Philips CD-i 740

Description

Philips CD-i 740 – One of the rarest and most advanced CD-i Players

The Philips CD-i 740 is often considered one of the most advanced consumer CD-i players Philips ever produced. What makes it particularly interesting is its unique design and the number of features that set it apart from other consumer CD-i models.

The 740 appears to have been produced in relatively limited quantities, which makes it quite difficult to find today. Personally, I think it is one of the best-looking CD-i players Philips ever made. The combination of its distinctive design and extensive features is what made me want to add one to my collection for a long time.

I finally came across one that was being offered locally and decided to go for it. When I got it, I was even more impressed by how unusual this model actually is.

Design

The first thing that stands out is the appearance. Whereas the first CD-i players tended to look more like video recorders and the CD-i 450 took on the appearance of a gaming console, the CD-i 740 is more reminiscent of a high-end CD player. The casing is also almost identical to that of the CD player CD-740. The appearance also makes it clear that, towards the end of the CD-i era, Philips had lost confidence in a widely adopted CD-i player for the consumer market. The device is clearly aimed at the (semi)professional market. The materials used and the designs of the casing and buttons exude quality. You can also see that the device already fits more closely with the futuristic metal-look designs of the noughties. A sight to behold in my opinion.

Specs

The 740 stands out as the peak of consumer CD-i technology due to its highly integrated hardware architecture, utilizing the advanced MONO-IV motherboard and a reliable CDM 12.1 drive. Unlike earlier models that required expensive upgrades, the 740 came with a built-in MPEG-1 Digital Video Cartridge for full-motion video playback and included a standard 32 KB of non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) for storing game saves and settings. Furthermore, it bridged the gap to professional systems by featuring an RS-232 serial port for external communication, a coaxial S/PDIF digital audio output for high-fidelity sound, and full front-panel audio controls, making it the most feature-complete and sought-after consumer unit in the lineup.

Philips was able to launch the CD-i 740 at a lower price point of 999 guilders thanks to its more efficient MONO-IV chip architecture. Despite this, the price remained relatively high compared to dedicated 32-bit gaming consoles like the Sony PlayStation or Sega Saturn.

It may not be the most practical CD-i to use today, but as a collector’s piece, I think it is hard to beat. The limited production, distinctive appearance and impressive feature set make the 740 one of the most desirable and interesting consumer CD-i players out there.