a/k/a My Search For A Reasonably-Priced Portable DVD Player
So, I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon for a 2-day business conference in northeast Georgia. Since I am not familiar with the town, and don't feel safe or adventurous for leaving my hotel to walk through town, I got the idea to take a portable DVD player in order to do some exercise in my hotel room. My hotel most likely doesn't have a fitness room; nothing in the amenities list mentions it. I could have stayed at the hotel where the conference is, but swear to y'all, there was like an $80 difference (and that's WITH corporate rates). Okay, I'm a bit cheap, but who isn't these days?
Anyway, after my WW training ended this morning, I went all over hell and half of G-vegas in search of said portable DVD player. Again, I wanted something that I would consider a reasonable price, because I only really plan to use this DVD player for travel. If it were something I'd be using on a more regular basis, then I would choose something a little sturdier, and of somewhat higher quality.
So I searched at a nearby Fred's: nothing. I went to Big Lots: nada there either. So I decided to head home and began to rack my brain for a Plan B or even a Plan C. Now, keep in mind that NEITHER of these plans involved getting anywhere near a Wally if at all possible. On the way home, there is a K-Mart and I thought, "Okay, as much as I don't want to....." so I went in. They had one -- but for a higher price than I was willing to pay (and especially for an off-brand). No. No, no, no. Then it hit me that occasionally, Belk or JCPenney will have some personal electronics. So I stopped: and again -- NOTHING. I wasn't going into Radio Shack just because I kind of figured they'd be there but more $$. So home I went.
I checked Craig'sList, and yeah, there were a couple listed. However, the sellers are in the completely opposite direction of where I'm heading tomorrow. So that wasn't going to work. I even checked Wally (again) just to see if there was one available in-store. And yes, they had one, but again, not at the price I wanted to pay. Call me cheap; I can take it.
So on a lark, I called the Fred's store here in my hometown. "No ma'am, we don't have any in stock." So I called the next town up: "Yes ma'am we sure do." I go flying up there....... I asked the manager where they were and he asked me with whom I'd spoken to get this information...... I gave him a vocal description (this poor employee had a bad sore throat, so it was pretty easy to describe a gravelly voice). He sighed and said, "Oh, that was my cashier. Well, unfortunately, we don't have them and I hate that you wasted a trip due to misinformation."
Well, it wasn't an entirely wasted trip. What I have done was to buy a refurbished DVD player that they had on sale, a connecting cable, and my plan is to hook the DVD player up myself when I get to the hotel.
After I return, I'll let you know if I've added "electronics wizard" to my skills set .......... BWAAAAAAAAH!
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2 comments:
I was going to say the best option in your case - not traveling a whole lot, and not using it in the car (i.e., inside, within the long arm of Reddy Kilowatt) - would be to find a basic component DVD machine, and then another 20-ish bucks for a "modulator" - a box to adapt it to TVs without A/V inputs (you'd be surprised how many motels DO NOT have 'em, even with newer TVs ... ahhh, all the better to have you instead spring for the $12.95 PPV, eh?).
We have a portable Polaroid DVD unit that works very well. But a regular player - properly secured in transit, and no jolts - would be the ticket. Believe me, you don't want to drop any kind of $$ on a cheapo portable.
Fred's not having that, I'd say, was a blessing in disguise. Beware of anything bearing the name Coby, Broksonic or Apex. Fred's tends to carry those. Find a basic Magnavox at Wally World and you'll be good. They also have the mod-boxes.
The ONLY (!) possible hitch with the above option would be if the coaxial connection to the back of the motel TV has one of those cuffs to keep smarty-pants guests from having bright ideas like watching their own videos.
In this case, you'll have to do some resistance training - pulling out the credenza and locating the wall jack. Usually it's not protected. Unscrew and connect to the box.
A lot of trouble just to watch movies, iddn'it? Not if the option is sheer boredom in a motel room with nothing but horsedung on the 20-channel "cable" TV.
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