ViewSonic VPD500 and VPD400 media players handled on video

Although we saw glimpses of ViewSonic's VPD400 and VPD500 media players back in July, the no-longer-just-a-monitor company is officially pushing 'em out the door now. NetbookNews was kind enough to do a quick unboxing and hands-on for us, and although they both seem nice enough, we can't help but wonder who's in the market for a chunky dedicated PMP like these anymore -- and hey, seeing as ViewSonic's totally ripped Sony's XMB interface, you might as well save a few more bucks and get the real thing plus games by picking up a PSP here, you know? Video after the break.

[Complex Posted Nov 19th 2009 7:22AM]

When I first saw the picture for a sec there I thought it was a new pink PSP go.

[morissen3k8 Posted Nov 19th 2009 7:33AM]

@Complex
that's what i thought a new psp...

[webran61 Posted Nov 19th 2009 7:31AM]

OMG WHAT HAPPENED TO ENGADGET? THIS IS BEAUTIFUL THANK YOU! *snaps out of inexplicable happiness Tourette's*

[HighestRanked Posted Nov 19th 2009 7:31AM]

Meh

[pbp8ntballer Posted Nov 19th 2009 7:34AM]

heeeey, for a second i almost got scared that someone was copying the iphone osx.

then i put my glasses on and saw that it was a near copy of psp xmb.

and i like how downranked comments get blasted into oblivion, i lulzed when i saw that, thank you engadget

[eule Posted Nov 19th 2009 2:15PM]

@pbp8ntballer
it´s a copy of Dingoo´s OS

[HighestRanked Posted Nov 19th 2009 7:45AM]

Besides the auto-login feature, the "new" Engadget comment system is still a pile of total garbage.

Now it's even worse than before with microscopic fonts. It HURTS to read!!!!!
Still no edit comment feature
The reply button color is extremely blinding, annoying, distracting
Have to manually click on the reply arrow to read each reply comment thread

Congrats Engadget. Your comment system is still the #1 CRAPGADGET of all time!!

[good grief Posted Nov 19th 2009 8:40AM]

Bring back the comment rank highlighting, auto-expand replies, and get rid of the border around every comment. That will go a long way towards improving the readability of this section.

[Lare2 Posted Nov 19th 2009 8:04AM]

Really looks like the psp interface

[TRLKOR Posted Nov 19th 2009 8:04AM]

The comment fonts could be larger..

Anyway, didn't Viewsonic announce a phone with TouchWiz on it recently?

Are they just shamelessly ripping of everyone?

[k2001 Posted Nov 19th 2009 8:39AM]

I believe this is just a rebrand of one of those cheap Chinese HD player.

[i1patrick Posted Nov 19th 2009 10:34AM]

@k2001

You are correct!

http://www.ainol.com/product/2009/0128/content_710.htm

[Gonzie Posted Nov 19th 2009 8:48AM]

included it in the box ffs

also never heard of volume balancing? had to turn it up to hear what she was saying then got blown away by the music

[M Posted Nov 19th 2009 8:53AM]

Hmm.. if only they added a webkit browser + capacitive touchscreen to this thing, I would totally use it as a crunchpad kinda tablet.

[htd Posted Nov 19th 2009 9:43AM]

psp's video playback ability is pretty weak, re-encode everything isnt really a good way.

[Extinction Posted Nov 19th 2009 3:13PM]

@htd Thats the only way portables can handle it though, there are far too many codecs to support natively

[Lowest Ranks Posted Nov 19th 2009 9:55AM]

what?!? No touchscreen!!!
looks like a cowon o2

[Rick James Posted Nov 19th 2009 10:00AM]

I believe the "European Cables" are actually cheap component cables for the HD output. Am I wrong here?

[Rick James Posted Nov 19th 2009 10:07AM]

@rickjamess04

Yea, the comment section is a little slow at posting...

[jfalkingham Posted Nov 19th 2009 1:27PM]

@rickjamess04 ah yup, those 'European' market cables are component cables. But she has cute pink headphones!

[Rick James Posted Nov 19th 2009 10:02AM]

Am I wrong in thinking that the "European Cables" are just component cables?

[Digital1 Posted Nov 19th 2009 10:05AM]

Not really the most creative bunch are they?

[DWells55 Posted Nov 19th 2009 10:36AM]

Yeah, that's a pretty shameless rip of the XMB. I'm surprised Sony hasn't had a say about this.

[Branhower Posted Nov 19th 2009 11:33AM]

The UI is full of PSP KIRFy goodness.

[lifan Posted Nov 19th 2009 2:38PM]

hey isn't this my PSP?

viewsonic produces only junk, nothing else i tell you.

[nickweed Posted Nov 21st 2009 12:54PM]

wow, i guess i'm the only one who cares that this thing plays just about anything? i know there also has to be more people who don't want their video PMP and DAPs to be a single device? when i want music, i'll bring an audio player. when i want videos i'll grab a PMP. as for getting a PSP instead? well, i don't care much for the PSPs form factor or for playing video games on it (that's what my DS is for).

the fact that this is probably the ainol device that someone else posted a link to is a good thing. viewsonic couldn't make anything decent enough themselves and the new ainol HD players look like they might be some of the better chinese devices lately.