JVC Full-Color OEL
JVC entered the OEL game just this year. But by waiting, they were able to skip right over the one-color OEL option and dive right into a swankier full-color OEL design (Pioneer also has full-color OEL on several models this year). I was dying to check out the KD-AR7000, which sports not only the full-color OEL display, but JVC's PICT feature. PICT lets you upload your own photos and short movies, via CD-R, into the receiver for playback on the screen. Sounds cool!

This receiver has a very similar vibe to the Pioneer '7600 — it's mostly about "cool factor." After popping the receiver into my dash, I popped the included PICT software installer CD-ROM into my G4 PowerMac, hoping to upload some photos to the receiver's display for the drive home. No such luck. The software isn't Mac-compatible. Bummer.

With that little project on hold, I turned my attention to the display's readability. Not bad! Even in bright sunlight, I didn't have problems with wash-out. And with all the screensavers turned off (my preferred viewing mode), I ended up with a relatively clean, uncluttered screen. Nice. The overall clarity and brightness compared favorably with Pioneer's OEL. I did notice that, while the screen is about the same size as Pioneer's, the fact that it's not centered made it seem smaller, somehow. I found the overall look of the receiver clean and appealing (in practice, though, I must say that I prefer a rotary volume knob to the "up-down" buttons on this piece).

Even though I wasn't able to take advantage of the PICT feature and upload my own photos into the receiver, I did check out the built-in demo mode that JVC provides. This shows off PICT to good effect, and I was impressed with the clarity of the images displayed. I got a good feel for how pictures I've taken would translate onto the screen, and I think it would be a lot of fun (and a good way to impress passengers).

The JVC KD-AR7000