Review: Eye-Trek pocket theater system

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The FMD-150's video headset creates an image size comparable to a 52-inch screen viewed from 6 feet

by Glenn McDonald

(IDG) -- Futuristic-looking and astronomically priced, Olympus's $850 Eye-Trek FMD-150W device is being touted as a personal theater system for hardcore DVD fanatics and gamers.

Consisting of a lightweight video headset system, or FMD (face-mounted display), the Eye-Trek fits over your eyes as a pair of glasses would. Using twin LCDs, it creates an image size comparable to that of a 52-inch TV screen viewed from about 6 feet away. It provides stereo sound through built-in earplugs. The Eye-Trek is designed for home-theater settings, but it's also for people in tight spaces: Japan Airlines already provides Eye-Trek free to its first-class passengers on long flights.

Olympus also offers a less expensive FMD-200 version, which costs $549. At the other end of the spectrum, Olympus just announced the $1199 Eye-Trek FMD-700. The Eye-Trek FMD-150W's LCD offers 240,000-pixel resolution per side, the FMD-200 provides 180,000 pixels per side, and the FMD-700 offers 720,000 pixels per side.

Design-wise, the Eye-Trek FMD-150W is a dream. Surprisingly lightweight and comfortable at only 3.8 ounces (the FMD-200 is 3.0 ounces), the Eye-Trek can fit over regular eyeglasses and doesn't block peripheral vision. (Olympus warns that children under 16 or those with rapid eye motion disorders should not use the product.)

You can use the Eye-Trek with virtually any video source: PC (as long as it has an S-Video, composite video, or DVI port), TV, VCR, DVD, camcorder, digital camera, or gaming system. You just plug it in to the video source using either the included A/V cable or your own S-Video cable.

Eye-Trek's pretty pictures

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Picture quality is the first priority, and the Eye-Trek FMD-150 definitely gets its priorities straight. But your image is only as good as the source. I plugged the Eye-Trek into an older VCR and watched Pulp Fiction, and the images looked decent. But when I plugged them into a newer VCR, I noticed a marked improvement in image quality. In both cases, the images that appeared on the glasses were clearer and crisper than those on my 27-inch TV.

I noticed better performance when I plugged the glasses into a digital source, my Sony PlayStation. In fact, playing a game of Tomb Raider was so realistic that I kept trying to turn my head to the side to follow the game's action.

The cleverly designed on-screen menus let you tweak all the video and audio settings, including the color, contrast, tint, sharpness, brightness, and white balance. An included external control unit lets you adjust the settings using a single control knob. You also have the option of switching between standard and widescreen modes--great for viewing movies in letterbox format.

The audio options, however, are less extensive, and the sound quality in general is only average. If your video source does not support stereo or Surround Sound, you'll get only mono sound in one earplug.

The real question for dedicated gadgeteers: Is the Eye-Trek a viable travel companion? Portable DVD players have been around for a while, but their miniature LCD screens and hefty price tags have always been a major downside. The Eye-Trek's image quality and small size make it a practical alternative.

Eye-Trek headaches

The unit includes an AC adapter, which is fine if you're near an outlet. If you're not, the optional rechargeable battery and battery charger cost an extra $220, and the battery provides only about 1.5 hours of power. Olympus offers a host of other accessories that can be purchased separately.

Another shortcoming is that the Eye-Trek includes only standard AV cable connectors (the kind with the familiar red, yellow, and white plugs). To get video from other sources, you'll need to use various adapters. Eye-Trek does include a built-in S-Video connector--which you can use with many high-end TVs, VCRs, and DVD players--but you'll need to buy a cord separately. You can also use Eye-Trek with most desktop and laptop computers, but again, you may need to buy a separate adapter depending on your video card. Many camcorders, too, will require minijack plug adapters.

Overall, the Eye-Trek is an expensive but functional toy for the high-end gadget-lover. Its superior picture quality and lightweight design make it a great wearable display, despite the exorbinant added cost for the AC and battery.

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Olympus America Inc

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