Dex Drive Score: 95% Developer: Interact Device Type: Memory/Storage

Function: The handy little device called the Dex Drive allows you to transfer your memory card?s contents to your PC?s hard drive. Then, using the DexPlorer software, you can store unlimited saves and even send your saves to other Dex Drive owners via the Internet using your e-mail account. Unfortunately, this is one of the drawbacks of the DexPlorer software. In the initial version, there was an ?E-mail? button that was supposed to allow you to quickly e-mail your virtual card?s contents to friends. This e-mail function never worked. In fact, in later releases of the software, InterAct took out the option completely. The function of the DexPlorer software is outstanding! To copy contents, it is as easy as ?dragging and dropping? with your mouse from one window to the other. You can easily create new virtual cards and use the backup option to quickly copy all of the contents of your memory card to your PC?s hard drive. Transversely, you can copy all contents of the virtual card to the memory card with the click of a button. You also have the option of duplicating from one memory card to another just as you would on the PlayStation itself.

Performance: The Dex Drive itself is highly durable. It is a solid piece of equipment. Although I don?t recommend it, the Dex Drive will probably sustain a fall from your computer desk. Also, the Dex Drive is actually quite small. It is only slightly wider than your PlayStation?s memory cards, and only about three inches high by four inches long. It will easily find space on your crowded desk! The Dex Drive is connected to your PC via an open com port. (You will need one until InterAct decides to support the USB interface.) The installation instructions that come with the device are straightforward and easy to understand. It is as simple as plugging the device in and installing the software. The DexPlorer software that is shipped with the Dex Drive is very easily learned. It has every control available in the PlayStation?s Memory Card Manager, with the same basic interface. Its simple interface shows you the contents of your inserted PlayStation memory card in the left window and the contents of your ?virtual? memory card (from your PC?s hard drive) in the right window. InterAct has a lot of support for their product (including EA Sports). Users can e-mail InterAct their saved games which will be posted onto their website. On this website, users have access to download hundreds of saves to try out new tricks, use cheats (some Game Shark exclusive), play with user-created players, play with updated sports rosters, try to beat other people?s high scores... the list goes on. Another worthy note is that bleem! (PlayStation emulator) supports the Dex Drive?s .gme file extension. However, bleem! will convert the file to the readable .mcd extension and you will need an external program to convert it back.

Features: PlayStation (or N64) saves are stored on your PC?s hard drive Easily controllable DexPlorer software Simple hook-up Multi-Page memory card support Unlimited saves $40 cost (same as buying three Sony memory cards)

Drawbacks & Problems:: There are some problems with the Dex Drive. As mentioned earlier, there isn?t a one-button e-mail support system. Also, we?ll have to wait on InterAct to come up with a USB compatible system. And sorry Mac users, the Dex Drive is for PC users only. The access time is no faster than the PlayStation's Memory Card Manager, and it?s only for one memory card slot. Finally, the Dex Drive isn?t directly connected to your console, so you need your computer to be close by or face the frustration of having to go to the other room to use it. That being said, I recommend that anyone with both a PlayStation (or N64) and a PC with an Internet connection, pick up InterAct?s Dex Drive. In the long run, it will save you money by eliminating the need to buy more memory cards and will add replay value to your existing games!!!

-Woody, GameVortex Communications AKA Shane Wodele

Minimum System Requirements: Personal computer with Pentium 75 or higher processor, Windows 95/98/NT 4.0, 8 megabytes of system RAM, 2 megabytes of available hard drive space, Super VGA with Hi-Color display mode, System with one available COM port (some configuration may be needed to use the Dex Drive), and either a PlayStation or N64   Test System: Not available