OTHER TECH

Samsung A class act, but no recording

YH-999 GS

DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 3.875 x 4.25 x 0.875 inch WEIGHT 8 ounces PRICE $500 MANUFACTURER Samsung America, samsung.com, 800-726-7864

Plus

•Crisp video, clear audio. •Classy looking, dynamic menus. •Easy to use.

Minus

•Can't record. •Requires Windows XP Media Center PC.

Key Features

•3.5-inch (diagonal), 320 x 240-pixel LCD screen •20-GB hard drive •Portable Media Center software •video formats plays WMV, MPEG-4 (ASF) •audio formats plays MP3, WMA •digital image formats JPEG •tested battery life (playback only) video, 3.5 hours; audio, 11 hours

The Samsung YH-999 GS is a somewhat different animal from the others in this group as it's a player only - not a recorder. Specifically, it's a Portable Media Center that uses a version of Microsoft's Windows Media Center operating system designed for handheld devices. You use Windows software to play audio and video files or images you've downloaded to the YH-999's 20-GB hard-disk drive via a USB connection from a Windows XP Media Center Edition PC.

IMPORTING AND MANAGING FILES I started by installing the software from the supplied CD-ROM on a 2005 edition HP Media Center PC. It took a few minutes, and then I was able to synchronize media files on the computer with the YH-999 GS using Windows Media Player 10. You can set this to be performed automatically every time you connect the player or do it manually. I chose auto operation, and the software copied all of my compatible media files to the player. The software allows you to fine-tune which files you want to transfer. For TV shows I could specify that it copy over only those recorded in the last week, and for music I could limit it to tracks I play most often.

This might sound confusing, but it's not - I found this aspect of the software superbly easy to work with. If a video file isn't in the required Windows Media Video (WMV) or MPEG-4 (ASF) format, the software automatically converts it before downloading it to the player (any files that aren't supported by the conversion software are left alone). You can still drag and drop files manually between PC and player over the USB connection, but you can't play those files on the Samsung unless they're synced through the WMP10 software.

USABILITY The YH-999 GS is really easy to use - you won't need to consult the excellent owner's manual. That's partly because having no recording functions greatly simplifies things. But it also seems evident that the engineers - at both Microsoft and Samsung - took a long and careful look at the iPod's onscreen display and graphics and learned the lesson well. The graphics are all clean and professional looking (the menus on some players, frankly, look amateurish). And the display dynamics - the way titles and graphics fly onscreen and overlay other graphics - are top-notch. I also appreciated the side-mounted, spring-loaded volume wheel, which was a cinch to use. From an operational standpoint, this player really delivers the goods.

VIDEO PERFORMANCE Video looked good, particularly after I notched up the brightness a tad (though at the expense of battery life). The LCD screen provided fine picture detail, with just a hint of graininess, and contrast was pretty good. Unfortunately, colors were muted and looked washed out - I found myself wishing the hues were more vivid. Panning and fast-action shots looked smooth and were free of jerkiness (provided the original file was smooth). Soundtrack synchronization on video files was almost exact - the best of the bunch.

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Music quality was fine. The supplied earbuds were above average, and the amplifier drove them to loud volumes with minimal distortion. When I jacked in my reference headphones, I was an even happier camper.

BOTTOM LINE The Samsung YH-999 GS is limited in being only a player and in its dependence on a companion Media Center PC. But its software worked great, and video and audio performance were both very good. If you use a current Windows Media Center PC or plan to buy one, and don't mind the Samsung's lack of recording capability, it's an excellent companion.