Insignia recently came out with a new type of MP3 player called the Pilot MP3 Player. It comes in two versions, a 4GB and 8GB model. One of the main features of the Pilot MP3 player is the integrated Bluetooth. Upon receiving the Pilot MP3 player, one of the first things I wanted to do with it was try out the Bluetooth. However, before I can get to the Bluetooth, let me explain about how the rest of the features and installation went. Other features of the Pilot MP3 are audio and video playback, FM Radio, photo viewer, and the memory can be expanded via SD cards. It can also work with Macs, although I installed and used it on a Windows XP computer.

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New to Insignia’s rapidly expanding line of shelf systems is their NS-HD2114. The compact player/speaker system can play your CDs, DVDs, favorite (HD) Radio stations, and even has support for your iPod. While the NS-HD2114 may not replace your current home theater setup, for $128, it acts as a great device to put up in your bedroom or kitchen.

Input/Output

Before I delve into the features of the NS-HD2114, I’d like to put up a list of the input and outputs found on the device.

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Did you just realize that you left someone off of your holiday shopping list and now need to scramble to get him a gift? If you aren’t too close with him and he has yet to know a thing or two about gadgets, technology and pop-culture, you may want to consider picking up one of the Insignia MP3 players.

Best Buy’s private label brand, Insignia, offers two models: the Sport 2GB (NS-DA2G) and the Sport 1GB (NS-DA1G). Both models are 0.5” thin, weight 1.2 ounces, have a 1.2” OLED screen, built-in FM tuner, USB 2.0, have a rechargeable battery with 18 hours of playback time, and are PC and Mac compatible. They also both support MP3, WMA, WMA-DRM, PlaysForSure , Napster and Rhapsody subscription services and JPEG image files. The 2GB model also adds audible support.

I had a chance to play with both models (which are essentially identical) and was left rather impressed with the functionality and ease of use as compared to name brand players (check out the interface here). The 2GB price is right, the size is good, and they are easy to use for you non-tech folk. I suggest heading over to Best Buy to pick one up if you are currently in the market, or forgot to get someone a present.

You can get 1 GB for $79.99 or 2 GB for $99.99, not too bad if you don’t feel pressured to buy a iPod name brand.

Product: Insignia 10.2” Portable DVD Player with Swivel Screen (IS-PDVD10)
Price: $279.99
Rating: Good - 7.65
Pros: Slick design, easy to use.  Supports a wide variety of formats.  Large LCD screen so you don’t have to squint.
Cons: Battery did not last for a long movie, volume does not get loud enough.
Overall: A great portable DVD player (Fathers Day present, hint, hint) that I would recommend to anyone.  It’s kind of pricey, but becomes worth it because of the added features like the swivel design and large screen.

Design - 7.0 - This Insignia Portable DVD Player sports a slick tablet-like 180 degree swivel screen.  This makes it so you can put the device into essentially 3 key viewing positions.  First, you can watch it in its normal position (similar to a laptop).  Next, you can flip the screen 180 degrees so the screen is facing towards the back of the unit instead of the front.  This is how I preferred to watch it so the buttons and loud sound of the DVD spinning did not distract me.  Finally, you can completely collapse the device like a tablet PC for watching it on your lap in a car or if you simply have nowhere to put it.  Unless you had a harness to keep it on the back of a car seat, I can see how it would become annoying to hold it up (or look down) constantly so you can see the screen.  In addition, the battery is kind of bulky and is in an awkward place on the bottom of the player.  If I were to describe it, I’d say the battery is in the shape of a SlingBox and sticks off of the bottom about half of an inch. 

Read on for more about the Insignia 10.2” Portable DVD Player with Swivel Screen.

Pictures that I had seen of this DVD player prior to reviewing it make it out to have a matte finish.  The player actually has a rubbery surface which makes it so you can keep a good grip on it while swiveling, and holding it… and it looks good too.  The device is thin (1.5"), lightweight (2.6 lbs), and has a decent size screen (10.2").  The buttons on the console are laid out well and overall, the device has a respectable design. 

Features - 8.0 - The player is very similar to other ones out there.  One area where it is ahead is that it plays back the following formats: DVD, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 and Picture CD.  It also comes with a remote control (which controls everything except for the volume), a car charger, and an A/V cable.  Unlike other players out there, it also comes with A/V inputs and outputs, coaxial digital audio input, DC input 9V, DC output 5V and 2 headphone jacks so you don’t have to watch alone.  Insignia has also included control buttons (play, pause, stop, rewind, and fast forward) on both the console itself and the bottom of the screen.  So if you decide to swivel the screen around, you can still control the playback. 

Usability - 8.5 - The setup and playback are very simple.  All I had to do was open the box, plug the unit in to charge, and pop a DVD in.  The button layout on the device makes controlling it without a remote a breeze.  Since it’s a similar button layout to a standard remote control, the experience is simple and takes almost no time to figure out.  The added bonus of a remote control comes in handy so you can be extra lazy.

Performance - 7.5 - The Insignia player sports 32x fast forward and rewind and it’s battery lasts approximately 3 hours of playback.  I was impressed with the quality of the built-in speakers, but was not too thrilled with the maximum volume level.  The player makes a sound when it loads a DVD like it’s about to take off like an airplane.  After it initially loads, it calms down a little and isn’t as annoying.  If you’re looking for a portable DVD player with a larger screen, this player is for you.

Editors note - The overall rating was calculated by weighting design as 30%, features as 20%, usability as 20%, and performance as 30%.