Technology fads come and go, and people want to be on the edge of technology without buying into something that is going to be dead in a year. This is the problem both Sony and its customers face with Sony’s new medium, the universal media disc.

For its new portable gaming system, the Playstation Portable, Sony decided to use universal media discs as the medium to run its games and movies. UMDs are about half the size of a standard CD and have a plastic cover for protection.

Sheena Rausch, sophomore in LAS-open option, says she likes the UMD movies.

“It was just like watching a DVD, but one that you can prop on your dashboard,” she says.

She also says the size and the build of the UMDs are notable features.

“It’s smaller so it’s easier to lose. But it’s unique-looking enough that it won’t get lost among my roommate’s DVDs and video game CDs. You’ll easily know what the disc is.”

Sony began a push for the UMD movies by bundling copies of “Spiderman 2” with launch PSPs. Now movies are available in UMDs that range from older movies such as “Pulp Fiction” and “Ghost Busters” to new releases such as “The Longest Yard” and “Robots.” UMD new releases cost as much as regular DVDs, but the releases of older movies are $20 or less.

“I don’t think they should cost as much as regular DVDs because they can only play on the PSP,” Rausch says.

There are more than 150 releases on UMD and the number is expected to be more than 250 by the end of the year. The UMD lineup also consists of TV series, concerts and stand-up comedy specials.

Dave Detlefs, lifestyles manager at Hastings, says the UMD movies have been selling very well.

“There are a lot of new releases coming out for it. We actually sell more movies for the PSP than games,” he says.

Hastings also has been renting UMD movies at the same prices as DVDs, but Detlefs says the store sells more than it rents.

He says the UMDs could be around for a while.

“I think they are going to stick around,” Detlefs says. “The PSP costs the same as a regular portable DVD player, and it can play games.”

Sony has reported that two of its DVDs, “Resident Evil Apocalypse” and “House of Flying Daggers” have sold more than 100,000 copies. Companies such as New Line, HBO, Fox, Universal and Paramount have all begun backing the new medium.

Chris Haney, freshman in psychology, also uses the PSP for UMD movies. Haney had taken a portable DVD player to Iraq when he was serving in the Army. He said the PSP was better for watching movies than a portable DVD player.

“They’re really good. The quality is just as good as portable DVD players,” he says. “The PSP is a lot better than the portable DVD player – it’s smaller, easier to carry and the discs don’t scratch as easily.”