Computex 2K5:: Add a screen to your PS2

[Steve]

The Game Cradle has a high quality 10.2” TFT, ideal for PS2 games and displays in 16:9 widescreen with built in stereo speakers. But where it gets clever is that the Game Cradle doesn’t just sit idle when you’re not playing as it is also able to accept cable or satellite TV signals, letting you use it as a normal telly as well.

http://www.hexus.net/content/reviews...lld19JRD0xMjUy

[walibe]

Waste of time, Joytech have a similar 8" model out now thats less than £100 and unlike that, doesn't add any width to the slim line PS2 only a slight amount of height.

http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page...2&title=649482

[Nick]

Is it a TV as well though?

Don't forget that the extra cost is in giving you a tv you can hook up to satellie or cable as well.

[walibe]

The above I linked to has inputs aswell and comes with a car power adaptor as standard. So yes to your question.

[Nick]

No, an AV input means you'll still need a tuner of ome variety whereas the Amacrox one has one built in... and it comes with an in-car power adapter too.

[walibe]

I know exactly what an AV input can do. My point is "accept cable or satellite TV signals" the Joytech can do that via its AV in. Its also very overally price. You can pick up portable DVD players with tuners.

Not exactly something that will sell that well.

[Nick]

No, an AV in is just that, Auio and Video in. It can't decode satllite or cable signals. So you need a separate decoder box to decode the satellite or cable signal and convert it to AV to then feed that into the Joytech box.

The Amacrox game cradle has the decoder built in so you take your cable tv or satellite cable straight from the entry point in the house and feed it straight to the game cradle. There is a difference.

And yes, you can pick up portable DVD players with tuners, but you can't play PS2 games on them unless you separately plug a PS2 into them. So if you want to buy a portable DVD player instead of this, then don' forget to get a satellite tuner box too, then, providing the DVD playe has the inputs you need, you can do all the Game Cradle can do and with only three separate boxes instead of the Game Cradle's one!

The whole point of this unit is that you don't need lots of different boxes and decoders all connected to it, just slot in the PS2, plug in your satellite cable and you're set.

[walibe]

No, an AV in is just that, Auio and Video in. It can't decode satllite or cable signals. So you need a separate decoder box to decode the satellite or cable signal and convert it to AV to then feed that into the Joytech box.

We could agree to differ but lets keep going . First off if that can decode satellite signals its pretty much useless in this country because even most of the freeview channels still require a card for access and having a freeview terrestial and freeview satellite system in one box is unlikely. Also as this is obviously aimed at being a portable device, its not often I'll hook up the old satellite dish to the car with the miss's hanging out the window redirecting it to keep in line with the satellite whilst I enjoy MTV in the drivers seat, but like you said, who knows?

Secondly at that size I could have the joytech setup and a digibox and it'd still be smaller.

Atleast with a small seperate freeview tuner you could actually have something to watch on the Joytech version and beable to take it just about anywhere without wondering if you should have purchased 4 wooden legs from B&Q to prop it up on.

Just my opinion.

[walibe]

Also it appears to be a re-branded unit.

http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/10991...es_Cradle.html

Guys in the U.S may beable to get hold of these in places as a few places imported them. Terrestial tuner is standard on those units. Car adaptor isn't.

Details here:

http://www.ipdtaiwan.com/ps2__game_cradle.html

[Nick]

Ok, I give in.

You're right, it'd be far more sensible to opt for a smaller screen and three separate units to do the same job as this one can. After all, who in their right mind would want something compact when they can have lots of cables running between various boxes, it's mad isn't it?

I'm not saying you have to buy this thing, nor am I saying it's any better than anything else out there, but what you seem to be deliberately missing is that this is an all in one package.

And no, it's NOT rebranded, this is straight from the manufacturer, the products you've linked to are the rebranded ones.

You win, be happy.