The Ultimate Gaming Accessory For Ultimate Gaming Geeks
Written: May 17 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: 4 Consoles - 1 Switch
Cons: 4 Consoles - You're a loser like me
The Bottom Line: I am amused by writing product reviews such as this. It's a test of writing ability. So I fail, as I lack this particular skill.
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| awoolcott's Full Review: Pelican System Selector |
Nowadays, if you want to get the most out of the current gaming scene, you need to be the owner of multiple game consoles - if possible, all 3 of the current crop. However, this usually can be a hassle, thanks to the simple fact that each console needs its own connection, and not every television has 3 million open AV plugs to jack into. So, you have to play cable jockey, switching around the cables to play a particular system. To be blunt, this way of doing things sucks a rather large amount of ass.
That's where this nifty piece of hardware comes into play - the Pelican 4-Way System Selector. Put simply, this device does one thing - and that's split the signal from your television, letting you switch consoles (or, truthfully, any other device that hooks to your TV through AV cables) on the fly, without swapping cables; just push a button and you're set. It's remarkably simple, lacking any hassle and not even hurting picture and graphical fidelity. It doesn't make the picture any better, but it doesn't hurt the signal coming from the tube. For $20, this is probably the best device a multi-console owner can possibly own.
This Pelican switch comes in 2 different flavors. There's a standard RF/Composite switch, for older televisions that lack some of the current trends of today's non HDTV TV's, and an S-Video version that puts you above composite, but behind the fancy component signal. There isn't a component switch though - as is, they're still mad expensive. As my television supports S-Video, I picked up the S-Video switch.
The package comes with a couple highly useful accessories. While it's not really mentioned, the switch does come with its own S-Video cable that you can use to connect the switch to your tube. This irritated me a bit, as the product description online (where I bought it, I could only find the RF/AV switch, and I didn't want that) made no mention of this - and as such I spent $20 on a fancy S-Video cable to go along with it. Hrm. Anyway, it also comes with a small set of nameplates, that you can use to label each button so you know what console is hooked to what slot. There's plates for all the current consoles, from the PlayStation to the Xbox, and everything in between - even a plate for a DVD player if you want to add that to the switch (after all, it's a basic S-Video switch that any S-Video compatible device can jack into).
The device itself is really quite durable and attractive - immediately you'll notice that it looks just like a PlayStation 2 console, with all the grooves and ridges that Sony stuck on the PS2. It also weighs next to nothing at all - which can be a bit of a problem as the cables will bog it down when it's all connected; which is why I have my Xbox DVD Remote on top of it, to keep it from getting too top-heavy and going behind the TV, lost forever in a sea of debris, dust, dung beetles, and cords galore.
The thing about this device that stands out is the lack of a need for a power source. For a while I owned a cheap AV switch that I used on my old AV/RF television, that unfortunately needed a separate power source to run - due to the little red light that let you know which switch was being used, and the unnecessary remote that came along with it (now, I know people are really lazy, but c'mon). Pelican's device lacks this need, as the buttons (whichever button is pressed will depress into the unit and stay until you choose another) and the nameplates are good enough identifiers of what's currently turned on.
As a matter of fact, Pelican's System Selector is such an easy tool to use, that even someone who has a VCR flashing 12:00 all the time will figure out how to make this thing work. There aren’t any special tricks to get it to work - it's dreamy plug & play. We all dream of plug & play, right? I've had this thing for over a year and not once have I even thought of something going wrong with it; of course, given that it probably has 3 different parts inside it, the only thing that could go wrong is the buttons going bad if you abuse it.
Naturally, the largest concern for a product such as this would lie in picture quality. Thankfully, Pelican's device does not, at all, ruin the signal from the television; it produces the same bright, clear, and sharp (which could all mean the same thing, but who's counting?) picture. It doesn't enhance the signal (if it did, it'd sell for $200, not $20), but it doesn't ruin it either - and that's the most important factor with a switch such as this.
The Bottom Line
Switches such as these are either a hit or miss - and in the case of Pelican's System Selector, it's a hit. There's almost nothing wrong whatsoever with this device, if you don't mind having something so lightweight that can get top-heavy with 4 different sets of cables hooked into it. Even if you aren't a gamer, this device will work quite well for those with multiple AV toys, though it's evident this was designed for the gamer in mind. Simply put, if you're a multi-console owner, this is something you should already have, to make that experience a bit less frustrating.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
awoolcott
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Location: Arizona
Reviews written: 409
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About Me:
Okay, scratch that...Uncharted 2 - Game of the Year.
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