Portable DVD players: gadget guru Rebecca Freed cuts through the high-tech lingo to help you find the best take-along screen for your next trip

Shape, May, 2006

* For in-room exercisers

At just 8 inches long and less than 2 pounds (including battery), Coby's TF-DVD7107 ($130; cobyusa.com) has a 7-inch, wide-format screen with a good "angle of view," which means that your exercise DVD won't go dark when you're on a mat and the player's up on a table.

* For family road trippers

Audiovox's D1812PK ($290; audiovox.com) features an 8-inch widescreen and a case that converts to a car-mounting kit. The two sets of headphones will prevent back-seat brawls.

* For airplane travelers

The 8-inch widescreen on the Sony DVPFX810 ($230; sonystyle.com) swivels, so you can show someone what you're watching (or hide it), and folds flat. Dual headphone jacks let you share the sound too.