OK. The old kid-hauler (with a built-in DVD player) got totaled. We just purchased a new one, minus the built-in DVD. We weren't too enamored of an additional $1500 added to the sticker for $200-$300 of electronics, plus the built-in obsolescence of buying a permanently-installed DVD system in 2010 for a van intended to last several years.

So, with that said, do any of you have suggestions for portable systems that have *3* or more screens? They all seem to have two, and if you hang those over the headrests for the front seats, then the middle row is fine, but the third row occupants are SOL. If you split the display front/back, then the viewing angle is poor for one of the seats.

I've searched for 3 display systems with no luck. Has anyone tried splitting the composite out using a "Y" adapter and adding a 3rd screen? Other approaches (other than selling a kid, or buying two players)?

Oh jeez. Can your kids not go to the grocery store without watching a movie?

How about just telling one kid to play with his Nintendo or PSP?

Sorry for the social commentary. Can't help it.

[This message has been edited by SpicewoodAg (edited 6/17/2010 1:16p).]

You really should just buy 3 separate portable systems. It will cost a bit more than $200-300 but you will get much more use out of the systems and it allows each person to play what they want.

ipod touch, zunehd, psp, nintendo ds, archos, portable dvd players etc. A bunch of options in this space.

[This message has been edited by jagouar1 (edited 6/17/2010 1:37p).]

We got a Sony for our second mobile dvd player. It's been very durable. That and an ipod nano that can hold four or five movies plus a 32g ipod touch, a Nintendo DS and a Leapster2 keep our two kids in a constant state of confusion, even on a long drive to NM or FL.

Our kids are almost five years apart and rarely ever agree on a movie.

[This message has been edited by HECUBUS (edited 6/17/2010 1:32p).]

Thanks for your assumption, SpicewoodAg. No, we don't turn on the DVD for anything other than long road trips. We limit our kids time on *all* things electronic, including TV, Nintendo, computers, iPods, etc. They get, at most, 15 minutes a day of electronic play time, and, at most 1 hour of TV if they've got everything else out of the way (homework, scouting projects, etc.). Hence the fact we eschewed the built-in for this vehicle.

Now, do you feel better having shared your uninformed opinion and unwarranted attack with the rest of the forum? I suspect that my wife is more of a hard-*ss about regulating this stuff than even you, Mr. self-appointed social commentator. Since you don't know me from Adam, nor I you, should I criticize your parenting decisions? I'd be happy to make up some assumptions about you, if you'd like. I'll start with the idea that you like to hear yourself talk, and your apparent inability to prevent yourself from sharing your opinions makes me believe you think quite highly of yourself, while others might consider you a boor. Fair, or off base? I see your edit, so I suspect that you had an even longer rant to share with us, one that started from some imagined premise that had nothing to do with the topic at hand, and one that clearly ain't based on my family's reality.

However, with a two-day drive to SW Colorado staring us in the face (and two day return a week later), having a bit of peace in the car with 3 kids is something we're interested in. Hence the desire for them to be watching the *same* thing to avoid fights, determining whose turn it is, etc. It was a simple question, really: many of the portable DVD systems have two screens--does anyone know about adding a third?

For the rest of you with genuine answers, thank you. We'll probably go with "simplest-best" approach, and just shell out for a few cheap portables and avoid the attempt to serve the same image to multiple displays entirely, and deal with the other ramifications.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&q=composite+video+splitter+cable&cid=6103138093377095932&ei=AbcbTKbUAozywAWsxqTRCg&sa=title&ved=0CBoQ8wIwBDgA#p

Something like that should work for your purposes. Anything more is most likely going to require external power.

[This message has been edited by tamusc (edited 6/18/2010 1:16p).]