Reviews42 Blog

Common description as per different vendors’ site (Official site for manufacturer is not available): Creates fresh juices and mocktails in minutes. Its design and advanced technology makes it 100% leak proof Specifically designed to extract maximum juice from hard as well as juicy fruits & vegetable Ideal for Orange, Pineapple, Grapes, Sweet Lime, Water Melon, Pomegranate, Bitter Gourd, Palak (spinach), Tomato etcetera All parts are easily detachable for easy manual wash Made from ABS plastic & stainless steel (food grade material) Includes instruction & recipe book.

Price: Varies as per seller. Best price offered so far is INR 249 (in discount).

About the product:

With growing health awareness and need for fresh food, this indeed is a lucrative options that comes in a very economical price. It looks easy to operate and for diet conscious people it seems a blessing. You can have fresh fruit/ vegetable juice everyday.

Positives:

1. Light weight and detachable parts

2. Requires less storage space

3. Works without battery (for me it’s a positive point)

4. Good as citrus fruit juicer

Negatives:

1. Quality of plastic used is not great

2. Not great juice extraction if used for beetroot juice or bitter gourd or any hard fruits and vegetables.

3. Difficult cleaning

Personal Experience: 

This juicer works very well with citrus fruits which are generally soft. You can easily operate it for juice of orange, sweet lime and tomato like fruits and vegetables. But when I tried to extract beet root juice, it turned out really messy and I was not very happy with the results.

I chopped beetroot in dice like chunks; it did not go inside churner. Then, I chopped it in smaller parts and instead of extracting juice, it blocked it and I was scared all the time that the plastic would break soon. I really did not know how to extract its juice. Similar thing when I tried gooseberry juice or carrot juice. No luck. When I was given demo, I wonder, it turned out fine, but when I tried it myself, it did not work that well.

The juicer has clamps at the bottom to hold it to slab or tile. But it hardly works. For me the juicer kept on sliding all the time.

Then the bad part is to clean up the mess after juicing. It is a real pain as there are ample of parts and the shreds are just too difficult to clean as. I put in half an hour to extract half glass juice of 2 beetroots and then cleaning took another 15 minutes.

Overall:

I would not recommend it for non-citrus and hard fruits and vegetables (like radish, carrot, gooseberry, beetroot,), but for citrus fruits it is a good option.

— Taru Tyagi ( Expert Reviewer of Reviews42)

With the sweltering Indian summers, constant sweating is a huge problem and an even bigger problem is the unwanted body odor from excessive sweating which might cause others to turn up their noses when you approach them. This can be a huge deterrent especially if you are aiming to impress someone. Surely we need a solution for this; we can’t just let the heat take its toll on us! That solution is brought to us by India’s premier beauty brand and one of the most trusted household names, Pond’s. To stay fresh, confident and fragrant all day long, Pond’s Dreamflower Talc is your best bet. So let us check out its review.

Price: Rs.45 for 100g, Rs.115 for 400g

Product Details:

The appealing fragrance of Pond’s Dreamflower Talc induces that instant freshness and a lingering aroma, leaving you feeling revived and confident all day long.

Usage Instructions: Apply twice daily for best results

Shelf Life: 24 months from Pkd.

My Experience with Pond’s Dreamflower Talc:

Since my childhood, I have seen Pond’s talc being used by my family members and with the recent revamp in the packaging, the product appears even more sleek and desirable. It has a twist cap mechanism which helps to dispense the required amount of the talcum powder easily and also seals back tightly, allowing retention of the fragrance. The entire new packaging is chic and appealing. I stay out of home for long hours every day and sweat a lot during summers. This talc has really come to my rescue for those days when the mercury soars. I use this daily after a shower and it effectively keeps body odor at bay, ensuring all day freshness.

The Pond’s Dreamflower Talc has a lovely soothing fragrance reminding one of fresh flowers, and true to the brand’s claims, lingers on my skin long after application. Its smell is what I would describe as not just classic and unique but refreshing and reviving. Texture-wise, it is fine soft white talcum powder which blends easily into the skin, providing a smooth finish and a hint of a subdued sheen, and also makes my oily skin matte by absorbing excess oils when used on the face. It is definitely a skin-friendly product causing no irritation at all and at this price, it is no wonder that this talc has no competition in the market. 

