TOSHIBA SD-1000

Long Live Mobile Digital Leisure!

Toshiba just doesn’t stop innovating! This tie, it’s with the coming release of a DVD "Discman" type player with totally unheard of characteristics… not to say revolutionary: the SDP-1000.

The SDP-1000 will effectively be the very first portable platform to add to the watching of DVD with the playing of DVD & CD-ROM’s. The possibilities offered by this multi-discipline player are numerous, meaning the user can juggle as he or she wishes with the entire range of formats currently available, as much in audio/video as in the field of computing, for example:

CD / DVD / VCD / CD-R/ DVD-ROM and CD-ROM (the two latter supports necessitating a PC "ATAPI" type interface in order to connect the machine to a portable computer, transforming the SDP-1000 into a veritable DVD/CD-ROM drive).

Technically very impressive, the portable Toshiba should also be the first to employ "Progressive Scan" ColorStream PRO technology, specific to the constructor. Under this abstruse term hides a process of un-interlacing of video lines, optimised in the goal of giving a 480 p image with sublimated definition and chrominance, the diverse artefacts that such reformatting is able to generate, being, for their part, politely turned away.

The miniature integrated screen of the SDP-1000 allows one to watch the video signal, moreover available via YUV component outputs from the player (the only fear is that it might be restricted to the NTSC norm...). As for the traditional composite and S-Video outputs, they are, of course, also included.

The screen is based on a polySilicon TFT of a definition of 800 x 640 (matrix), the format being adopted is "of course" wide screen. Toshiba also boasts that the image is more natural than those found on most other units of the genre. It’s worth also noting that the progressive scan function presents the advantage of minimising visual fatigue brought on when one watches an entire film on a screen that’s only a few centimetres across.

The sound section includes a pair of stereo speakers coupled with a jack plug (with volume control) for the hooking-up of a standard set of headphones. In the latter case, a DSP "enhanced surround mode" is available, giving the illusion of multi-channel reproduction.

Following the example of "living room" units, the little SDP-1000 is totally compatible with all Dolby and DTS formats, which can be channelled through an external audio-video amplifier via digital optic and coax. outputs.

The indicated autonomy of the unit is 140 minutes, which is quite respectable and is assured by a Lithium High Performance Battery .

Available since the month of November in the USA for a price of US$1600 , the SDP-1000 fits in perfectly with Toshiba’s marketing strategy, aiming at offering the consumer the benefit of the latest refinements in digital audio-video technology, at all times, and in all places.