Throng

The Gadget Show (8/10) Monday 2 April: 19.15–20.00

Continuing this evening is the sixth series of Five’s consumer technology show, presented by Jason Bradbury, Suzi Perry and Jon Bentley. In this week’s edition, Suzi and Jason pit a gaming PC against the three best consoles of the moment; Jon tests mini MP3 players; and the team look at 3D mapping.

The launch of the PS3 marks another step forward for gaming consoles. But should you be shelling out hundreds for the PS3 or going for another console, or even a gaming PC? In this buyer’s guide Jason shows us what to look for in a gaming PC. He looks at the best entry-level model for around the £500 mark, and also explains why he has gone for his own £3,000 model. Meanwhile, Suzi examines the three best consoles currently on the market – the Xbox 360, the PS3 and the Nintendo Wii.

To settle the argument once and for all, Suzi and Jon are set a challenge. They are locked in a room with their gaming equipment and a big pile of games. But even after hours of gaming, a conclusion seems impossible, so a pro-gamer is brought in to help decide. Which machine will win, and where should you put your money?

Also this week, Jon checks out mini MP3 players. The iPod Shuffle is the mini player of the moment – easy to clip on, great-looking and a must-have for a generation which wants music on the move. But is it actually the best device out there? Jon pits it against the iRiver S10 and the mobiBlu Cube2 in the environment for which thay have all been designed – the gym. Whilst working out with a personal trainer, Jon tests the players’ usability – how easy is it to find a song and play it? Are they all lightweight and easy to wear whilst doing heavy exercise? Then, while having a massage, he and a soundman check out the sound quality. Lastly, all three players are given hours and hours of workout to test their battery lives. Only one can come out on top – which will it be?

Finally this evening, Jon heads for the skies to see how Microsoft are creating 3D maps of Britain. With specially designed and mounted cameras, mappers can photograph every side of buildings so that maps of an area appear in 3D.