remote is ok. Not very user-friendly but totally functional. On the other hand, I've used my Initial a lot and done countless pauses and stops and restarts, and it's still quiet and working flawlessly.

In summary, Initial DVD players belong to the value category. If I had some extra cash I'd opt for a Panasonic model for better picture quality, much better sound (both from speakers and earphones), and infinitely better quality and reliability. But, the Initial's are inexpensive and the one I have has not let me down at all.

Don't buy this item! As you might expect it is a very low quality item and it has TERRIBLE support. My daughter used it less than 10 hours before the screen froze then it stopped working all together! She is not a brute and takes care of her things, yet this poorly made and non-supported item failed. I called customer support and the best they could offer is a $155.00 replacement. I can buy a new one at AMAZON for $170! It is still within the one year warranty but out of the 90 labor included.

If you do get it as a gift, as she did, always ask the presenter for the receipt or you are out of luck.

DO NOT BUY THIS ITEM!