Memorex Travelview 43055 Mobile VCR with 9" TV

Other products by Memorex

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 25 x 9 x 17.2 inches ; 26 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 29 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005KI3F
• Item model number: Travelview
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #95,483 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 5, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Long family road trips just got a lot more fun, thanks to Memorex's TravelView 43055, a one-piece mobile TV/VCR console that's designed to fit between the seats of most SUVs or minivans. Contained in a sleek black-and-gray housing, the TravelView includes a 9-inch color TV that angles up toward backseat passengers, a built in 3-inch speaker, two headphone jacks (handy when you want only the viewers to hear the sound), and front-panel audio-video inputs for connecting a video game (input audio is monaural only). The video cassette player lies tucked away beneath an armrest to save space (and to protect from spilled drinks), and Memorex even provides a full-function remote control.

Memorex's installation instructions are pretty straightforward. Still, we recommend having a qualified installer to do the job for you. Also note that in addition to the TravelView, you'll need to have a mobile TV antenna installed in order to receive television signals.

Although the videocassette player folds neatly away beneath a padded armrest, for extended use you'll want to leave the armrest open, as the player is prone to shut off when overheated. Another trick is that while the remote control works easily with the TV, which faces viewers in the backseat, it's difficult to use with the video player, which, even with the armrest open, does not face back but straight up. This is our major complaint with this design--the remote is essentially useless with the VCR.

That said, there's a lot to like in the TravelView. Its 9-inch color screen is large enough and bright enough for most viewers in the back of a van or SUV to see without straining, and it offers an onscreen display in your choice of English, Spanish, or French. In addition, video games can be easily hooked up, the built-in speaker can be turned on or off, and the sound can be routed to your auto sound system or the two headphone jacks.

Imperfections aside, having this kind of mobile entertainment system on the next family outing will probably make the kids'--and parents'--journey that much more enjoyable. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

• 9-inch color screen
• Easy to install and use
• Good features and functions

Cons:

• VCR placement makes remote use difficult
• VCR can overheat and shut down
• Mono sound only

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars It could be better, August 7, 2001

By A Customer

This product is made by Memorex and features a DC powered TV and VHS tape player built into a one piece console that fits nicely between the front seats on many mini-vans and SUVs. I purchased this product because of it's "console" design. On the plus side, the TV screeen is angled at the viewer along with an external speaker built into the console. Other nice features are dual earphone jacks, A/V plugs for video games, and a D/C power outlet all built into the console and easily reached by the viewer(s). This product also features a remote control for the TV and VHS player.

Concerns: The tape player and TV are 2 separate components with the tape player nestled into a compartment below the armrest cover on top of the console. Although the tape player compartment is ventilated, I found the tape player gets too hot and shuts down after awhile. (It will start to work again after it cools off) Also, since remote controls work within "line of sight" of the sensors on the faceplates of most TVs and VHS players, the remote control will only affect the TV unless you open the padded armrest cover and aim the remote control at the player itself. (Kinda defeats the idea of a remote control?)

This product is okay and has some nice features but it seems that a one piece TV/VCR combo (Memorex makes some) that would both face the viewer and be affected by the remote control would be better. Since most vehicles have armrests where the padded cover is located. I would like to see a console with cup holders and space for items: cell phone, coin holder, sunglasses, VHS tape holder, map pocket etc. Lastly, this product operates with the D/C power outlet in your vehicle, (cigar lighter)it is not D/C and A/C capable. Memorex does not offer an A/C power adapter that would allow the consumer to use this product indoors.

For the considerable cost of this product, it should have been better.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars entertainment on the go, June 9, 2001

By	Melissa Cohagen (Tampa,FL in the USA) - See all my reviews

Most of my family and friends have kids. We are almost always on the go. Most of us like to have the newest electronic "toys". This product meets the needs of all three statements and answers it with one product. My cousin previously had a similar product that that cost slightly less but offered a smaller LCD and the quality was not as good. I am now sold on this product for myself and for the viewing pleasure of my 2 year old daughter.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love It, October 10, 2001

By A Customer

We travel a lot to Grandma and Pop's and this is the best purchase I could have made. We play it continuously for hours and have never had any problems. The picture is great and much larger than other comparable units. I would highly recommend this for anyone with young children.