US also offers VOD on its A330 aircraft for all pax.

Hi!

This is my first post. Hello to you all!
I myself am an engineering consultant, as in I buy products from around the world for my company. I am one of the ten or eleven lucky people that are able to fly round the world.

On my latest trip to Hong Kong with CX (whom I've flown many times before), I do feel that StudioCX doesn't live up to its reputation. I flew a 744 from LHR-HKG and it broke down. However, I think that even with it on, Singapore Airlines' Wisemen is much better. I find the choices of movies (not only Western ones) wider and it's more reliable. However, note that they haven't installed in Y class on many aircraft. I know the LHR-SIN flight has it in all classes, their "Jubilee" 772ERs have it and maybe some 773s have it.

Don't get me wrong though, the normal CX system is also great. However don't think anything at the moment can beat SIA's KrisWorld/Wisemen, though it is comparable. EK doesn't come close to the two.

tfung - the VOD would have to be on for the system to work! The AVOD controls are at the 'colored' end of the console. Basically start, stop, pause, ff and frewind.

i thought the entertainment system (A/VOD) on the newly reconfigured J class airbus was abslolutely awesome on a flight last week from SFO to HKG.

worked perfectly... conswequently, the standard linear CX studio entertainment system on all my other flights was a big letdown, after having experienced the new VOD.

By the way, "StudioCX" only refers to the entertainment system with 20 video channels, am I correct? Or do they refer to vides with 9 channels too? The interactive feature was only available on A333 (the one with new J-class), but the airshow was broken on this flight....

The CX website says the following:

"Limited Studio CX features available on Boeing 777-200 and leased Airbus Industrie A340-300."

Has anywone flown on the both B747 and A340 to be able to compare the differences between the two in terms of their Studio CX system.

How limited is the system on "leased" A340s.

How can you tell which A340s are leased?

Thanks.

Limited Studio CX on Boeing 777-200 and leased Airbus A340 refers to those aircraft without PTV's.

As for the leased A340 from Air China, all of these (three) aircrafts have been returned and CX is in the process of fitting their Boeing 777-200 (4 aircrafts) fleet with PTV in Y class.

Please note that Boeing 777-300 aircrafts already have PTV's in Y class.

CX is in the process of fitting the new Studio CX product across the fleet. Studio CX will power its new inflight email/intranet/power outlets and furthermore, AVOD in J class, 20 or more PTV channels and 22 audio channels.

Thanks, etravelconsult.

I'm looking forward to listening to the BBC.

Just flew yesterday HKG-SFO on a Cathay A340-300 in coach class. Definitely no AVOD. The PCU was fixed on the armrest, and had no start/stop/pause buttons. It had "StudioCX" though, which just appears to be a menu-driven interface into a bunch of channels. Once you select a channel, however, you are dropped into the middle of the program or movie. StudioCX is definitely not synonymous with AVOD.

Studio CX is the new name of Cathay Pacific's inflight entertainment and they are progressively installing 22 video channels and 20 audio channels plus other features such as inflight email and intranet, and live BBC World News.

Please note that AVOD will only be available in First and Business Classes only. Inflight email is available in First, Business and selected rows in Economy Class.

I was able to experience the new CX Business Class last month. Absolutely terrific!

StudioCX AVOD is great. At first, I had no sound on my noise cancelling headset. I then realized that the headset had been unplugged from it's socket. Must have been the previous passenger. The flight attendant came by and was able to plug the headset back in. (My hands were too large to reach the plug in the back of the arm console.)

Here's a brief sample of the music CDs available on the StudioCX library:

NEW RELEASES:
REM, Reveal
Usher, 8701

CLASSICAL:
Martha Argerich, Chopin Piano Concertos
Sir George Solti, Beethoven Symphony No. 9
John Williams, The Magic Box

JAZZ:
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
John Coltrane, Coltrane for Lovers

POP & ROCK:
Sade, Lovers Rock
Dido, No Angel
U2, All That You Can't Leave Behind
Moby, Play
Lenny Kravitz, Greatest Hits
Madonna, Music
Paul Simon, You're the One
Janet Jackson, All for You
Dave Matthews, Everyday Band

EASY LISTENING:
Frank Sinatra, Songs for Swinging Lovers
Cafe Del Mar Vol. 8 Various Artists

COUNTRY:
Faith Hill, Breathe
Tim McGraw, A Place in the Sun

ALL TIME HITS:
Beattles, 1
Sting, Fields of Gold - Best of Sting
Abba, Abba Gold
Billy Joel, The Ultimate Collection
The Eagles, The Very Best of The Eagles
Bob Dylan, The Essential CD1 & CD2
Queen, Greatest Hits
Paul McCartney, Wingspan

I agree that the music is the best thing about this new system. It's like having a 50 CD player with you...BUT I was once again on a flight yesterday (747 KUL-HKG) where they had to completely reboot the system, sending all of us in Y back to the beginning of our half-finished films! Y is not AVOD, as you know.

We should all be reading good books instead of watching the crap on there anyway, right?

------------------
UA 1K switching to AA/CX/Asia Miles so I can use them out here in Asia!