Pros of Pond’s Dreamflower Talc:

- Classic fragrance that lingers

- Soothing, refreshing and reviving scent

- Keeps body door at bay, ensuring all day freshness

- Travel-friendly and sleek packaging

- Skin-friendly, causes no irritation

- Fine and soft texture

- Blends easily and gives smooth finish

- Useful for mattifying oily skin and absorbing excess oil

- Very economical

- Easily available everywhere

Cons of Pond’s Dreamflower Talc:

- None at all!

Verdict:

Wait no more; if you haven’t as yet tried this, get it today!  This summer, bid goodbye to body odor and stay fresh all day long with Pond’s Dreamflower Talc.

— Oindrila Ghoshal ( Expert Reviewer of Reviews42) 

Vivel, from ITC is one of India’s leading personal care brands which bring us innovative skin care products targeted to solve our skin concerns. The Cell Renew range is their latest launch and this line consists of a facial moisturizer, a hand cream and a body lotion. This review focuses on the Vivel Cell Renew Fortify + Repair Moisturizer. As per the brand’s claims the Cell Renew range is meant for holistic skin care through its dual action of fortification and repairing of the skin cells. Let us see how far this product stands up to its claims.

Price: Rs.349 for 50ml

Product Claim:

The rich, yet easily absorbed texture of Cell Renew penetrates to a deep cell level without leaving any sticky residue. Its unique formula works deep within the surface to repair the skin’s natural barrier and replenish moisture and nutrients. Powered with 10X Vitamin E benefit for exceptional antioxidant protection, it also prevents the breakdown of collagen in the skin’s extracellular network to keep skin supple and firm.

My Experience with Vivel Cell Renew Fortify + Repair Moisturizer:

I love to experiment with new moisturizers and also because if one keeps using a particular product for a long time, our skin tends to become immune to it; hence it is good to change skincare products once in a while. This moisturizer comes with a pump dispenser and a secure transparent lid covering – travel-friendly and sturdy packaging. I have oily skin which turns dry in winters; hence half a pump is what I require of the product. The moisturizer has a rich texture yet feels light on my skin; it gets absorbed in a jiffy and gives a nice matte look. This is a huge plus point considering many creams just sit on your skin, making it feel heavy. Moreover, this is non-sticky and non-greasy. It has a mild fragrance which I quite like. This is my perfect moisturizer for the harsh winter months; it keeps my skin nicely hydrated all day. It replenishes my skin and with its Vitamin E antioxidant action, has made it soft, supple and glowing with regular use. Moreover, it also imparts firmness to the skin, leaves it visibly renewed and has never caused me any irritation or breakouts.  In my opinion, this would suit all skin types and at this price, it is a great buy.

Pros of Vivel Cell Renew Fortify + Repair Moisturizer:

- Would suit all skin types

- Rich texture yet feels light on the skin

- Easily absorbed

- Replenishes and hydrates skin; makes it soft and supple

- Firms the skin with regular usage

- Non-sticky and non-greasy

- Does not irritate the skin or cause breakouts

- Travel-friendly and sturdy packaging

- Dermatologist tested

Cons of Vivel Cell Renew Fortify + Repair Moisturizer:

- No SPF

Verdict: Another great product from ITC at this price!

-- Oindrila Ghoshal ( Expert Reviewer of Reviews42) 

Oriflame is one of those brands that enjoy enduring popularity despite its products being somewhat high-priced. They have an amazing range of cosmetics designed for all our skin’s needs and for every age and skin type. For women over 40, using a good anti-ageing cream becomes essential as it can help the skin to keep looking radiant, young and supple and also delay the process of formation of wrinkles and fine lines. This review focuses on the Oriflame Diamond Cellular Night Restorative Treatment which my mother uses in conjunction with the Oriflame Diamond Cellular Anti-Ageing Cream. She uses the former at night as directed and the latter during daytime. I am going to share her experience with this product for you to read and also my own observations on it.

