Hidden behind glass, like some priceless jewel or artifact, lies the Panasonic DVD/GameCube machine. While a strictly “look but don’t touch” affair, we were able to see enough of the unit to give you a few brief details about it.

First, it’s silver. Really, really, silver. It’s slightly wider and taller than the GameCube unit itself, and the DVD tray seems to be about the size of a laptop DVD tray. Some folks wondered if it was wide enough to accommodate a standard DVD disc, as it did seem small. Sure enough, it leaves no wasted space, but certainly wide enough for regular movies.

The unit supports Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 surround formats, and has the full complement of controller ports and Digicard slots, and has a wacky LCD readout on the top part.

While I wouldn’t recommend getting one if you already own a DVD player (or three, like Rick), it looks to fill the niche left by Nintendo for folks who want all-in-one units, while leaving the option for a games-only machine for those of us wanting the machine sooner.