Fathersday / Birthday gift - portable dvd player or netbook/

[swbsam]

My dad has actually been quite amazing to me and my wife lately, so I want to give him a nicer gift that usual for father's day/his birthday (both the same week).

Him and my mom take long train rides for fun (retired) and to visit my sister and have often talked about wanting a portable dvd player + two headphones. I'm thinking I'll buy him either than or a netbook (and show him how to rip his dvds) - which would you recommend?

Portable DVD:
+Easier to use
+Some have SD cards, which he can load movies onto
+Cheap (about $90)
+Longer battery life? I think? But Amtrack has plugs, I think
-One use ony, will probably collect dust when they're not traveling

Netbook
+Much more flexible, they can use it as a couch/bed pc (I just leave mine on the coffee table)
+No need to shuffle disks once I show them how to rip/encode
+Slightly larger screen then most portable dvd players
-More expensive
-More of a learning curve
-Ripping dvds will require either a USB drive or network, so learning curve

Thoughts?

 

[Inspector Jihad]

go with the DVD player.

 

[lxskllr]

If I were getting that for myself, I'd get the netbook. If your father isn't adept with technology a netbook could be a big frustration.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
If I were getting that for myself, I'd get the netbook. If your father isn't adept with technology a netbook could be a big frustration.

Yeah. A netbook can be more trouble than it's worth for both you and your dad if he isn't particularly good with technology. A portable DVD player, on the other hand, is easy as long as it's a good model/brand that isn't apt to break (make sure it has a good warranty, in any case).

 

[Platypus]

weird, my father's bday is right near father's day too.

I've always strived to get two things for him because I always got fucked over as a kid since my bday is very near xmas.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Netbook
+Much more flexible, they can use it as a couch/bed pc (I just leave mine on the coffee table)
+No need to shuffle disks once I show them how to rip/encode
+Slightly larger screen then most portable dvd players
-More expensive
-More of a learning curve
-Ripping dvds will require either a USB drive or network, so learning curve

Thoughts?

ROFL! Have fun with that. 😀

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: Platypus
weird, my father's bday is right near father's day too.

I've always strived to get two things for him because I always got fucked over as a kid since my bday is very near xmas.

Ha - my birthday's right near my wife's birthday.. Forget about one gift - we get one CARD for both of us... sigh.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: swbsam

Netbook
+Much more flexible, they can use it as a couch/bed pc (I just leave mine on the coffee table)
+No need to shuffle disks once I show them how to rip/encode
+Slightly larger screen then most portable dvd players
-More expensive
-More of a learning curve
-Ripping dvds will require either a USB drive or network, so learning curve

Thoughts?

ROFL! Have fun with that. 😀

Actually, I find clone dvd mobile pretty one step, especially since most of the movies he watches are not copy-protected (indian movies).

But the external dvd drive requirement is what will trip him up. Not because it's hard, but because it's a process. He's not a technophobe, but once a task requires steps he seems to get confused/annoyed.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: swbsam

Netbook
+Much more flexible, they can use it as a couch/bed pc (I just leave mine on the coffee table)
+No need to shuffle disks once I show them how to rip/encode
+Slightly larger screen then most portable dvd players
-More expensive
-More of a learning curve
-Ripping dvds will require either a USB drive or network, so learning curve

Thoughts?

ROFL! Have fun with that. 😀

Actually, I find clone dvd mobile pretty one step, especially since most of the movies he watches are not copy-protected (indian movies).

But the external dvd drive requirement is what will trip him up. Not because it's hard, but because it's a process. He's not a technophobe, but once a task requires steps he seems to get confused/annoyed.

You can't get the netbook and preload it with movies, can you? That would be best solution. Some of the netbooks, particularly the Asus Eee PCs, have plenty of space and battery life, so ripping dozens of movies to the netbook would be the best of both worlds. Easy access to movies, plus tons of other features that your dad can use at his leisure.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: swbsam

Netbook
+Much more flexible, they can use it as a couch/bed pc (I just leave mine on the coffee table)
+No need to shuffle disks once I show them how to rip/encode
+Slightly larger screen then most portable dvd players
-More expensive
-More of a learning curve
-Ripping dvds will require either a USB drive or network, so learning curve

Thoughts?

ROFL! Have fun with that. 😀

Actually, I find clone dvd mobile pretty one step, especially since most of the movies he watches are not copy-protected (indian movies).

But the external dvd drive requirement is what will trip him up. Not because it's hard, but because it's a process. He's not a technophobe, but once a task requires steps he seems to get confused/annoyed.

You can't get the netbook and preload it with movies, can you? That would be best solution. Some of the netbooks, particularly the Asus Eee PCs, have plenty of space and battery life, so ripping dozens of movies to the netbook would be the best of both worlds. Easy access to movies, plus tons of other features that your dad can use at his leisure.

I guess I could do a batch of his favorites and show him how to rip to SD card on his desktop, that would be a compromise.

Good idea!

Learning curve aside, figuring out how to use the thing might actually be a positive - keep his mind working..

 

[Miramonti]

How about a nice digital picture frame preloaded with family/childhood/vacation photos? If he's not a techie, this is a more 'set it and forget it, but still enjoy it' sort of thing.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: swbsam

Netbook
+Much more flexible, they can use it as a couch/bed pc (I just leave mine on the coffee table)
+No need to shuffle disks once I show them how to rip/encode
+Slightly larger screen then most portable dvd players
-More expensive
-More of a learning curve
-Ripping dvds will require either a USB drive or network, so learning curve

Thoughts?

ROFL! Have fun with that. 😀

Actually, I find clone dvd mobile pretty one step, especially since most of the movies he watches are not copy-protected (indian movies).

But the external dvd drive requirement is what will trip him up. Not because it's hard, but because it's a process. He's not a technophobe, but once a task requires steps he seems to get confused/annoyed.

You can't get the netbook and preload it with movies, can you? That would be best solution. Some of the netbooks, particularly the Asus Eee PCs, have plenty of space and battery life, so ripping dozens of movies to the netbook would be the best of both worlds. Easy access to movies, plus tons of other features that your dad can use at his leisure.

I guess I could do a batch of his favorites and show him how to rip to SD card on his desktop, that would be a compromise.

Good idea!

Learning curve aside, figuring out how to use the thing might actually be a positive - keep his mind working..

you know your dad better than any of us do...but i can tell you from personal experience that they might show interest at first and even be enthusiastic about it but will eventually stop doing it. a dvd player doesn't require any sort of work on their part except popping in the dvd.

 

[Hacp]

Get the Dvd player.

 

[uhohs]

the acer netbook on ebay for $200 - 8% bing cashback.
160gb drive for movies.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Both will be obsolete in 2 years so waste your money in either manner.