In addition, Sony is introducing a new media format with the PSP, the UMD (Universal Media Disc). What this means for the consumer is yet another rights-protected, proprietary format in which users will be forced to buy content.

As far as the graphic quality, the PSP is supposed to fall somewhere between the PS1 and PS2, but not able to use content from either.

The body and screen size seem to be pretty comparable between the PSP and Zodiac. Prices on the PSP are as yet unavailable, but I've heard unsubstantiated rumors in the neighborhood of $500. I think this would be a bit much for a completely proprietary system that is essentially a fancy Game Boy entering a market dominated by $150 devices like the GBA (Game Boy Advance).

I just don't see the PSP being much of a threat to the Zodiac, particularly since the Zodiac will have a market foothold of around a year and a half before the PSP even goes public.

I really like my Zodiac 2 and am quite pleased with my purchase. Frankly, I wish I had bought one back in December when I bought the T2.

Although Tapwave likes to think of the Zodiac as a mobile entertainment system, I think that's selling it short. It's so much more. Not only is the Zodiac a portable game machine, a portable video and MP3 player, it's also a powerful Palm-based handheld computer. With the appropriate exposure and marketing, the Zodiac could really make a name for itself.

I rate the Zodiac from Tapwave at 4 out of 5. It almost makes a 5, but a couple of things fell just a little short, namely, the flimsy stylus holder, the rudimentary photo application, lack of a cradle, inconsequential flip cover, and as I mentioned, the unresponsive order system.

All shortcomings aside, most of which are rather minor and just personal taste, the Zodiac is a great entertainment machine and a great handheld. All together, it's a very well rounded machine that serves equally well in multiple capacities. You'll definitely see more Zodiac-related material from me in the future.

OUR RATING: 4 of 5

Mike Serbinis is CTO of Critical Path. Critical Path developed Memova Mobile, a solution for the mass market that pushes messages from the users' existing email accounts, such as Gmail or ISP email accounts, to their cell phones. Memova Mobile works on any MMS handset and allows users to select the email addresses they want to hear from.