Panasonic DMP-B100

Panasonic DMP-B100

Last year we looked at a handful of portable DVD players and just one portable Blu-ray player, the Panasonic DMP-B15, which was the first of its kind. Though portable DVD players are a mature product category--offering tons of features and functionality at a reasonable price--portable Blu-ray is just entering its infancy. Perhaps that's why even Panasonic's entry-level model, the DMP-B100 ($400 street price), is expensive. If portable movie watching is your goal, a device like an iPad, a laptop, or a traditional portable DVD player is a better choice, mainly because the picture quality advantages of Blu-ray generally aren't worth it at this screen size. If you're looking for a way to watch your Blu-ray collection on the go, however, the DMP-B100 is the least-expensive way to do it, although Blu-ray-equipped laptops like the Gateway NV5933u ($650) are getting close. The B100 has a much more minimalistic look than other portable players we've seen, with few buttons or ports cluttering up the design. The device is covered in matte silver plastic, and has plenty of attractive curves and edges. Weighing in at just 3 pounds, it's certainly mobile, but heavy enough to necessitate carrying it in a pouch or backpack.