'Video killed the radio star, in my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone too far'. This smash hit of the 70s very aptly applies to in-car entertainment today. The entertainment unit in your vehicle is not complete unless you have some form of visual display; be it an LCD screen, portable DVD players, CD/DVD changers or even your portable consoles.

If you like the visual medium more, no fret, you can set up visual entertainment in your car as well. They'll come mighty handy on those long road trips.

The visual in-car entertainment creatures that'll liven up your drives are:

LCD displays
Your LCD display unit can be placed in whichever area of the car you think is comfortable for you to enjoy your favourite videos. The display could be -
In-dash flip LCD displays - this would be a head unit with an in-built LCD display, which would come out at the press of a button. Of course, this can be distracting when driving so it would be advisable to use this when you are not driving. For instance, this would prove useful on those major traffic jams that you get stuck.
Front seat headrest LCD displays - This is a really good option if you are taking your family with you. Here the display screen is on the rear of the driver's and the co-driver's seat, so the back seat passengers can enjoy the videos and movies.
Roof mounted LCD displays - If the rear seat passengers don't want to view a screen from such a short distance then roof mounted displays are an ideal option. These allow the rear seat passengers to enjoy the video without distracting the driver as the display will be a flop down unit above the driver head in the space between the driver and the co-drivers seat.

CD changers with DVD/VCD playing capability
CD changers with DVD/VCD capability is a very useful device to have if you crave for visual entertainment on the move. Couple it with a screen and you can watch movie marathons without the hassle of changing discs every now and then. However, placing a CD changer is a very delicate task and must be done by a professional, otherwise you will end up disc skipping with every bump on the road. The changer should be placed appropriately keeping in mind the vibration proof moulding so that it stays in top condition even on a rugged and bumpy ride.

Portable DVD players with screen
If you are a DVD loyalist and cannot bear to part with your collection of movies and videos then a portable DVD player will suit you the best. The other advantage of the DVD player is that you can carry it wherever you go. So if you stop for the night at some motel you can take the DVD player with you and watch movies in the room as well. This is exactly what you want if you're a series movie fan. So, carry your 'Lord of the Rings' collection the next time you take a road trip. Your DVD player will allow you to watch it without interruptions during the ride and even otherwise.

There are of course, special stands and attachments available to fix these players in your car. Other wise, you could also go in for head units with auxiliary or audio in port on the front panel, as that would give you an ease of attaching and detaching your portable DVD players and screen with the audio system in your car. This means you can use the complete capability of your car's audio system by transferring the sound from the portable player to the audio system.

Coby's DVD player with an 8.5 inch TFT display will cost you Rs 6,500. A good DVD player with a 8.5 inch screen will cost you an average of Rs 7,500

Portable gaming devices
It's a known fact that long drives can make children very cranky (adults too, but kids even more so). Making your kids agree for those longs car trips has always been a pain as they inadvertently are bored to tears. However, with portable consoles available the journey's become a lot more enjoyable. There are various accessories available that allow you to connect your gaming devices like PS2, XBOX etc. in your car so that your kids can have a fun filled time and you can drive in relative peace. Some of the to motor companies have already installed gaming devices in their vehicles, like the Tata's who have installed Playstation 2 in their limited edition Safari.

Connectors for your portable MP3 players
If you like to operate simple and want a very flexible system then there are connectors available that allow you to connect your MP3 players to be connected to the audio system as well as the LCD. There are attachments like FM transmitter, which allows you to convert the sound output of your MP3 player into a radio frequency, which can later be played on your car's FM radio player. Whereas special video and audio cables are also available to transfer the videos and audio from your portable players to car's audio system and LCD displays.