Getting An Affordable Region Free Portable DVD Player

By Mark Thompson

A region free portable DVD player just might be just the thing you require if you want to be able to watch movies from around the world anywhere you go. Normal region-blocked DVD players are growing more affordable all the time, and region free models are no different.

Region codes for DVDs are put in place as a form of digital rights management by movie studios in order to attempt to restrict sales outside of certain territories. This is all well and good for the film studios themselves, but it limits what is available to the consumer. Countries around the world have their own movie industries as well as their own price ranges, release dates and DVD special features.

If you are fluent in another language, then of course you want to be able to watch movies in your native or second tongue. It's only natural to want more forms of entertainment and to want another window to the world open. A region free portable DVD player can provide you with more options than you've ever had otherwise.

Most international movies are released with region codes 1, 2, 3, and 6 as those are the international markets that produce the most films. Those regions themselves cover a lot of ground, much of it scattered across the globe. That is not to say that 4 and 5 do not have a wide array of releases, but you can find that there is a larger selection to be found in 1, 2, 3, or six. Region 7 and 8 are almost completely useless, region 0 is the null and will work on most players, and region ALL will work on every player. Not many legitimate releases are to be found on region 0 or ALL, which is why they make region free portable DVD players.

These players vary greatly in quality, so it's important for you to find reviews online and shop wherever possible. Normal retailers do not normally carry any region free players, though some electronics stores do. There are also several sites online that sell them as well. High-end manufacturing companies like Sony do produce region free players so look for brands that you trust and have owned before.

Be sure to check a model's screen size and battery life. Being able to play DVDs from around the world is great, but a tiny screen may ruin the experience and a battery that dies every hour or two isn't going to be very enjoyable either. Keep your eyes open for quality when shopping for a region free portable DVD player, try not to let the fact that it's portable push you towards an inferior DVD player model. - 30542

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