____ ____ _ _____ _____ | _ \ | __| | | | ___| | _ \ | |_| || |__ _____ ______ ____ | | | | | | \ | | __/ |__ | | _ | / __ \ / __ \ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | /__\_\ | | | | | | | | | | __| | | |_| | | | | | | \____ | |___ | |___ | |_/ | |_| |____| |_____| |_| |_| \_____| |_____| |_____| |_____/ _______ ______ _____ _____ _____ _ _ | _____| | ____| | _ \ | ___| | ___| | \ | | | |_____ | | | |_| | | |__ | |__ | \ | | |_____ | | | | / | __| | __| | |\\ | | | | | | | |\ \ | | | | | | \\ | | _____| | | |____ | | \ \ | |___ | |___ | | \\| | |_______| |______| |_| \_\ |_____| |_____| |_| \__| PSone LCD Screen FAQ For the Sony PlayStation (PSone) Created by cvxfreak Copyright 2007 by cvxfreak Version 3.0 April 8, 2007 FireEmblemPride[at]gmail[dot]com Back in 2001, it was very hard to imagine a system like the PlayStation being played inside a car, but Sony made it happen, providing a good alternative to Nintendo's portable systems. While the pragmatism of using a PSone inside a car has been supplanted by the PSP's ability to emulate PSone games almost perfectly, the PSone and its LCD screens are still a nice combination of hardware and accessories. I have tested several of the screens, but this FAQ is for the official Sony one, the Pelican PS one Screen and the Interact "Square" Mobile Monitor. True, there are many more LCD Screens available, but I haven't been able to test them out, because they're either not being made anymore, or are very rare. The 3 screens here are the most common screens that were available when the PSone was still an active console. As of 2007, the PSone has been retired in all regions and no new games or accessories are being developed for it. Finding LCD screens, official Sony brand or otherwise, is nearly impossible at this point. However, Sony does still support the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, as well as their newest console, the PlayStation 3. The PlayStation (PSone) is copyright 1994-2007 by Sony. The PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable (PSP) and PlayStation 3 are also copyrighted by Sony and I own no rights related to those systems and their software. ======================================================================== TABLE OF CONTENTS ======================================================================== 1. Updates 2. Sony PSone LCD Screen -Price -Release Date -Features 3. Interact "Square" Mobile Monitor -Price -Release Date -Features 4. Pelican PSone LCD Screen -Price -Release Date -Features 5. Comparison of Screens 6. PSone Hardware 7. Using the Various LCD Screens 8. The Battery Pack 9. Conclusion ======================================================================== 1. UPDATES ======================================================================== April 8, 2007 After almost 5 years without a real update, I've updated this FAQ like a few of my older ones to reflect better writing and modern information. June 20, 2002 Updated errors in the FAQ, as well as pricing. December 17, 2001 Started the FAQ, tested the various LCD Screens. Finished the FAQ. ======================================================================== 2. SONY PSONE LCD SCREEN ======================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRICE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ STAND-ALONE SCREEN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Years ago, the price of the LCD Screen of the PSone retailed for $99.99 at most locations such as Electronics Boutique, GameStop, Best Buy and Toys R Us. However over the years the prices have dropped and there were even deals at one point as recently as 2004 in which Toys R Us liquidated the screens and sold them for around $20. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BUNDLED SCREEN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ On January 8, 2001, Sony released their PS one LCD Screen again bundled with their PS one hardware unit at a retail price of $149.99. However, the prices dropped over the years and the bundle is virtually no longer available in the U.S. Try Ebay if you want one. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RELEASE DATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LCD Screen Stand Alone Package: November 2001 LCD Screen + PSone Hardware Bundle: January 8, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FEATURES ------------------------------------------------------------------------ There are headphone jacks so while in your car, you can play while others listen to your radio. You can adjust the screen, volume and picture quality. The screen hooks to the back of the PS one. All except the Official Sony Screen come with Car Lighter Adaptor, as this screen uses the plug of the PS one to supply power to the PS one screen. The Official Sony Screen requires you to buy a Car Lighter Adaptor separately. They retailed for around $49.99 a few years ago, so in 2007 Ebay would be your best bet at finding one, or a used game shop. ======================================================================== 3. INTERACT "SQUARE" MOBILE MONITOR ======================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRICE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ STAND-ALONE SCREEN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The price of the Mobile Monitor of the PSone retailed for $129.99 at most locations such as Electronics Boutique, Babbages, Software Etc., GameStop.com, Toys R Us, KB Toys and other retailers. Prices dropped over the years, and the unit is no longer available in stores. As usual, try Ebay if you really want a unit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RELEASE DATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LCD SCREEN STAND ALONE: March 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FEATURES ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Like the official Sony LCD Screen, the Interact Mobile Monitor is a simplified TV. It has Line, Mono and Audio buttons so you can hook your GameCube, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, original PlayStation, Xbox and all other consoles to the screen to play (though it won't physically hook to them). There are headphone jacks so while in your car, you can play while others listen to your radio. You can adjust the screen, volume and picture quality. Hooks to the back of the PS one. Comes with Car Lighter Adaptor, as this screen uses the plug of the PS one to supply power to the PS one screen. ======================================================================== 4. PELICAN PSONE SCREEN ======================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRICE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ STAND-ALONE SCREEN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The price of the Mobile Monitor of the PSone retailed for $89.99 at most locations such as Electronics Boutique, Babbages, Software Etc., GameStop.com, Toys R Us, KB Toys and other retailers. I never did find this screen at any retailer a few years ago, so it makes me wonder if they were ever widely available. I assume that if they were available, prices dropped over the years, and the unit is no longer available in stores. As usual, try Ebay if you really want a unit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RELEASE DATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LCD SCREEN STAND ALONE: January 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FEATURES ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This only displays PSone games. It has 2 seperate AC Adaptor Plugs which supplies power to the screen and PS one, making the unit highly impractical for using in a car as it would drain the battery very fast. It plays only PSone games, as there are no Mono/Audio/Video ports for other systems. ======================================================================== 5. COMPARISONS OF SCREENS ======================================================================== This section uses a grading system to rate how the screens fare against each other. It will use star symbols (*), letter grades (A-), and number grades (1-5). The most stars, the highest number and the letter grade closest to A is the best. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PICTURE QUALITY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FEATURE | SONY LCD SCREEN | INTERACT MONITOR | PELICAN SCREEN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PICTURE QUALITY | ***** A- 5- | **** B+ 4+ | ** C- 3- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SOUND QUALITY | ***** A 5 | **** B+ 4+ | ***** A- 5- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SIZE | ***** A 5 | ***** A 5 | **** B- 4- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ POWER USAGE | ***** A 5 | ***** A 5 | ** D- 2- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DURABILITY | ***** A 5 | ***** A- 5- | * F 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ COMPANY MAKER | **** B 4 | *** C+ 3+ | *** C 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRICE | ***** A 5 | **** B+ 4+ | ** D 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCREEN SIZE | ***** A 5 | **** B+ 4+ | **** B 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AESTHETICS | ***** A+ 5+ | *** C+ 3+ | **** B 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---OVERALL--- | 44/45 98% A+ | 37/45 82% B- | 27/45 60% D- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PICTURE QUALITY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Sony Screen has a greater image quality than the other 2. The Pelican screen flickers after 20 minutes of gameplay, which shows defectiveness and low quality craftsmanship. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SOUND QUALITY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Sony Screen's audio sounds slightly clearer than the Interact Mobile Monitor. The Pelican screen also has high quality sound, although not quite as good as the Sony screen. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SIZE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Pelican Screen is the biggest of the screens and therefore, the heaviest. Its design runs counter to the philosophy of the PSone in a car, which is best served by power-friendly, lightweight hardware. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ POWER USAGE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Sony and Interact Screens use MUCH less power than the Pelican Screen, which requires 2 AC adapters (the PSone adapter, and the Pelican screen adapter. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DURABILITY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Sony and Interact Screens have long lasting screens. The Pelican Screen turns dark and loses color after a few days of use. I had to return my Pelican screen because of its low quality durability. