Customer Reviews

Mintek MDP-1810 8-Inch Portable DVD Player

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

Update: One reviewer on Amazon points out to take advantage of the wide-screen capability properly, you need to go into Set Up from the remote control and set the screen size to Wide Screen.

*****

After searching and waiting for a year, I finally took the plunge and bought a portable DVD player. I could wait no longer as I'm having trouble falling asleep these days. I chose the DVD-1810, which is also marketed under the US Logic (by CompUSA), Initial Technology and Shinsonic brandnames. It's made by Huake Electronics in China. They also make other screen sizes (5.8, 6, 6.8, and 7). I also read on the web that a 10-inch and an 11-inch models are on the way.

I picked this model for its 8-inch gorgeous screen and unbeatable price. It even comes with a car adapter as well as AC cables (RCA type). The screen is very good, has wide-screen, and the battery lasts about 2 hours on high brightness. BTW, the machine itself is a little over an inch thick, but the battery snaps to the bottom and will add another half an inch. The whole thing (player + battery) weighs in at about 2 pounds... You can use the brick-style AC adapter with the player directly if you don't need the battery (e.g., when watching movies indoors). Battery charging takes about 6 hours, so that's a department where Huake can improve.

The player has simulated surround sound, but you should get a good pair of headphones to take full advantage of that. (Hint: any good Sony headphones will make a great addition. The player does not come with headphones.) All the other standard DVD features are there, and you can also zoom in and zoom out. Zooming in, however, results in pixelated images, so it's not really too useful, but some may find it of value. The package also includes a full-function DVD remote that's powered by a watch battery.

I'm very happy with my DVD-1810 and take it everywhere I go. I just need to recharge it every night. I highly recommend this tremendous value if you are in the market for a portable DVD player. Also, if you want to see the player up close, check it out at CompUSA (ask for US Logic portable DVD players).

After I received the Mintek MDP-1810, I was disappointed to find that the picture rarely covered the entire screen without the picture being distorted. Every time I turned it on, it came up in the full screen mode, but the picture was stretched horizontally so I had to punch a button three times to change the aspect ratio to something usable. But then the picture only covered about 50-60% of the 8" screen. The picture came in from the sides as well as the bottom and the top. Fine detail was lost. Lettering in menus was often illegible.
Then a couple of weeks later, after I changed from one DVD movie to another, I turned the unit back on and noticed that the blue loading screen did not come up. The screen was lit but blank. The player made sounds as if it were loading, but nothing showed on the screen. The player's own on-screen menus did not show either. I turned the machine off and on a couple of times, tried several different disks, and consulted the manual. I couldn't find any reference to the problem. I returned the Mintek to Amazon and bought a Toshiba SD-P2500 which has a much better full undistorted 8.9" picture.

We've enjoyed this player for over a month. It was purchased for the plane ride to Grandma's for Christmas but it's been used almost every day, everywhere! Our 1 yo & 4yo love it and Mom (me) is able to stay sane. It was purchased at Costco because of the great price for the player, cig adaptor, AC adaptor, rechargeable lithium battery, remote, audio & video cable, bag that can hang between the carseats, 2 headphones & splitter. Plus Costco has 100% guarantee and their returns dept hadn't received any back and actually recommended it over the others avail. I'm sorry to read the reviews with so many problems, sounds like a bad batch went out. Prior to purchasing I read reviews on ALL players, even this one manuf under difft names but this package was exactly my budget (with all the accessories) I hesitated but went for it & am EXTREMELY happy with my MDP-1810, I don't know what I'd do without it now.

Quick stats:
- 46 page easy-to-read owner's manual
- Charge the battery in 6 hours, plays for 3 1/2 hours (advice recvd from other reviews: don't store player with the battery attached, it will drain it)
- Sound is good for a room, we used it on max sometimes in the back of the plane but didn't bother other rows (normal for all brands of portables)
- Picture quality great - have watched all sorts of DVD's: Nemo, Matrix, LOTR, cartoons (supposedly lowering the brightness & color will give you a longer viewing time - watched Nemo on the lowest brightness and it was very colorful. We actually keep it on low & except for really dark movies we don't change it)
- Has TFT screen which makes viewing from different angles good, for the multiple viewers.
- It does make noises when the DVD is "loading" but it doesn't bother us.
- 12 months parts/90 days labor warranty but you can purchase straight through mintekdigital.com an addtl 12 months (for 15 mo coverage) for $30 or addtl 24 months for $50, I will probably do the latter.

