Android tablet instead of DVD players?

GerryS · Feb 1st, 2012, 12:12

Noticed a few threads on fitting DVD players to headrests, etc.

Just wondered if anyone has gone down the Android tablet route instead? For around £60 you can get a tablet with 7" screen which will play video from the internal memory or via an SD card. Plus, it will do lots more (Internet, audio, etc). Isn't that cheaper than buying a standalone, portable DVD player?

There seem to be loads of different brands on Amazon, some of which get very good reviews. Just thought it might be an option to get a couple of these with some SD cards for videos. I realise there's the same issues with how to fix them to the headrests...

Any experience?

Thanks,

Gerry

JSeaman · Feb 1st, 2012, 14:53

It's definitely a viable option, you can get some real bargains (<£50) off ebay. whilst the Samsung Galaxy etc are very good pieces of kit, you can get a WM850 for ~£50 which will do much of the same jobs in a slightly clunkier manner

TheDufster · Feb 1st, 2012, 16:53

I looked at this but was put off by having to rip/encode/convert the films to a format that would be playable on the tablet.

At least the DVD players work straight from the actual discs (including DVD +/- R)

My Nextbase DVD players have the capability to play movies from a USB stick but it brings me right back to my point at the top of this post!

JSeaman · Feb 1st, 2012, 17:08

AVI seems to be a popular choice for encoding

GerryS · Feb 2nd, 2012, 09:36

I can see that converting DVDs to AVI or whatever would be a bit of a drawback, but fairly easy these days. The main issue us that you have to decide what you're going to watch and convert it in advance, rather than just grabbing a handful of DVDs.

However, memory cards are so cheap (and big) these days it wouldn't take too much time to prepare a reasonable library of films.

It just seems atractive to me to have a tablet that you use for films in the car but can also use for internet access, email, listening to music, etc. in the home or on holiday. I accept the cheap ones are nowhere as good as the iPad, Samsung Galaxy tab, etc., but then they're really cheap and the amount of technology for the money is outstanding.

Has anyone got any brand recommendations or ideas for mounting in the car? (standard DVD headrest holders?)

Thanks,

Gerry

bigtree · Feb 2nd, 2012, 19:27

Here is where the drawbacks start, the mounting solutions aren't really volvo freindly.

I thought about this but gave up on the seat mounting/safety issue.

Tried strap on screens originally but it was such a hastle.

I managed to find some volvo headrests with screens in and a micro media player and its all plumbed in.

Feb 1st, 2012, 12:12	#1
GerryS Member Last Online: Feb 22nd, 2023 22:15 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Southampton	Android tablet instead of DVD players? Noticed a few threads on fitting DVD players to headrests, etc. Just wondered if anyone has gone down the Android tablet route instead? For around £60 you can get a tablet with 7" screen which will play video from the internal memory or via an SD card. Plus, it will do lots more (Internet, audio, etc). Isn't that cheaper than buying a standalone, portable DVD player? There seem to be loads of different brands on Amazon, some of which get very good reviews. Just thought it might be an option to get a couple of these with some SD cards for videos. I realise there's the same issues with how to fix them to the headrests... Any experience? Thanks, Gerry

Feb 1st, 2012, 14:53	#2
JSeaman Senior Member Last Online: Oct 20th, 2013 20:24 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Derbyshire	It's definitely a viable option, you can get some real bargains (<£50) off ebay. whilst the Samsung Galaxy etc are very good pieces of kit, you can get a WM850 for ~£50 which will do much of the same jobs in a slightly clunkier manner __________________ Click here for guides

Feb 1st, 2012, 16:53	#3
TheDufster Member Last Online: Yesterday 12:41 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Leeds, UK	I looked at this but was put off by having to rip/encode/convert the films to a format that would be playable on the tablet. At least the DVD players work straight from the actual discs (including DVD +/- R) My Nextbase DVD players have the capability to play movies from a USB stick but it brings me right back to my point at the top of this post! __________________ XC90 Inscription Pro B5 MY20, Savile Grey, 21” Multi-Spoke Diamond Cut/Black Alloys, Xenium Pack - soon to be Polestar 2 XC40 1.5 T3 R-Design

Feb 1st, 2012, 17:08	#4
JSeaman Senior Member Last Online: Oct 20th, 2013 20:24 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Derbyshire	AVI seems to be a popular choice for encoding __________________ Click here for guides

Feb 2nd, 2012, 09:36	#5
GerryS Member Last Online: Feb 22nd, 2023 22:15 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Southampton	I can see that converting DVDs to AVI or whatever would be a bit of a drawback, but fairly easy these days. The main issue us that you have to decide what you're going to watch and convert it in advance, rather than just grabbing a handful of DVDs. However, memory cards are so cheap (and big) these days it wouldn't take too much time to prepare a reasonable library of films. It just seems atractive to me to have a tablet that you use for films in the car but can also use for internet access, email, listening to music, etc. in the home or on holiday. I accept the cheap ones are nowhere as good as the iPad, Samsung Galaxy tab, etc., but then they're really cheap and the amount of technology for the money is outstanding. Has anyone got any brand recommendations or ideas for mounting in the car? (standard DVD headrest holders?) Thanks, Gerry

Feb 2nd, 2012, 19:27	#6
bigtree Not so Junior Member Last Online: Jun 21st, 2015 19:43 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Birmingham	Here is where the drawbacks start, the mounting solutions aren't really volvo freindly. I thought about this but gave up on the seat mounting/safety issue. Tried strap on screens originally but it was such a hastle. I managed to find some volvo headrests with screens in and a micro media player and its all plumbed in.

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