Portable DVD players can sometimes be a good way to relieve some boredom when you’re on the road. While they are definitely a luxury rather than a necessity, if you can find one that suits your travelling style then it might be worth considering the investment.

The Philips Pet724 is one of the hot gadgets of the moment.

It’s strengths lie solidly in the relam of picture quality. While it has a standard 480×234 pixel screen (which is about what most portable DVD players have) the picture quality is among the best in the business with the Philips LCD screen. That means a huge selection of colours and good tonal range.

Sound wise, it’s solid but nothing to write home about. In fact the volume control doesn’t really go loud enough unless you’re wearing headphones (which most travelers probably would be).

It has a great battery life at over 4 hours in some tests and you can get an adapter to charge it in a car (another consideration for travelers).

On the downside, the motor is loud (remember the volume problem?) and the battery pack is a little bulky (a definite drawback for travellers) and sticks out.

At around the $150 mark, the Pet724 might be worth checking out for those of you who simply can’t live without your electronic entertainment on the road.