I've used it while doing the dishes, working on the computer, in the car (more than I thought I would), in a house full of tv's when everyone wants to watch something different, waiting here, waiting there - I mean, a portable DVD player is a must for the kids! Go with a retailer that has a good guarantee and give this one a try. If something went wrong with mine, I'd get it again.

We bought this model on a whim at Costco last week, anticipating three long car trips, and hoping this would help the kids pass the time. The player was easy to set up, and worked right away...for about an hour. Then the screen died, and could not be fixed. When we returned it to Costco today, there were SEVERAL others behind the return desk, and the saleswoman said their whole shipment was bad! USE CAUTION!

I admit, the picture quality of the MDP-1810 is great, atleast when it is working. I had to return two of these units to Costco. The first one had a faulty d.c. adapter. The second one played one DVD perfectly fine until it stopped working. I exchanged for yet a third one, which is having problems playing discs containing .mp3 files. After reading the reviews, I am definately returning this thing and avoiding Mintek products like the plague!

I thoroughly researched many DVD players online (thanks to the wonders of the internet) as well as looking at some at stores such as Best Buy and Circuit City but they did not have a very wide selection on stock since I wanted to check them out personally before I bought one. I decided to get this one only because it seemed to be the best value of all I've seen so far. This product is well worth the money because you get a moderately priced but well working DVD player as well as an 8 inch screen. When I first purchased this product, the shipping was delayed (bought it on 6/29 but did not receive it until 7/7 with 2-day shipping). A bit frustrating but OK. When I did receive the player, it was defective since it didn't play 6 out of 9 DVD's I put in it. Even playing the 3 DVD's were of marginal performance. I contacted Targetdirect customer service about this problem and they were very helpful and attentive. Valerie (CR name) sent me a replacement DVD player right then and there, with overnight shipping and without additional charges. She was very considerate and helpful. I received the DVD player on time and tested this one. It played all the DVD's I put in there, angle viewing was great (especially since it's hanging in between the seats for our kids) and the screen detail was very clear. It came with all the needed accessories to operate it for plane, car, or at home. I checked out the company (Mintek) on the internet and saw that it manufactured both portable and regular DVD players. I also remembered seeing the company name on some DVD players featured on Sunday ads. A bit of a gamble since the name is not well known but so far, this DVD player is great for the money and the features. Other people's reviews featured on this page also helped. You be the judge.

I bought this dvd player for my husband. It didn't seem to work at first the screen was always black. After that problem got fixed it froze in the middle of moovies. On rare occasions it works through out a moovie but most of the time freezes or the screen goes black. I would not recommend this to anyone.

This portable DVD is very nice, I bought mine from Costco with an additional carrying case and 2 headphones. And I love it! Picture quality is great, the sound is okay, but with headphones it's very nice surround sound effect. The only downside is that you have to charge it 6 hours. I don't agree with another review and they said there was no fastforward or rewind button, but there is more than that, you can skip chapters or skip slow, it even has it for the remote! I had been searching for the right one and this is it, my advice: If your looking for portable DVD player than look into buying this one. Alot of people say they hate the picture and sound quality, and I agree with what another reviewer said, "If your looking for one with good picture and sound quality, buy a regualer DVD player, not a portable one"

Our Mintek MDP-1810 portable DVD player played one DVD before it died. The motor started making strange rubbing noises, and the display started blinking.

The one DVD it managed to play sure looked good -- the picture was sharp, and contrast and color were terrific. I just wish it still worked. Its replacement will come from a more reputable manufacturer.

I just purchased this as a replacement for the one I bought in April 04, I had the 7 inch screen which just went bad on me, just a total black screen, I heard audio but no video so luckily I found my receipt and Costco returned it. But now after reading these reviews I will not open this new one and return it. thanks.