Tips: Video for your cars
In their efforts to jazz up their offerings, more and more car dealers are throwing in video players, complete with seven-inch LCD screens, as a bonus for you if you buy their new cars.
"Now," they will say, "you can keep your children entertained during a long trip, will no longer have to be distracted by their tantrums and can focus on the traffic ahead."
Most video systems can also be used to play video games. Or, you can hook up a TV tuner so that your kids can also watch Sesame Street as you drive. That could be a great solution to get quiet in the back seats.
There are at least three types of in-car video system that you can find today. First, the factory-installed system with a video screen that is separated from the DVD, VCD or video cassette player. Not many people still use VHS cassettes nowadays, though.
The LCD screen is usually mounted on the car roof, and you simply flip it up into its compartment to stow it away. The player can be placed anywhere in the car -- including the center console or the dashboard. Not surprisingly, this configuration usually fits an SUV or a van, which have high rooflines. Luxury sedans now usually come with LCD screens already integrated into the back of the head restraints or the back of the front seats, just like the seats in a Singapore Airlines aircraft.
As in most cases, there are the aftermarket models, too. Of course, the aftermarket devices can be installed in older cars. You can ask the store to mount it on the car roof, and their technicians will do a fairly good job hiding all the wires.
However, as I'm sure you would agree, a permanently fixed car video screen will just increase the chances of a car break-in. In a city like Jakarta, where even a tiny, tire valve cap will get stolen if you leave your car parked on the street for too long, a 7-inch LCD screen would definitely be as irresistible as a bottle of cold Teh Botol on a scorching day.
A better choice would be the one with a screen that can be hung on the back of the seat, between the seats or even on the back of the head restraint of the front seats. There are a number of benefits if you choose this solution. First, since it is not permanently fixed to the car, you can use it in other places as well. So, for example, you can still watch videos in the comfort of your weekend villa in Puncak or Anyer after the system has kept the commotion in the back seats under reasonable control for a few hours. Second, because you only put it in the car when it is needed, it does not increase the risk of theft.
What do you need to check out when choosing an aftermarket in- car video system? First, check how bright the LCD monitor is. If it is not bright enough, your kids may not enjoy it during the day. Second, if it is a DVD or VCD player, check the resilience of the laser pick-up mechanism against road bumps. Also, find a model that can also be used for video games as well.
The best choice would be a player that can play single or double-sided DVDs, VCDs, CDs, MP3s and CD-Rs (CDs that you have recorded yourself). If it is a dashboard-mounted player, don't forget the remote control so that backseat occupants will not have to bother you with their requests.
And don't forget those headphone jacks. It will help minimize the noise further. But, then again, always watch how much volume your kids pump into their headphones. And, of course, a pair of cordless headphones would be even better.
Bear in mind that a ceiling-type LCD monitor may also obstruct your rear view. Besides, if your kids are still very young, they may end up with neck pain because they will have to watch the video with their chins up for extended periods. For them, perhaps the type that you can hang on the back of the front seats may be a better choice.
However, for the sake of your own safety and the safety of others, please avoid an in-dash video screen for your in-car video system. Especially if you are also a movie buff.
-- Zatni Arbi Upcoming Topics
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