Price: INR 2,290 for 30ml

Product Code: 18437 

Product Info: Made in Poland

 Ingredient List: (from the Oriflame India website)

AQUA, GLYCERIN, BETAINE, DECYL OLEATE, ISOHEXADECANE, SQUALANE, STEARETH-2, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, PEG-7 GLYCERYL COCOATE, PENTAERYTHRITYL DISTEARATE, STEARETH-21, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER, DIMETHICONE, SALICYLIC ACID, POLYACRYLATE-13, POLYISOBUTENE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, METHYLPARABEN, PARFUM, PROPYLPARABEN, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, DIAMOND POWDER, DISODIUM EDTA, POLYSORBATE 20, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, GLYCERYL ACRYLATE/ACRYLIC ACID COPOLYMER, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SUCROSE DILAURATE, TUBER AESTIVUM EXTRACT, PHENOXYETHANOL, PISUM SATIVUM EXTRACT, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, P-ANISIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, CI 77891

Product Description and Claim:

A powerful fusion of precious natural ingredients and breakthrough technology. High-performing night treatment helps improve skin cell turnover, resulting in visibly younger skin in just 14 nights. Diamond Elixir™ Complex enhances skin luminosity, while Cellular Sal Acid renews skin surface. Apply every night before bed.

Product Experience:

The product needs to be handled with care as it is made of glass. It has a nice pump dispenser which helps in taking out the required amount of the cream. The consistency of the product is like body butter; it is smooth and light and gets absorbed really well. It has some subtle glistening particles (I attribute it to the diamond powder contained in it) and is white in color. It has a light and soothing fragrance. My mother has dry, mature skin as she is in her fifties. By using both products in conjunction, her skin texture has really improved. Her skin appears much younger, firm, soft and supple. The cream controls formation of new wrinkles and smoothens out fine lines. Overall, she has been able to acquire a radiant complexion with continuous usage. It is true that the product is a bit over-priced which might refrain some from buying it. But certainly it is a useful product which shows results.

Pros of Oriflame Diamond Cellular Night Restorative Treatment:

- Increases skin luminosity

- Improves skin texture, making it appear firmer and younger, soft and supple

- Light and smooth-textured

- Smoothens out fine lines and prevents formation of new wrinkles

- Easily absorbed

- Very nice fragrance

Cons of Oriflame Diamond Cellular Night Restorative Treatment:

- High price considering the product quantity

- Contains parabens

- Needs to be handled with care

Verdict: Over-priced but no doubt a very good product from Oriflame!

- Oindrila Ghoshal ( Expert Reviewer of Reviews42) 

One of the major problems of oily skin is of course the excess secretion of oil (sebum) which is most unwanted and can lead to a number of skin problems. Only those who have this skin type would know how hard it is to keep that oil in control. No one likes to appear in front of others with a face that turns like a frying pan after sometime. One of India’s oldest skincare brands, Pond’s has therefore come to the rescue with the Pond’s Oil Control Talc, which contains orange peel extracts for extra efficacy. So, let us get into the Pond’s Oil Control Talc - Orange Peel Extracts review.

Price: Rs.49 for 100g, Rs.119 for 350g

Ingredients:

Talc (hydrated magnesium silicate), calcium carbonate, silica, tridecyl salicylate, fragrance (contains orange peel extract), zinc oxide, polyacrylate, polyalcohol copolymer, niacinamide (vitamin B3), phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, salicylic acid, octyl salicylate, dipropylene glycol, ascorbic acid, Q77492, Q77491

Product Claim:

Pond’s Oil Control Talc contains advanced absorption molecules to take in excess oil and leave you feeling fresh and clean all day long. The talc offers ample sun protection with TPI 60. It has orange peel extracts and vitamin C that lend you a fresh orangey scent.

Usage Instructions:

Use every day, before going out in the sun to keep your natural glow intact

Shelf Life: 24 months from Pkd.

My Experience with Pond’s Oil Control Talc - Orange Peel Extracts:

With skin that gets super oily in summers, I am always on the lookout for products that help in oil control and thus chanced upon Pond’s Oil Control Talc. The consistency of this talc is neither too fine nor harsh enough to scratch the skin. It has a twist cap mechanism which helps to dispense the required amount of the talcum powder easily and also seals back tightly, allowing retention of the orangey scent. Overall packaging is nice, sleek and travel-friendly. This one is totally meant for oily skin with salicylic acid being one of its ingredients along with zinc oxide (sunscreen) and orange peel extracts for that refreshing smell on a hot summer day. With application on the face, it gives a neat matte look, pointing to the truth of its oil-absorbing claim and yes, it does control to an extent, preventing the skin from getting oily too soon. It caused me no irritation and even on using on the underarms, it kept body odor at bay – so certainly a product with multiple uses. Quantity to be taken each time should be less as with more, it can leave a whitish cast especially if one sweats a lot.

