Wherever you go - it's DVD

Sony's DVD Walkman has revolutionised portable-DVDplayer design. Plug in the 3.5in screen-on-a-string and headphones and you can watch movies anywhere. Impressive headphone sound quality - including virtual surround-sound - a small screen and a £1,000 price tag.

Globe-trotting lecturer Bob Allen, 51, said: "I like the idea of picking my own in-flight film, but this is too fiddly to travel with." The alternatives: the Samsung DVD-L100, £1,299, is the slimmest one-piece player available and has the largest screen, at 10in. Got a laptop? The Portable Add-ons DVD Mobile, £235, lets you watch movies while you pretend to work.

Is DVD the answer? Yes, but not necessarily the Walkman. Contacts: Sony - 08705 111999 (www.sony.co.uk); Samsung - 0800 521652 (www. samsungeurope.com); Portable - 01256 396555 (www. portable.co.uk).

Canny camcorders

The latest camcorders from Hitachi record on to mini DVDs, rewritables and single-use discs. The latest is the DZMV200E-800, right, and the main advantage is editing: with DVD, you can edit on the camcorder, deleting and reordering scenes. "It's a good idea for people who are scared of technology," says Jake Williams, editor of What Camcorder? "But don't assume that the quality is better than cassette. Only more expensive models such as the DZ-MV230E, £985, offer picture quality approaching MiniDV camcorders. And MiniDV tapes are cheaper." The alternatives: MiniDV camcorders start at around £600, while "solid-state" cameras such as the Panasonic SV-AV10, £300, that record lower-quality video on memory cards, are easy to use.

Is DVD the answer? Cassette is still cheaper and better - for the time being.

Contacts: Hitachi - 01628 643000 (www.hitachidigitalmedia.com).

Easy listening

DVD-Audio (DVD-A) is being hailed as the biggest thing to hit hi-fi since CDs. It offers far higher music quality in surround-sound. Players start at £400, but to hear the benefits you need to spend another £2,000 on a multi-channel set-up.

Is it worth it? Rob Fearn, reviews editor of Q magazine, listened to the Denon DVD-1600, £500, at Graham's Hi-fi in Islington. "The surround-sound really opens the music up. Riders On The Storm, by the Doors, was a revelation." The alternatives: Super Audio CD. Similar quality; many can be played on CD players.

Is DVD the answer? Maybe, though not at this price, and there are fewer than 50 discs available. Contacts: Denon - 01234 741 200 (www.denon.co.uk); Graham's Hi-fi - 020 7226 5500 (www.grahams.co.uk).

Telly addict

Will DVD recorders replace VCRs? Movie-lovers Lisa and Jim Mortleman tried the Philips DVDR980, £800. Jim, 33, a writer, found it easy to use but didn't like the editing. "I could erase whole recordings, but I couldn't cut out adverts." Recording a single-use DVD+R is simple in theory, but Jim accidentally recorded at the wrong speed, so it wouldn't work on his DVD player. A pricy mistake at £7.50 a disc.

Lisa, 32, MD of a recruitment consultancy, loved it: "The quality is great - I'd use it like a video recorder and copy home movies onto DVD because the discs don't wear out. I'll buy one when the price drops to £400." The alternatives: VCRs aren't dead yet - around £100 buys you a respectable one. Smart players such as TiVo (from £229 plus subscription) and Sky+ (£299 plus subscription) record TV temporarily on hard disc.

There are five formats for DVD recording, and not all machines play them - DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+R and DVD-R. Discs cost from £7.50 to £25. See www.dvdmadeeasy.com.

Is DVD the answer? Yes. The recorder beats a VCR hands down. Best of all, Philips has just announced the much cheaper DVDR880, at £499.

Contacts: Philips - 0870 900 9070 (www. philips.co.uk).

Want just a DVD player? Supermarket special: Reoc A3, £99.99. Bargain, can be made to play US and foreign DVDs. Poor CD replay. Safeway (01622 712987; http://reoc.keyservice. co.uk). Big features: Toshiba SD220E, £179.99. Top quality, multiregion, decent CD playback. £150, via www.unbeatable.co.uk (01276 62222; www.home-entertainment. toshiba.co.uk).

Top drawer: Pioneer DV-646A, £399.99. Top performer - for CDs too - and plays DVD-Audio (01753 789789; www.pioneer.co.uk).

? Chosen by What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision (01795 414813).