I had an epiphany recently as I watched the movie Life Is Beautiful: certain DVDs ought to carry a warning that they're unsuitable for consumption in public. There I was, viewing the Oscar winner on a portable DVD player and sobbing like a freshly minted Mafia widow. The last time I cried so hard at a movie was as a kid when Old Yeller died at the end. This time, I was bawling on a 7:30 a.m. train to Manhattan. People, understandably, were staring.

As the price of portable DVD players continues to drop, I suspect that public displays of emotion will soon be common on mass transportation and in other places where folks with electronic toys are forced to kill time. There are few better time killers than movies. And just wait until you try a portable DVD player with headphones. Those headphones, by the way, are key; since this is DVD, the sound is CD quality. That makes the overall effect more powerful.

To get the full flavor of the experience, I sampled two machines from opposite ends of the price range: Sony's new, state-of-the-art DVP-FX1 ($1,500) and Aiwa's older XD-DW1 ($650 ). Given its price, I didn't expect the Aiwa machine to be in the same league as the Sony. I was wrong. Indeed, if your portable DVD needs are like mine, you probably shouldn't even consider the high-end Sony.

What are my needs? I want my machine to plug into my TV so I can use it as a DVD player at home, but also be portable enough to use on the train or even in the car without headphones.

It was that last criterion that stymied the Sony. Its external speakers, even when turned up full blast(, weren't loud enough. The Aiwa, on the other hand, could easily be heard. While the sound quality of the Sony's external-speaker system is way better than the Aiwa's for sitting quietly and alone on your bed, it's too mellow for car trips.

That said, the Sony machine is swell in virtually every other respect. Its 7-in. LCD screen and 4-hr. battery time were clearly superior to the Aiwa's 5.8-in. screen and 2-hr. battery time. Also, it was better engineered for usability. It is solidly built (it has a metal case and surprisingly trim, while the Aiwa is mostly plastic and clunkier; that latter's battery pack clips on, adding weight and bulkiness. Sony's rechargeable battery, by contrast, is built in.

Both machines performed extremely well under bumpy conditions, which surprised me. We were able to watch Bowfinger while driving over railroad ties without missing a frame. And both machines easily attached to my home television, bringing the intense, digital clarity of DVD to the larger screen. Life is indeed beautiful.

 

 

Editor’s note:

The following is the full text of the address delivered by Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the   APEC CEO Summit 2001 in Shanghai.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, you are gathered here this evening by the beautiful Hungpu River for the APEC CEO Summit 2001. On behalf of the Chinese Government and people as well as in my own name, I would like first to extend a warm welcome to you all.

I have attended many sessions of the APEC CEO summit to discuss the Asia-Pacific economic cooperation and development with business leaders in the region. This time, the APEC CEO Summit 2001 in Shanghai is devoted to New Century, New Economy, Developing in a Globalizing World, which is of great significance. At the last APEC CEO Summit in Brunei, I made some observations on the New Economy and economic globalization. Today I wish to further elaborate on this subject.

Mankind has entered a new century. This is not merely a chronological change. It marks new times of economic development and social advancement for the international community. This new era distinguishes itself from others by a growing trend towards a rich world and economic globalization, and, particularly, by the rapid progress in science and technology.

At this APEC CEO Summit, you will discuss the important matter of world economic development and you will also discuss how to strengthen mutual cooperation. The Chinese Government stands ready to continue to offer facilities and necessary conditions for closer cooperation between Chinese enterprises and their overseas counterparts.