Pros of Pond’s Oil Control Talc - Orange Peel Extracts:

- Absorbs excess oil and keeps skin matte

- Refreshing fragrance

- Contains added sun protection

- No skin irritation caused

- Can double up as a deo

- Convenient, travel-friendly packaging

- Very economical

Cons of Pond’s Oil Control Talc - Orange Peel Extracts:

- May leave whitish cast if used more than required

- Contains parabens

Verdict: Another useful product from Pond’s that stands true to its claims. 

The age of Ultra HD and 2K resolution televisions is upon us. These are devices that maintain a monstrous size and incorporate a resolution higher than the typical 1920x1080 resolution. Of course, before TV displays, it’s been computer monitors that have been pushing for 2K resolutions for years. Apple’s Retinal Display comes to mind, with Dell’s XPS One 27 being the first all-in-one PC to feature such a resolution at an affordable price. But for normal monitors, we have efforts like the Asus PB278Q which features a plane to line switching (PLS) panel and 2560x1440 resolution. It’s roughly 2.6 inches thick, weighing 19.4 pounds and pushing for a simple aesthetic with its black finish.  It includes the usual DVI, DisplayPort, VGA and HDMI ports, though it lacks any USB input. The monitor also comes with a support stand that can be used to tilt it back by 20 degrees, or pivot 90 degrees. It’s somewhat awkward to use but does the job regardless.

Specs

The Asus PB278Q features a 27 inch panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It uses a fairly simple matte coating that doesn’t take away from the display quality – with reflectiveness being kept to a minimum – and can be wall mounted should one desire. The PLS panel helps give the display some exceptional viewing angles but as always, it’d be best to view everything head on. Of course, the real specs lie in the picture quality: How does the PB278Q match up to the competition? For starters, it works out whites and greys sufficiently well, though its blacks could use some work having failed to retain details during some dark scenes. Colour quality overall is quite strong but noticeable “leaps” when the scene changes can take getting used to. At least the backlight sufficiently avoided much clouding, keeping a strong even presence without leaking out during dark scenes. When it comes to movies and games, the former might be a bit iffy but the latter provides sufficient enough detail and amazing contrast for a great looking picture. Brightness might need a bit of work, but it still ranks very highly compared to other monitors. Power consumption consists of 41.5 watts when switched on and 0.43 watts in Standby mode which isn’t the lowest but won’t incur much cost on a monthly basis.

Pros:

- Decent, light form factor

- 2K resolution with strong colour quality

- Plane to line switching (PLS) panel

- Matte coating helps reduce reflectiveness

- Very little clouding caused by LED backlight

Cons:

- Quality of blacks could use some work

- Some jumps in colour quality at times

- Brightness levels and viewing angles could be better

- No USB ports; support stand awkward to use.

Verdict:

While you can net more features and better quality by paying a bit extra, the Asus PB278Q offers great picture quality at a good staring price – that too with PLS panel technology. It could use some work in the overall picture quality, but is still worth a look nonetheless.

- Ravi Sinha ( Expert Reviewer of Reviews42) 

Just as Apple and Samsung have presented their own templates for compact desktops, so has Intel put forth an interesting little solution with the Next Unit of Computing (NUC). However, Intel takes a slightly different route with its mini PC, instead opting for a miniature, low-cost and power-efficient cube that users can carry and attach anywhere. The NUC box is sleekly designed, with a dark crimson and clean black design giving it a rather nice edge. It weighs about 511 grams, and comes equipped with 2 DDR3 SO-DIMM slots, 2 PCIe/mSATA slots, 3 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and 1 Thunderbolt port. Yes, you essentially have to supply your own monitor, HDD (or Solid state drive as the situation warrants), RAM and Wi-Fi adaptor. So while the initial cost of the device may seem nice and cheap, you need to add on to it for the normal desktop solution. However, taken altogether, these components would still add up to something cheaper than today’s all-in-one PC solutions. Whether the power behind it is enough to satisfy people is a different question.

Specs

The Intel Next Unit of Computing features an Intel Ivy Bridge i3-3217U CPU and Intel HD 4000 graphics card. Taken with a minimum of 4 GB (the NUC can support up to 16 GB), you’ll see performance that matches up with your average notebook of the same price. However, it won’t be beating out the Mac Mini or Samsung’s efforts any time soon, and a case could be made whether a laptop wouldn’t be more preferable since it features all the components, all higher grade than this. Regardless, the NUC holds potential as an energy efficient solution, and while it might not be most ideal for high performance gaming, you can still hook it up to your TV for web surfing and streaming. As a desktop PC, it will perform most of the basic tasks with relative ease. Anything higher than that, and it would be more worthy to invest in an all-in-one PC, like the kind Asus is touting, or simply go in for an assembled machine. You can also invest in a cheaper model that incorporates another HDMI port with Gigabit Ethernet. As it stands, the basic ports will be more than suited for display tasks and the like.

