Allows Full-Screen Images

I have been using this machine for about a year and am very pleased. Admittedly I have extra batteries so the duration of use problem does not exist for me. One good feature that few users have picked up on is that this machine outputs PAL as well as NTSC. I don't need this for output purposes since we don't use PAL TV's in this country, but the switches also affect the internal screen and allow a fullsize image to be seen without distortion. Thus for example if you use a DVD which is not set up for the 9x16 screen (most older movies aren't) and you try to watch it on the NTSC setting, used in this country, the image will not fully fill the screen. If you expand the image to fill the screen using the screen setting control, it will fill the screen but at a cost of some detail and a sort of screen door effect on the picture. Most players sold in this country have this problem. If you use the PAL and the setting switches on the AIWA, you can get a full width image with virtually no distortion. Thus you effectively get a bigger screen, since you get to use the full width of its 5.8 inches. I also appreciate the full size RCA audio outputs since they allow the use of better quality interconnects. Most other machines use a miniplug for this and there are few avaialble connectors and none of any quality.

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probably worth it at 400 bucks

the aforementioned criticismis true. I could not get through ONE movie on a plane let slone two. It works excellently as a home player, though and when plugged in can go to a friend's house and hook up easily. very easy to use.

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Aiwa XD DW-1

The screen is a little too small for adequate viewing. Due to it's panoramic size, viewing letterbox DVD's results in distortion of the image by lateral stretching. The unit has a large, heavy, cumbersome NiMH battery that doesn't last long enough to view two decent size movies. It may be worthwhile spending a little more to get a better unit.

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