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ COMPANY MAKER ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ No company on earth is perfect, but Sony earns the highest mark, because it makes both the screen and the hardware, insuring the best compatibility and use of the PSone as originally intended by Sony. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PRICE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Sony and Interact Screens, which offer better quality, were at least $10 cheaper than the crappy Pelican screen. Since the Sony one is considerably better (and compatible) with the PS one, that screen clearly offers the best value among all three. In 2007, the official prices have all but become irrelevant. But on Ebay, I would assume the Sony screen commands the highest price of all three, deservedly so. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SCREEN SIZE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Sony one is 5 inches, while the rest are only 4 inches. The bigger screen offers a higher resolution and thus a cleaner image. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ AESTHETICS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Sony one clearly earns the highest marks because it looks slick and cool. It also matches the PSone in both color and contours, making the whole package come together quite nicely. The combination of the PSone and the other screens just does not look as nice as Sony's overall package. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OVERALL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Sony screen earns the highest marks due to its aesthetics, price and overall quality. The Interact screen may also be a nice choice, but be sure to steer clear of the Pelican screen, especially since in 2007, a refund probably isn't going to be possible. ======================================================================== 6. PSONE HARDWARE ======================================================================== Sony's PlayStation remake took a whole new look in 2000. Compared to the original grey unit, the PSone is white, smaller and energy efficient. It removed the accessory port that was featured in the original unit. As of 2007, the PSone has finally been discontinued in favor of Sony moving onto the PlayStation 3. The PSone was named to distinguish it from the original unit, and from the PlayStation 2. Here is the low down on the PS one. -Double Speed CD Rom -Custom Multiple Processors for 3D graphics and CD stereo quality sound -Full frame video at 30 frames per second -16.8 Million simultaneos colors -360,000 polygons per second -Dedicated 32-bit RISC CPU -2 MB of RAM -1 MB of VRAM -Made by Sony -Released September 2000 -Loaded with over 100 games This is required to utilize the portability of the LCD Screen. ======================================================================== 7. USING THE VARIOUS LCD SCREENS ======================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SONY LCD SCREEN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Using the screws, attach the screen to the PSone. Connect the corresponding cables. Plug the Car Adaptor and PSone adaptor to a plug outlet and turn both the screen and PSone on. Now you get to play your favorite PSone games on the road. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTERACT MOBILE MONITOR ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Using the screws, attach the screen to the PSone. Connect the corresponding cables. Plug the Car Adaptor and PSone adaptor to a plug outlet and turn both the screen and PSone on. Now you get to play your favorite PS one games on the road. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PELICAN PS ONE SCREEN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Using the screws, attach the screen to the PSone. Connect the corresponding cables. Plug the Car Adaptor in your car or both the PSone adaptor and the separate Screen adaptor to a plug outlet and turn both the screen and PS one on. Now you get to play your favorite PSone games on the road. ======================================================================== 8. THE BATTERY PACK ======================================================================== This was available from Interact for $49.99, although the price probably varies now. It allowed for around 3 hours (still low by 2007 standards) of PSone and LCD screen playback without the need for a car or a plug outlet. NOTE: It cannot be used with the Pelican screen due to the necessity of two adapters. ======================================================================== 9. CONCLUSION ======================================================================== This FAQ is now complete and as up to date as possible. If anything in this FAQ is incorrect, be sure to let me know in an email. However, due to my overall inactiveness in FAQ writing, it may be awhile before I see it. Sorry about that. Thanks to: -Sony for making the PS one and the best LCD Screen -Interact for making a pretty good LCD Screen that I love -CJayC for posting this FAQ No thanks to: -Pelican, for the crappy screen CVXFREAK FireEmblemPride[at]gmail[dot]com This FAQ is copyright 2007 by cvxfreak.