Toshiba Gigabeat S
A lot of hype surrounds this compact portable video player.
Toshiba's new Gigabeat S series--shown off by Bill Gates during his Windows Vista-centered CES keynote--looks like a true contender as it incorporates an improved version of Microsoft's superintuitive Portable Media Center (PMC) software into a tiny and attractive 30GB ($300, blue or white) or 60GB ($400, black) portable video player. The Gigabeat S is one of three new PMC devices that emerged at CES 2006 after nearly a year of no new hardware releases. One of the three originals, Samsung's YH-999, has recently been discontinued.
Upside: Here's why we give the Toshiba Gigabeat S props: First, it takes the brilliantly simple--though somewhat format-inflexible--PMC software and delivers it in a traditional compact MP3 player form factor. Next, it handles MP3, WMA Lossless, WAV, and DivX, as well as WMV and WMA. Other video formats such as MPEG-4, AVI, and MOV are automatically transcoded in Windows Media Player. Noticeably smaller than the first-generation Gigabeat, the S version boasts a 2.4-inch QVGA (320x240, 65,000 colors) screen, an FM tuner, and a video-out jack. It also supports WMA subscription services such as Napster and MTV/Microsoft's Urge, compatibility with Tivo To Go and Media Center recordings, and now the Starz Vongo download and subscription service, which will cost about $10 per month for all-you-can eat movies.
The PMC's screen can be switched to landscape mode for optimal video viewing, and you can pipe out video to a TV. The Gigabeat also works as a USB host so that you can connect a digital camera via USB, then transfer and view pics on the device. Plus, the Toshiba Gigabeat S is one of the first devices that can be connected to and controlled via the Xbox 360's interface. Finally, we love the fact that the Gigabeat S is one of the most affordable ways into PMC land at $300 for the 30GB version. Previous PMCs retailed for more than $400. Finally, the rated battery life of 20 hours for audio and 5 hours for video is not bad at all.
Downside: While the main crosshair-style controller is decent, the numerous small buttons on the side are confusing and unlabeled; it took us a while to master navigation despite the fact that the PMC graphical interface is so easy to use. The 2.4-inch screen is decent, but we've seen better crispness and color; the S series has a 65,000-hue QVGA display vs. the earlier Gigabeat's and Creative Zen Vision:M's 260,000-color VGA version. Finally, for now, the S series doesn't take advantage of PMC 2's ability to record audio and video, which LG's wide-screen--and bigger--PMC device can. We're excited to test the S series as we're curious whether Toshiba has finally overcome the software and interface issues that have plagued past Gigabeats.
Outlook: The Toshiba Gigabeat S will be available in March, just in time for the initial rollout of the new and vastly improved Window Media Player 11, and many readers think it will offer realistic competition to the iPod. Players such as the S series and the Creative Zen Vision:M will match up very nicely with the new media player. With the Toshiba's hyped combination of an intuitive interface, portability, and video content sources, we might finally see a successful PMC device.