VideoNow Color Personal Video Player - Blue

by Hasbro

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.9 x 5.5 x 11.7 inches ; 9.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• ASIN: B0002HRVLC
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,846 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #17 in Toys & Games > Electronics for Kids > Personal Video Players & Accessories
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 13, 2005

Product Description

This colorful VideoNow Personal Video Player really brings handheld movies to life. Now in color, these pint-sized video players match your lifestyle with on-the-go entertainment and high-styling hues. Watch a variety of high quality PVDs (Personal Video Discs) at any time, any place. VideoNow Players have traditionally played only black and white discs, but with VideoNow Color, you'll get an entertainment experience that really packs a punch. With its backlit display and stylish design, you won't want to go anywhere without one.

Features:

• Larger screen than the original VideoNow Player - a whopping 2.5 inches
• Play VideoNow Color discs (sold separately) that feature the hottest names in youth entertainment
• Compatible with the original black and white VideoNow discs
• Contrast and volume controls and a backlit display
• Speaker to deliver crystal clear sound
• DC power jack and headphone jack (headphones and DC power adapter not included)
• VideoNow discs can only be played on VideoNow players; VideoNow players can only play VideoNow discs
• Play VideoNow discs for up to five hours at a time - requires 3 "AA" batteries (not included)
• Regular DVDs cannot be played on this system

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I had one of these when I was a kid..., July 15, 2004

By 

maxmasa31 "maxmasa31" (Honolulu, HI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: VideoNow Color Personal Video Player - Blue (Electronics)

This is an incredible toy for the value. I wish I had something like this as a kid, and in fact, I remember wishing they had something like this.

As far as fun, I have to give this five stars. I mean, cartoons on the go? What could be more fun for a kid? And for adults, what could be better than having your child quiet for half an hour while you're driving or out shopping? As a plus, some of the cartoons can be fun for adults (Spongebob) and there's also PVDs containing episodes of popular grown-up shows like "Trading Spaces," "Monster Garage" with more on the way.

Educational value is also a five. While Spongebob may not seem terribly educational, some episodes have some sort of moral, like the episode "Procrastination." There are also shows like "Jeff Corwin," the guy from Animal Planet. So, with the right PVDs, kids can have fun watching programs that have good entertainment value, but also teach something.

Durability. Well, one reviewer commented that the VideoNow Color broke when her child dropped it. While I do understand that kids do drop toys, consider this is like a CD player or portable DVD player, and ask yourself, "Would this withstand being dropped?" The answer most likely is no. In general, electronic devices, especially one at this price, are not the most robust. It can handle being jostled in a backpack or slathered in sticky candy juices, so I'd have to say that if you have a child who takes care of his/her toys, then the VideoNow Color should last quite a while. The backlit LCD has a hard plastic cover over it, so there is little worry about puncturing and should be protected from most damage caused by being bounced around in a bag.

Downsides: Proprietary disc format (no playing DVDs, VCDs or homemade discs), uses three AA batteries, which can get costly (better to invest in rechargeables)

With that said, this is a wonderful toy for a child of any age, although the package states ages six and up. I bought this gadget and am fairly impressed with its construction and function, considering the price of this device--a backlit color LCD is not a cheap thing to include in a device meant for a child. Even though this device is rated to last 5-8 hours on three AA alkaline batteries, which is actually pretty good, you'll probably want to invest in rechargeables if you expect a lot of use. And just for reference, the unit is about the size of a portable CD player, just a bit fatter because of the room needed to incorporate the LCD.

As for content, the price isn't bad, even if you have to rely only on VideoNow-only discs. Assuming your average DVD costs $20, you can find a 3-pack of VideoNow PVDs for about five dollars less, and they can contain about the same amount of episodes as its DVD counterpart. With that said, cost-wise, if you were thinking of investing in a DVD player to keep your kids entertained while on the road, this device will save you a ton of money.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Want My Video Now, October 16, 2004

A Kid's Review

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: VideoNow Color Personal Video Player - Blue (Electronics)

If you hated Video Now 1 forget all your hatred over Video Now. Color is much better. The screen is twice as big and the picture quality is the best. Except for Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius. The sound is better too. Try it and buy it. The display at the store has been tamperd. It is sooo much better than how you see it. Video Now also has better episodes than Game Boy Video. Game Boy has only the first episodes.Video Now 1 sucked but Video Now Color is the BEST.

Pros

High picture quality
Great sound
Portable
Better episodes
Bigger screen
Built in light
Dosen't eat batteries
Other stuff to buy for it
Previews
Comes in fashionable colors

Cons

Heavy
Less portable without case
Expensive
Needs more batteries
Long loads

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT!!!!!!!, November 12, 2004

A Kid's Review

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: VideoNow Color Personal Video Player - Blue (Electronics)

This toy is the best. Like you can watch great shows and it is soooo cool for finals I mean someone can get really bored after a final. Plus you can take it anywhere. I was thinking of getting the new portable dvd player for teens, but this is way better!!! I am definetley getting this for christmas!!!