A rear-seat entertainment system can keep children amused — and parents relaxed — on long journeys.

By Bill Howard

Of all the technology options you can add to your car, the one that knows no age limits is the in-car DVD player. With one of these devices onboard, kids who get fidgety 30 minutes into a 300-mile trip no longer mind traveling by car, and parents can concentrate on driving — or having an uninterrupted conversation.

A rear-seat entertainment (RSE) system handles more than just DVDs. It can also play audio CDs, MP3s burned onto discs and photos burned onto discs. In addition, there’s a connection for a game console or portable video player such as an iPod Video.

Of the 17 million vehicles sold in the United States annually, about 1.5 million come with rear-seat entertainment systems. And RSE systems are added to another 1.2 million vehicles each year, according to Phil Magney, president of Telematics Research Group, which provides intelligence on the automotive and mobile electronics industries.

“The dominant application is children’s programming, and that will continue into the foreseeable future,” he says. “However, as mobile video services make their way into the car, they will expand the appeal of RSE into new categories, such as news, sports and sitcoms. Furthermore, as new technologies may permit front-seat video to coexist with RSE, the demand grows for video content in cars.” (Magney is referring to a prototype dash-mount screen that would show car-related information to the driver and video to the front-seat passenger.)

Rear-seat entertainment systems can cost as little as $100 for a portable player held in your lap to $3,000 for a pimp-my-ride system with multiple screens. All the systems can provide DVD entertainment for two or more people. The differences involve who provides the player, how many screens are used and how the system is installed. Here are some choices, along with the pros and cons of each.

A new car with an installed RSE:

This is the most convenient option, and it’s built into the monthly car payments. Typically, it’s installed in the roof (headliner) of your new car, van or SUV.

Pros: The size of the screen is designed so it doesn’t interfere with the driver’s rear vision, and the audio can be played through the car’s stereo system (or through headphones). Also, the system is covered by the new car’s warranty.

Cons: At $1,500 to $2,500, this is the most costly way to get rear-seat entertainment.

Pros and cons: Some vehicles have the player in front where parents control the entertainment. This is good for young kids and okay for grade-schoolers, but it definitely can annoy teenagers.

DVD player installed later:

You can have an in-car DVD player kit installed in your existing vehicle. For vans, SUVs and some crossovers, this is a one-piece system in which the DVD drive and display mount in the headliner. You must choose carefully, however, to ensure that the display doesn’t interfere with the driver’s view through the rear window.

For sedans, it’s better to have two LCD displays, one in the back of each front-seat headrest. Passengers listen through wireless (infrared) headsets; most players have two. Extra headsets run $25 to $50, and they’re universal: What works in a GMC SUV also works in a Lexus.

Pros: They have the same quality as, but are less costly than, factory-installed DVD players. Plus, headrest-mount systems can show either the same or different videos.

Cons: With roof-mount DVD players (which are priced at $500 to $1,000), it costs extra to have video cable run to floor level so you can connect a game console or iPod Video. Headrest-mount systems are more costly ($1,000-plus).

Front-seat entertainment (FSE) systems:

You can replace the radio/CD player in your dash with a DVD playing unit. The video signal can be sent to back-seat screens, as well.

Pros: It often doubles as a navigation system. (FSE is more popular in Asia and Europe than it is in the United States.)

Cons: The DVD can’t be used when the car is moving (though the navigation system can be used), and the screen tops out at 7 inches because of the dashboard size constraints.

Portable DVD player:

It looks like a laptop computer, but it plays only movies, CDs and MP3 CDs. These players come with two headphone jacks and power adapters for use in cars, as well as at home and in hotels.

Screen sizes range from 5 inches (fairly small) to 12 inches (provides comfortable viewing for two people). For safety, buy an unfolding travel case (about $50) that straps to the front seats and secures the player.

Pros: Many portable players sell for under $200, and they also can be used in a hotel, at home, and on a train or plane. Battery life is not an issue, as the player can be plugged into the car.

Cons:The device could fall to the floor during a sudden stop, so use a travel case or tether.

Laptop used as a DVD player:

If you’ve got a laptop, you can buy a car power adapter and let the kids watch movies in the back seat. You’ll also need a headphone splitter (about $5 at electronics stores) to connect two headphones.

Pros: You’ve already paid for the laptop. Also, the laptop screen is usually larger than the screen of most portable DVD players.

Cons: You must deal with a maze of cables and wires, and the display screen may go to sleep if you don’t press a key every 15 minutes. Also, any spills and falls could endanger a $1,000 device. If you’re concerned about possible damage to the laptop, you can secure it inside a carrying case.

Which RSE system should you choose for your vehicle? That depends on your requirements, your budget … and your kids.

Bio: Bill Howard is an experienced automotive writer and the editor of TechnoRide.com, the car technology site produced by Ziff-Davis. Previously, he was PC Magazine’s executive editor. Howard is also vice president of the International Motor Press Association.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of Progressive Casualty Insurance Company or its affiliates.