CDI: What Makes a CD-I Tick?

So... the CD-I (Compact Disc Interactive). It's a system that I remember briefly from its first life. It seemed a strange time in the industry. Multimedia was the buzzword, and developers seemed at a loss as to what to do with all the massive storage space offered on CD. FMV, CD quality audio, and Encyclopedia's must have been the best ideas they had, because we sure got a lot of it. On the hardware end of the spectrum, the idea of a platform that multiple hardware vendors could build and sell was also en vogue with the 3DO and CD-I.

The model that I recently picked up is the Magnavox CDI-200. The unit itself is huge, approximately the size of an original VCR or early DVD player, with styling to match. Controls on the front are sparse, with a tray open/close button, power button, play and stop buttons, and one controller port. The back includes RF input and output, composite out, stereo out, remote control port, digital video card slot, and the second controller port. Why on earth is the second controller port on the back? I'd almost like an answer, but considering this seems designed to fit into a stereo cabinet instead of plopped in front of the TV I am not surprised.
[img width=320 height=100]http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/jackcrow2000/IMG_3889.jpg[/img] [img width=320 height=76]http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/jackcrow2000/IMG_3891.jpg[/img]
The CD-I branded controller that was with my unit is surprising well made. The round D-pad feels fluid and responsive. Buttons on the unit include buttons I, II, and interestingly a I & II button. Also unique to the CD-I controller is a three position switch that changes the speed of the on screen mouse cursor which you move with the D-pad. Even at the fastest setting it is easy to control, and I can't imagine anyone choosing to use the slower speeds.
[img width=320 height=240]http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/jackcrow2000/IMG_3888.jpg[/img]
The on-screen menu is minimalist. As mentioned before you use an mouse pointer to make selections. Choices are Info (help text), Settings (internal clock, CD player options), Dim (dims the screen), Memory (for internal memory save management), and an Open/Close button for the disc tray. Inserting an audio CD brings up player controls immediately on screen in addition to the previous selections, and inserting a CD-I title brings up a button to play the CD-I disc.
[img width=320 height=190]http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/jackcrow2000/IMG_3885.jpg[/img]
So my thoughts on the system itself? It's a multimedia device, not a game console. I don't think the designers wanted anyone to get the idea that this was only for playing games, and it should hide itself well in a stereo component rack where it will spend a large amount of its time playing CDs. It requires an add-in card to display full screen video on titles that support it, and with it produces good MPEG-1 quality level display. As far as I can tell, the battery for the built in memory is inaccessible without opening the unit's cover, which is held in place by Torx screws making it difficult to service. I don't have a driver yet to open mine up, but if there is anything to note when I do I will post it. Using the system is simplicity itself. I really feel like I am using a 486 era PC attached to my TV with this machine, and I suppose that is what they were going for at the time. I'm not going to consider the software library in my rating of this console. I'll save that for my review of some titles a bit later.

In the end, this is a curiosity piece for collectors. I wouldn't recommend picking one up for real gaming.

My rating of the Magnavox CD-I 200: 60%