Overall: Intriguing to watch; fun to use.

Impact: ****             
Ease of use: ****                   
Stability: *****               
Configurability: *****                     
Screensaver: Yes.                  
Sound response: Optional.                
Platforms: Windows.            
Price: $15/$25.        
Zip file: 600K.              

   Home: www.syntrillium.com

Almost from day one, programmers have been doing kaleidoscopes on computers. The chunky graphics displays of early systems lent themselves well to the basic hexagonal geometry.

No one has done it as well as Syntrillium with this program, which raises the old Victorian optical toy almost to the level of art. Plus, the program has an intuitive, wide-ranging interface, which makes it fun to play with.

It ain't free, but it's cheap. And you have a choice. For $15 you get the visuals. For another $10, you the visuals plus sound interaction. Put a music CD in, and the kaleidoscope responds in time to the beat of the music.

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