Pros:

- Decent technology in a compact and lightweight package

- Plenty of different ways to customize and use

- Cheap

Cons:

- Essentially requires you to build your own PC.

- Not very well suited for high-end tasks.

- Doesn’t hold a candle to Apple’s Mac Mini

Verdict:

Again, Intel’s Next Unit of Computing presents an interesting solution to portable computing but it may not be the definite solution. While the low cost may seem appealing, and the performance is enough for any number of uses, it doesn’t measure up to what a notebook or dedicated PC can achieve. So while it looks good and presents a different number of options, typical PC users are advised to look at other options first.

- Ravi Sinha ( Expert Reviewer of Reviews42)

We’ve already taken a look at the various Chromebooks on offer from Samsung and Acer. Unlike before, the price seems right and for those who are predominantly plugged into Chrome, they appeared to be good choices (though we give the nod to the Samsung Series 3 Chromebook). However, there’s also the Samsung Chromebox Series 3 XE300M22 aims to bring the Chrome browsing experience to one’s desktop. It’s a lot like the Apple Mac Mini - a small, portable PC solution which you can connect to any monitor and access via keyboard and mouse. What makes the Chromebox Series 3 different is that it’s primarily geared at powered Chrome OS, Google’s custom UI for its Chromebooks. Taken from purely physical appearances, it sports a sleek black and silver appearance, with a strong construction. In terms of ports, there are six USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet and DVI. Those looking for HDMI support will be flat out of luck.

Specs

An Intel Celeron Processor B840 CPU clocked at 1.9GHz, 4 GB DDR3 RAM and a 16 GB solid state drive make up the Chromebox Series 3’s internals. It’s also aided by Intel HD graphics, and while you would think that would be enough, it presents a problem for HD media playback. Of course, it’s still packing more power than the recent range of Chromebooks. Also, as a mini PC, the device is meant to produce a lesser amount of heat, and Chrome OS doesn’t need much by means of hardware to run smoothly. Hook the Chromebox to a decent enough display and you’ll be greeted by the nicely clean interface. However, many cases could be made to the overall use of mini PC that can’t do anything but surf the web. One must also consider that we have multitudes of ways to check the internet - will a desktop PC that can’t do anything but access the web hold much appeal? Regardless, the new and revamped Chrome OS tries to help users by giving extended functionality. It’s improved on support for different file types, added various offline applications, and expanded on browser apps for photo editing and much more. The browsing experience is fast and fluid, overall, but when it comes playing back media, you will see some slowdown. This is due to general lack of power in the components. At least it stays nice and cool.

Pros:

- Sleek and portable; doesn’t heat up at all

- Lots of expansion ports

- Chrome OS is fast and packs some great offline and online apps

Cons:

- Low-spec components causes slowdown, performance issues

- No HDMI support

- Still can’t do what most desktop PCs can

- Antiquated graphics solution

Verdict

The problem with the Samsung Chromebox Series 3 XE300M22 isn’t that it just runs Chrome OS, and nothing else. Compared to modern mini PCs like the Mac Mini, its hardware just doesn’t properly facilitate the software – despite only being used for web browsing. If you’re really interested in Chrome-devices, check out Samsung’s new Chromebook range instead.

- Ravi Sinha ( Expert Reviewer of Reviews42)

To say that BlackBerry 10 OS has been long-awaited is an understatement. Consider that this is the first time that the company formerly known as RIM (now going by, well, BlackBerry) has totally overhauled its interface and the significance of this OS update becomes clear. However, in light of recent financial troubles, it’s fair to say that the company’s future rests on it. So is this BlackBerry’s game-changer?

