A while back, some folks were looking for a solution for getting TV news either on the move or when power was out. There was concern that this would become more difficult with the new digital TV broadcast formats.

I just found this: http://www.ecost.com/p/Axion-Consumer-Electronics/product~dpno~8764268~pdp.ghjaiai?source=EWB08130

While I have no idea how well this works, and I'd rather have user-replaceable batteries, for $35 it seems worth a try. I'll report back one I receive it. Worst case, it will amuse my kids on road trips!

Jesselp,
I anxiously await the arrival of your gear too! I've been looking for a portable digital TV and am interested in how you do. I too would like batteries that could be replaced but I can deal with the 'built in' for that price! Thanks for the heads up.

I considered this option after the digital switchover made the various portable TVs I have collected over the years obsolete.

I elected to turn my very portable laptop into a TV instead using the Hauppaugh Win-TV Tuner Stick. One less fragile device to carry around and I have multiple options to keep my laptop powered during an outage.

Could you share some of them? Obviously the battery is one. There is a way to power a laptop from the car adapter. Are there other options without resorting to buying a generator for the house? Maybe something like crank flashlights/cell phone chargers, but for laptops?

my digital portable was in the $99 range at Best Buy.... it has a self contained Li battery, but also a 12v external cigarette plug...I get about 5 good stations off the telescoping antenna here in the Tampa Bay area... a cable with female 12v tubular receptacle and pair of polarized battery clamps on other you can use a spare car battery for power... available in the marine section of Wal Mart

I started with a Dell Latitude E430 with extra standard batteries and an extended flat battery that attaches to the bottom of the unit. It becomes heavy with all the extra battery power attached, but I have almost 8 hours with this setup. Dell's power supply for this unit includes a 12 volt cigarette lighter adapter that plugs into the side of the power supply.

I have two 12v 7.2ah SLA batteries carried in a nylon bag I purchased from Jaycar out of Australia that has a built in socket. This can plug into the Dell power supply for several more hours of service. SLA batteries are cheap, have a long service life, low self-discharge, and are easy to charge with the right equipment ( low amperage float charger).

Finally, I purchased a couple of Goal Zero rechargeable battery packs that can be charged with a solar panel or by normal AC power.

For extended power outages, I plan to recharge any of these units during the daytime hours with a Honda 4kw generator. Even through our worst hurricanes in 2004, I never got past the second SLA battery for normal usage. The beauty of the SLA battery is that you can also use them to charge cell phones and other devices that have a 12v vehicle charger.

If anyone is interested in the details, I can edit this post to add links to where some of this stuff can be purchased.

That would be awesome.

Celler. great feedback. I was tempted the other day to post a new thread on current thoughts of portable power options. Your response was right up that alley.

now that you have the SLA batteries buy a small charge controller and solar panel. Get one with a low voltage dropout connection. Normally that would be used to power a relay to disconnect the load but instead use a relay to switch off the solar input and onto line power so if your batteries are low and solar output is low it will charge from line power then switch back over to solar. Stays always topped off that way.

Done.