Casio EV-510: Is That a TV in Your Pocket??
Written: Oct 05 '00 (Updated Jan 07 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great picture, very portable
Cons: Goes through batteries quickly
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| craigmoosh's Full Review: Casio EV-510 2.5 in. Handheld TV |
Sure, a giant screen TV is great, but can you watch it in your car? Can you carry it around with you, and watch it wherever you want?? I didn’t think so! This review is on the Casio EV-510, which you can literally fit in your pocket or purse. With a 2-1/2 inch screen, the whole TV is about the size of a pack of cigarettes, and weighs just 6.9 ounces (10.5 oz with batteries). The retail price is $199, but it can be found for about $149.
You may think that a 2-1/2’ screen seems too small to watch a show on, but you’d be wrong. Everyone comments on how great the picture is on this TV. The color and clarity are very similar to that of a regular size TV… just much smaller. Imagine Dr. Shrinker using his shrink ray on a regular TV. The EV-510 uses TFT Active Matrix technology, which is also commonly used on laptop computers. TFT stands for “thin-film transistor active matrix,” which is a liquid crystal drive system that uses transistors to control each individual pixel. The active matrix TFT is a huge improvement over the passive matrix LCD screens, which are used on many of the less expensive hand-held TV’s. The picture on those TV’s tend to look somewhat washed out, and they need to be viewed from just the right angle. I previously owned a black and white Sony Watchman that I bought about 15 years ago, and the difference between the two models isn’t even funny (why would it be funny?). Before I bought this TV almost two years ago, I checked out all the hand-held TV’s available, and this model was my clear choice, based on picture quality, size, and price.
Features:The EV-510 comes with a vinyl carrying case with a strap, and lightweight earphones. It has an attached stand on the back so you can set it on a flat surface (the angle of the stand isn’t the greatest, however). The telescoping rod antenna extends 21”. It has adjustments for volume and brightness, a channel selector, and power/band selector. It also has inputs for earphones, external power, external antenna, and audio/video (it can be used as a monitor). Optional accessories include an AC adapter for home use ($29.95) and an adapter for car use ($19.95). If you don’t use the optional adapters, it runs on 3 AA batteries.
Why Buy One? Okay, so you’re wondering when you’d ever have the use for a tiny TV. I watch a lot of TV, and I’ve found it very convenient on a number of occasions. Between this TV and the Sony Watchman I had previously, I’ve watched TV in restaurants, cars, sporting events, bathrooms, traffic court, at work, college graduations, etc. On more than one occasion, they have saved me from missing Green Bay Packers games, including my sister’s college graduation. Last November, I was in Fargo, North Dakota for a Springsteen concert at the Fargodome (I’m not making this up!), and we had to drive to the Minneapolis airport on a Sunday afternoon during a Packers game so my friends could make their flights home. I simply pulled the TV out of my bag and watched the game in the back seat (although the reception eventually faded out as we reached the official middle of nowhere). Then there was the time I was driving in Northern Wisconsin and not wanting to miss a dramatic episode of Big Brother, I pulled into a parking lot and watched the show (a sad, but true statement about me!).
Other Fascinating Info: The reception is about as good as you can get on a regular TV with an antenna. However, if you are in a fringe area, which requires cable to get local stations, this won’t work well for you. I live 20 miles from Milwaukee, and have no problem pulling in all the local stations clearly. If you are in a car with the engine running, the engine will slightly interfere with the reception. While the volume is sufficient for quiet places, you will need the earphones to hear clearly in noisy environments. When you turn on the TV, it automatically scans for the first station. It has two buttons (one for up, one for down) for tuning stations. One drawback is that if you turn it off during commercials to save the batteries, it won’t remember the station you were watching, and you have to re-tune it. If you plan on using the TV a lot, buying one of the optional adapters may not be a bad idea as it eats up batteries pretty quickly. Three AA batteries last approximately 3 hours. Another option is using rechargeable batteries, which last about an hour per charge.
If you absolutely, positively need to watch TV wherever you go, this is the product for you!
Specifications:
•Screen Size: 2.5 inches
•Pixel Count: 61,380
•Drive System: TFT Active Matrix System
•Reception Frequencies: VHF 2-13; UHF 14-69
•Display Element: High resolution LCD (twisted nematic type)
•Backlight: High luminance flourescent
•Antenna: Rod (VHF, UHF)
•Speaker: 13/16” x 1”
•Power Consumption: 3.2 watts
•Power Supply: 3 AA batteries (optional AC and car adapters)
•Approximate Battery Life: 3 hours
•Ambient Temperature Range: 32 F – 104 F
•Connection Terminals: External antenna, earphone, external power source, audio/video input
•Dimensions: 2-15/16” x 1-1/16”
•Weight: 6.9 oz (10.5 with batteries)
•Retail Price: $199
Recommended:
Yes
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craigmoosh
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Member: Craig
Location: Mequon, Wisconsin
Reviews written: 25
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