Interface

Firstly, BlackBerry 10 OS is most assuredly not the game-changer that BlackBerry needs it to be. With that out of the way, the UI consists of rows of icons with a bottom row dedicated to calling, search and the camera. Unlike Android – but very much like iOS – you can’t resize icons or add widgets. The key gesture is to swipe up from the bottom of the display, showcasing all the apps you have running (up to 8 possible). You can thus switch between them, or hit the “X” in the corner to kill them. It’s typical and less intuitive than Android’s swipe to fling an app into oblivion. Swiping up and holding the gesture allows for a “Peek” at your unread messages, emails and the like. It’s the upward swipe combined with a right swipe that opens BlackBerry Hub, which allows you to view your messages, emails, alerts, social media updates and much much more at one go. It’s extensive and quite daunting though you can filter updates easily. Despite its comprehensiveness though, it’s not as intuitive as using, say, the Gmail app for the same.

Features

Along with BlackBerry Protect, which allows you to lock your device and even remotely wipe it should it be compromised, and Maps, which is oddly worse than even iOS 6’s initial outing with Apple Maps, the big new addition is the onscreen keyboard. It’s a good experience, implementing features from SwiftKey such as swiping left and right to delete words. However, it’s predictive keyboard places words above your next letter of choice, rather than automatically filling it out and requiring a single tap of the Space key to enter. BlackBerry World is the default portal for purchasing apps and it’s currently being bogged down by expensive crapware. BlackBerry will improve on this, we’re sure, but it doesn’t help the current ecosystem, especially in light of the selection that Apple and Google have with iTunes and Google Play respectively. Some of the apps on BlackBerry World actually cost more than they would on other interfaces, which really makes one wonder.

Pros:

- Far better than the old BB OS

- BlackBerry Hub is quite extensive and covers all updates everywhere

- Typing experience is quite good

Cons:

- BB Maps is awful

- Hub not as intuitive as it could be

- BlackBerry World store is lacking in apps (and fair prices)

Verdict:

If BlackBerry 10 OS were the template for something better later on, we wouldn’t mind. Because as it stands, it’s yet to be able to compete with Android or iOS based on its current feature set.

- Ravi Sinha ( Expert Reviewer of Reviews42)

Is it odd to review a gaming handheld? Not if it’s part of Sony’s Playstation Portable or PSP line, which in the past few years since it’s release, has become a very interesting solution for media consumption and of course, gaming. Despite the number of revisions, Sony decided to step it up and announced the Playstation Vita, complete with a dazzling touch-screen display, 3G connectivity, a rear camera and an overdose of gaming power . When compared to the latest in smartphone and tablet technology, how does a so-called next-generation handheld compete?

The first thing you’ll instinctively be swayed by it’s premium appearance. Measuring 3.3 inches thick and weighing 270 g, the PS Vita is lightweight enough to fit into one’s pocket while still being comfortably gripped in two hands. The dual analog sticks won’t be competing with the Playstation 3’s DualShock controller, but the buttons and controls feel incredibly responsive. It’s a shame that the device attracts dust and fingerprints, besides being prone to scratches and dents but it’s tough enough to hold it’s own.

Getting down to basics, the PS Vita indeed possesses enough processing to provide the best handheld graphics we’re likely to see anywhere. The 5 inch, 960x544 OLED screen provides fetching colours and amazing viewing angels, with amazing brightness and sharpness. If you haven’t experienced the magic of watching media on this screen, even HD media, then the PS Vita will certainly surprise you. 

It’s a shame that the camera technology is fairly pedestrian, only taking snaps up to 640x480 pixels. Video recording is decidedly a bummer as well, with dull colours and pixellated motion. For all the hype and hoopla surrounding 3G, it’s odd that there’d be a 20 megabyte limit using the Playstation Store. Considering such a connection would be ideal for multiplayer, it’s a shame that, for now, Sony doesn’t have it.

The battery life may also scare it’s fair share of users, and rightly so. You can notch up a good 3 to 3.5 hours of gaming straight. Though it can be tweaked by altering the brightness of the screen to extend life, you won’t get more than 5 hours of playtime out of it. Sony has announced an external battery pack, and at the very least, the device handles media playback better, promising up to 5-6 hours of viewing pleasure.

The software is the main draw of course, and the Vita is crammed with features. Remote Play allows you to access Playstation 3 games via Wi-Fi on your handheld, and is constantly receiving new support. You can access the Playstation Store, sync to your desktop files using Sony’s Content Manager Assistant and even browse Google Maps. The web browser is the only painful piece of the UI, which is otherwise easy to navigate.

Sony’s Playstation Vita has a lot going for it but caters to a different demand. If you want a strong media and gaming solution on the go, give the Vita a whirl.

- Ravi Sinha ( Expert Reviewer of Reviews42)