iLuv sure is making it easy to watch videos these days. The iLuv Portable Multimedia Tablet-Style DVD Player gives you both DVD and iPod viewing in one unit, and they make it very simple with both. More than just inputs for the iPod video signal, you can actually plug your 30, 60 or 80GB 5G iPod into a docking unit on the back of the system (your choice of plastic placeholders on the back will accommodate either a 30GB iPod or the 60/80GB models). Make sure your iPod is set to "TV Out" or "Ask" when playing videos (if set it to Ask, you'll need to select TV Out when prompted), select "iPod" on the iLuv unit (making sure it's on, of course), then hit play on your iPod. Simple as that. A plastic cover will protect the iPod when it's in the iLuv, but you do have access to the click wheel (which you'll need, because you still control the video with your iPod even when it's playing on the iLuv screen).

Obviously, that's the selling point of this device, so we have to throw bulk out the window. Most portable DVD players are quite thin, but not the iLuv. It's about 10"W x 6"H x 2.625"D in the center where the iPod sits. It's a bit heaver than most systems, too, so you'll want to use the enclosed stand. Again, though, all of this is necessary to accommodate the iPod in such a simple manner.

The iLuv sports a 7" widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) active-matrix LCD display. Considering that iPod movies are meant to be watched on a screen much smaller than that, the picture doesn't rise much above VHS quality. The 640x480 aspect ratio helps, but if you have older iPod videos at 320x240, they'll look a bit blurry on the iLuv.

DVDs, on the other hand, look great. You can sit two or three feet back of the iLuv and really appreciate the video clarity of a DVD. This is helpful, because you'll often want to have more than one person watching at a time. Your choices for DVD viewing are mostly the same as what you'd get with other DVD players, including multiple subtitle and video angle options. The built-in speakers or the two headphone jacks offer stereo sound only, no 5.1 surround, but that's fine for portability.

The iLuv includes S-video and component video/audio out for viewing your movies on a TV set, which seems kind of counter-intuitive, but isn't at all. Obviously, using the iLuv to run your iPod videos and photos from the iPod to a full TV is helpful, and if you don't have a DVD player, the iLuv can serve that function if you don't mind the loss of surround sound. It's also worth mentioning that the iLuv plays video CDs, audio CDs and MP3 CDs, so the audio and video outputs become more valuable.

To support all the connectivity options, the iLuv ships with nearly everything you need for connecting it to your audio and video equipment as well as to your power sources. You get your audio and video cables (though, sadly, not the S-video cable), you get the power adapter and you get a cigarette lighter adapter. The power adapters are important, too, because you only get about 2 to 2.5 hours on the built-in Ni-MH battery before having to recharge. And finally, you get a remote control (as with the on-device controls, the remote doesn't work with iPod viewing) and an acceptable pair of headphones.

For transport, the iLuv comes with a great carrying case designed to accommodate the iLuv and most of its cables (it's hard to work the power adapters in there, but it can be done). An included strap can be attached for over-the-shoulder carrying, and there's also a strap for the iLuv player itself, allowing you to attach it to a car seat, for example.

And that, by the way, is what makes the iLuv Portable Multimedia Tablet- Style DVD Player so worth it. Why pay the auto dealer for a DVD player when you can buy an iLuv for less, get the iPod compatibility, and be able to remove it from the car when you want to watch it elsewhere. The battery life isn't great, but as long as you're near a power source either at home or in the car, that won't be an issue.

You can get smaller portable DVD players with more features, but the iPod compatibility and overall portability make the iLuv Portable Multimedia Tablet-Style DVD Player well worth the price.