When you find a CD-i player on an auction site that you want to buy, how can you be sure what you are buying? The state of the player is hard to judge from a few pictures. Originally these players were sold without a Digital Video Cartridge. Philips applied a purple cover on the back hole, as the original Digital Video Cartridge sticks out a bit of the back and you have to slide it in. When the cover is still on it, can you predict that this player has no Digital Video Cartridge inside?
When you look at the CD-i player comparison table on ICDIA, you'll notice that some of these players (the 210 model in this case), use the mini-DVC instead of the original larger DVC.
CD-i member Marco ConteZero comments: "It is impossible to know without opening the purple cover. If an auction is bundled with discs have a look at those: if there are vcds or games requiring it, then probably the player was already upgraded. For sure it doesn't come with it from factory."
The purple cap indeed covers the gap where it would go. The original DVC would protude slightly if fitted and the cover would not then fit again. With the 'large' original DVC this is true, but some variations require the mini-DVC, the newer smaller version. This version fits inside completely:
CD-i member Retrostuff tells us the original (large) Digital Video Cartridge is also hidden completely inside the CD-i player in some cases: "Regarding the large 9141 DVC, I think you are missing something important here: The first generation of consumer players (910, 205, 220/00). The DVC fits inside and is covered by a trap door - it cannot be seen from the outside.And if you are looking for a professional player: The same applies to 604 and 605x. The caseless DVC (9143, 9424 or even 9141) sits behind a metal cover - or not."
[Thanks, Andrea Rotundo, Paul Clarke, Marco ConteZero]