VuGo on sale at Walmart for $25 [Link added]

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:22 am

Edit: Link added in my second post.

Your mileage may vary, obviously. But there's supposed to be a sale at my local Walmart starting on Sunday 11/5. I was told this by some one else, as I don't get the newspaper. I think it is going to start on Sunday, and then go the whole week. Though there's a chance it is just Sunday. Even if it is the whole week, I'm betting they're gone by Tuesday. I don't know whether this is just my store, or a national thing. With Circuit City/Best Buy/etc. its usually national.

Anyways, just thought I'd let you guys know. Apparently the screen kind of sucks, but it still would be a cheap alternative for those of you out there low on cash. Also, there's the possibility of taking the VuGo and hooking it up to a PSOne LCD instead. Which would make for a cheap portable movie player with an obviously excellent screen, as it already takes SD cards. That's assuming having a video-in means there is, somewhere on the board, a video out, to the screen.

I'll let you guys know how it goes. I may just buy a few.

P.S. I hope this isn't considered spam. Oh, and if this should be in Trading Post, please move it. I apologize in advance if it should be.

Reaperman@home · Post by **Reaperman@home** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:48 am

I noticed that last time I went to walmart. A nice value, but for the life of me I couldn't think of a use for a $25 PVR with an sd slot. since it's got a video-in, there's a decent chance it could be used for portables--and recording your gameplay (for whatever reason you'd want to do that). as long as it lets you view the video input that it could be recording it'd be okay.

if they're still around when I'm desperate for holiday gifts for the b-squad people, I may get a couple for them. I can't believe that level of technology has gotten so inexpensive.

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:34 am

Hm, a portable PVR w/ analog input? Is that cheap portable I smell?

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:45 pm

New updated link at Walmart.com. They're calling it a "TV Now" now. But it looks exactly the same.

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:43 pm

That looks very interesting. In fact, I'm very likely to buy one myself.

Some things I wonder about are the screen resolution and pixel response times. I also wonder whether the Vugo will be recognized as a removable drive in Windows, or if it'll be anal about using the included software.

Regardless, it looks like a steal for 25 bucks.

Post by **benheck** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:50 pm

There is no way this item can't be anything but a steaming pile of crap.

-Ben

demonofaj · Post by **demonofaj** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:24 pm

benheck wrote:There is no way this item can't be anything but a steaming pile of crap.

-Ben

O Contrare Ben, I knew that the Mattel Juicebox would be an automatic steaming pile of crap *HORRID resolution, ugly refresh rate, bad colors, limited pixel, it literally was the incarnation of a crappy PSP*...however, the SD compatability gave it hope, and I was able to put pics and music on mine. So as horribly steaming a piece of crap that thing is, there can be some hope for it int he modding world. I think Corscaria got a data sheet on the LCD interface...

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:52 pm

benheck wrote:There is no way this item can't be anything but a steaming pile of crap.

-Ben

Right, really it's a kiddie, cheap version of the PSP. And that's just what I'd say if anyone considered it. The thing only has 128MB internal flash ram, uses SD (I believe), and really isn't a powerful media device. Hell this isn't worth it unless you're cheap or you're going to mod it.

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:09 pm

agreed, but still looks like a bargain

dman762000 · Post by **dman762000** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:25 pm

It would be a bargain, and the resolution could be crap, but what if it can output to a better screen, then you could carry your shows around to watch at other places or maby even on your portables. On another note if they start selling the zoombox for 25 bucks, Now That would be a bargain.

Post by **bicostp** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:50 pm

benheck wrote:There is no way this item can't be anything but a steaming pile of crap.

-Ben

I agree. How good do you expect it to be if it has a 3" screen and costs just $25?

Most of these kiddie things use cheap parts, so the screen probably refreshes slowly and its resolution can't be very good.

It may be a bargain, but I don't think it's worth buying unless you're giving it to a younger relative or something.

Don't waste your money on cheap junk like this.

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:50 pm

Hell, $25 would be cheap for even just an MP3 player!:p

I myself would be embarrased seen w/ it, so I'd at least spray paint it a different color or something...

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 7:25 pm

I think they're worth $25. Definitely not the original price though (~$100). Here's some useful reviews:

http://www.linuxslate.org/Review_VuGo.html

http://www.gadgetmadness.com/archives/2 ... ugocom.php

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 10:10 pm

...

Hahahahaha!

Wow, that first review really gave me a laugh- and thank god I never had the chance to buy that thing! If not for the pathetic DRM scheme, I would have accepted the poor screen resolution for a 25 dollar device.

But now...well, its already been said, this device fails.

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 12:49 am

But see I read those before I even posted this topic, and I still think it's worth $25. I mean, with a M3 (gba/ds) you have to convert things to a proprietary format as well. So still a hassle either way (as I'm wanting an M3). If I do hook it up to a PSOne LCD, I wonder if there's anything I can do about the poor FPS of the videos. Perhaps some sort of hardware overclocking. I doubt it though. Anyone know the FPS you get from the GBA Movie Player?