Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I'd like to get my Mom a laptop that will enable her to play DVDs in wide
screen format without having to boot an OS. I've read about such beasties,
but am having trouble finding one. Cheaper is better - the most this will
be used for is dial-up access and some word processing and surfing.

The main requirement is that a DVD plays automatically upon insertion with
no passwords, no long boot ups, no nothing except DVD playing. I got her a
stand-alone DVD player to hook to the TV through the VCR RCA inputs, but
even with a OFA remote with macros, it's still too much of a hassle for her
to use. I've seen dedicated DVD portable players, but it seems that for a
few hundred more, you can have a whole computer.

Recommendations of specific models or decent site that lists such machines
or even a name like "Instaplay" or whatever they call the quick DVD play
feature so I can search in Google would be helpful!

TIA,

--
Bobby G.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Hi, my Acer Aspire 1801 has that feature, I'm not sure if any of the other
Aspire's in that range have the same though.....
ChrisC
"Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@YAH00.COM> wrote in message
news:GKOdnZ2dnZ3Sq57ZnZ2dnQw6l96dnZ2dRVn-zp2dnZ0@rcn.net...
> I'd like to get my Mom a laptop that will enable her to play DVDs in wide
> screen format without having to boot an OS. I've read about such
> beasties,
> but am having trouble finding one. Cheaper is better - the most this
> will
> be used for is dial-up access and some word processing and surfing.
>
> The main requirement is that a DVD plays automatically upon insertion with
> no passwords, no long boot ups, no nothing except DVD playing. I got her
> a
> stand-alone DVD player to hook to the TV through the VCR RCA inputs, but
> even with a OFA remote with macros, it's still too much of a hassle for
> her
> to use. I've seen dedicated DVD portable players, but it seems that for
> a
> few hundred more, you can have a whole computer.
>
> Recommendations of specific models or decent site that lists such machines
> or even a name like "Instaplay" or whatever they call the quick DVD play
> feature so I can search in Google would be helpful!
>
> TIA,
>
> --
> Bobby G.
>
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

>> Hi, my Acer Aspire 1801 has that feature . . .

Thanks - all I needed was a start - I can look that model up in Google to
see if there's an industry standard term to search for. How do you like it?
It is reliable? Quick? Do you think a technophobe like my mom use it
easily?

Are you from the UK? All the hits from this model seem to cluster in
Britain and NZ! Even with the model number, it's hard to find anyone
really touting this feature. Maybe Chairman Bill doesn't like the idea of a
laptop that can useful without booting Windows.

Thanks again!

--
Bobby G.


"ChrisC" <cuke2u(remove)@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:430ae243$0$17497$ed2e19e4@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net...
> Hi, my Acer Aspire 1801 has that feature, I'm not sure if any of the other
> Aspire's in that range have the same though.....
> ChrisC
> "Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@YAH00.COM> wrote in message
> news:GKOdnZ2dnZ3Sq57ZnZ2dnQw6l96dnZ2dRVn-zp2dnZ0@rcn.net...
> > I'd like to get my Mom a laptop that will enable her to play DVDs in
wide
> > screen format without having to boot an OS. I've read about such
> > beasties,
> > but am having trouble finding one. Cheaper is better - the most this
> > will
> > be used for is dial-up access and some word processing and surfing.
> >
> > The main requirement is that a DVD plays automatically upon insertion
with
> > no passwords, no long boot ups, no nothing except DVD playing. I got
her
> > a
> > stand-alone DVD player to hook to the TV through the VCR RCA inputs, but
> > even with a OFA remote with macros, it's still too much of a hassle for
> > her
> > to use. I've seen dedicated DVD portable players, but it seems that
for
> > a
> > few hundred more, you can have a whole computer.
> >
> > Recommendations of specific models or decent site that lists such
machines
> > or even a name like "Instaplay" or whatever they call the quick DVD play
> > feature so I can search in Google would be helpful!
> >
> > TIA,
> >
> > --
> > Bobby G.
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Hi, I like it, it seems to run fairly quickly plus you can use the supplied
remote with it, although you do have to turn on the arcade proggy b4 you put
in a DVD. Yes I'm from the UK. I would add this this particular laptop is a
really a desktop replacement, what that means is that it's really not that
mobile, ie heavy and short on battery life.....
ChrisC
"Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@YAH00.COM> wrote in message
news:786dnYoxbeXbhJbeRVn-sA@rcn.net...
>>> Hi, my Acer Aspire 1801 has that feature . . .
>
> Thanks - all I needed was a start - I can look that model up in Google to
> see if there's an industry standard term to search for. How do you like
> it?
> It is reliable? Quick? Do you think a technophobe like my mom use it
> easily?
>
> Are you from the UK? All the hits from this model seem to cluster in
> Britain and NZ! Even with the model number, it's hard to find anyone
> really touting this feature. Maybe Chairman Bill doesn't like the idea of
> a
> laptop that can useful without booting Windows.
>
> Thanks again!
>
> --
> Bobby G.
>
>
> "ChrisC" <cuke2u(remove)@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:430ae243$0$17497$ed2e19e4@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net...
>> Hi, my Acer Aspire 1801 has that feature, I'm not sure if any of the
>> other
>> Aspire's in that range have the same though.....
>> ChrisC
>> "Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@YAH00.COM> wrote in message
>> news:GKOdnZ2dnZ3Sq57ZnZ2dnQw6l96dnZ2dRVn-zp2dnZ0@rcn.net...
>> > I'd like to get my Mom a laptop that will enable her to play DVDs in
> wide
>> > screen format without having to boot an OS. I've read about such
>> > beasties,
>> > but am having trouble finding one. Cheaper is better - the most this
>> > will
>> > be used for is dial-up access and some word processing and surfing.
>> >
>> > The main requirement is that a DVD plays automatically upon insertion
> with
>> > no passwords, no long boot ups, no nothing except DVD playing. I got
> her
>> > a
>> > stand-alone DVD player to hook to the TV through the VCR RCA inputs,
>> > but
>> > even with a OFA remote with macros, it's still too much of a hassle for
>> > her
>> > to use. I've seen dedicated DVD portable players, but it seems that
> for
>> > a
>> > few hundred more, you can have a whole computer.
>> >
>> > Recommendations of specific models or decent site that lists such
> machines
>> > or even a name like "Instaplay" or whatever they call the quick DVD
>> > play
>> > feature so I can search in Google would be helpful!
>> >
>> > TIA,
>> >
>> > --
>> > Bobby G.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>