Initial IDM-1810 Portable DVD Player with 8-Inch LCD and Car Kit

by Initial

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000CA12A
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,285 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Watch movies, listen to MP3 CDs, or review camcorder footage--all from one portable device. Initial Technology's IDM-1810 puts a world of entertainment at your fingertips, and it comes with everything needed to use it in the car or in home. Its built-in eight-inch widescreen TFT (thin-film-transistor) LCD displays your favorite movies in their native aspect ratios, while its onboard antiskip protection--a surprisingly rare feature in portable DVD players--paves the way for media enjoyment during more active uses.

Listen through built-in stereo speakers or through the headphone jack using personal headphones (not included). Connections include S-video and composite-video outputs (composite-video is switchable as an input), and a switchable analog audio input/output. An optical 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 your discs (optical digital-audio interconnect not included). The unit gets about 2.5 hours of playback from the supplied rechargeable lithium battery.

What's in the Box
DVD player, limited-function remote control, remote battery, AC adapter, high-capacity rechargeable lithium battery, 12V DC car adapter, composite-video interconnect, analog audio interconect, and a user's manual. Headphones are not included.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Never Know Until You Try It For Yourself!, January 21, 2004

By 

Sam Saure "Uncle Sam" (Los Angeles Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Initial IDM-1810 Portable DVD Player with 8-Inch LCD and Car Kit (Electronics)

B4 I type in my review, I have browse the web a lot reading various reviews and models of portable DVD Players. Regardless of bad reviews I too bought this player and got a different feeling to it.
I chose this model mainly for the price. What other models are out there with these specs with 8" wide screen for under $300. As soon as I rec'd my model IDM-1810 I was already pleased with what it comes with. The slim design is very nice and the battery snaps to the back nicely with 3 hours playing time and 5 hours playing time when the LCD screen is closed.

I tried every type of media including DVD Rom DVD-R,DVD+RW, CD, CD-R. It passed. It only takes 4 ½ hours to charge the battery.
I wasted no time and I watched a movie right after another. I wanted to see if it would get hot on me and turn off. Wow, I had it on for over 4 movies. That's about 8 hours of nonstop playing time plugged in. It didn't even skip or shut down on me. So that test passed. I then tried the battery alone, this time I used the RCA cables it comes with, and plugged it in to this player and to a TV monitor to see how it would work. I can even plug in my Xbox to this thing if I want it to. It has an input and output for audio and video. Very nice. I saw a movie a little more than 2 hours using the battery, I did close the player so It would conserve the battery. That passed.

The next day, was the test I was scared of. Plugging it in the Car cigarette lighter, with the car on. Let me tell you guys, I tried plugging it in using various ways and it worked all the time. I did all this with the battery not plugged in the player. I even shook the hell out of it, The anti shock works also. This test Passed. The remote has everything you want except it does not have volume control. If anything that is my only negative remark. I guess I'm just being lazy to just higher it from the player. Now All I have to do is test the durability of this and see how long it will last. It does have a one year warranty and you have to mail in the warranty card within 14 days of purchase to receive this limited warranty.

I called Initial electronics to find out more about this product. They told me they have sold thousands of these and the reason why if the screen goes dark that's because it protects your player from over heating kind of like a fail safe. I guess I haven't been that unfortunate yet. They also said the difference between IDM-1810 and IDM 830 is the software updates. These 2 products are there newest and IDM 830 has a software update but both have the same functions. IDM 830 does cost more. I inquire for accessories and you can purchase accessories straight from them just not the player itself. The extra battery for this is not out yet and they estimated it would cost $100. Too much if you ask me, They do carry a universal battery but it does not snap on the back of your player. They don't have a case for this also.

The MFG is located at La Verne Ca. and there customer service number is 800 216 5156. I should get commissioned for this detailed review. Bottom line is this product receives my high rank of 5 out of 5 stars. Just read my Title for my review!

3-27-2005

I just want to give a rare update since most feedback usually don't test the durability.
I have been using the same DVD player almost 5 days a week since I take it to work.
I watch movies and play mp3s on this device lots of times a day.
My dvd player now has scratches, blemishes on the grey coated paint. I have dropped it a few times, since I carry it in my backpack. However, with all this usage I must say its still working like the first day I bought it.
It seems that not all are happy with this model, after reading all the reviews. My DVD player works great and I would not trade it for any other player. Trully, the one I bought has been battle tested. Within 1 1/2 years of service I have been using the battery, and the plug in. I still have not gotten the black screen. Just thought this extra vailidation would assist you guys. Sticking to my Title all the way!!!!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Black Screen of Death, November 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Initial IDM-1810 Portable DVD Player with 8-Inch LCD and Car Kit (Electronics)

Do NOT -- I repeat DO NOT buy this unit. I made the mistake of purchasing it at Circuit City on a Friday for a week-long trip. Got on the plane, turned on the unit and within 5 minutes, the screen was black. I arrived at my destination, went into the local Circuit City and we went through 3 brand new units before I found one that wasn't black when I turned it on. I took it back to the hotel and poof, it went black.

Saturday, went back to Circuit City, and I know you'll find this hard to believe, but the store clerk tore through 6 boxes of brand new Intials before finding one that wasn't a black screen. I took it back to the hotel and needless to say it went black within 15 minutes.

So, that's a total of 12 units that were delivered to Circuit City in two different cities that had a black screen. So please, folks at Initial, don't tell me you don't know what's going on and this is something quirky. You know exactly what's going on.

By the way, kudoos to Circuit City for providing great customer service and doing the best they could under these circumstances. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and just got a refund.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't work in car, December 28, 2003

By 

Jack (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Initial IDM-1810 Portable DVD Player with 8-Inch LCD and Car Kit (Electronics)

The IDM-1810 is the same as Circuit City's Initial IDM-830. That's what I bought. The picture is crystal clear and the volume is loud enough for car use. It's definitely a better picture than the comparable Mintek 8" unit. Everything about the Initial unit is nice, except one fatal flaw. The screen goes black when the thing is plugged into a car cigarette lighter. I tried it in both our cars - a Honda and a Subaru - and with another car adapter also (the Initial adapter worked fine with another device too). I tried it with the car engine running and with the engine off too. So it's gotta be the DVD player itself. One white flash and then black screen (but audio OK) every time you turn the unit on. But when I used it in the house or with the battery, this only happened once. Strangely there's a note in the package that says if the screen is black when using the car power adapter, turn it off, unplug it, then try again. So Initial KNOWS about this problem! What's the deal? If you ever want to use this otherwise fine DVD player in your car, forget it.