Portable Media Players

August 2006

Want to watch TV, catch a movie or play your favourite games or music – all in the car? Well, these days you don’t have to miss a thing – thanks to personal media players (PMP), which take the grind out of all but the shortest journeys. These new electronic devices are about the same size as a personal stereo and feature a varying combination of video, audio and games. They’re the latest must-have gadget – but which one is the easiest player to live with? Your choice will depend on what you’ll use the device for the most, as some specialise in one area more than others.

All the units we have tried here can handle music and video, but some also recorded TV programmes to their built-in hard drives for replaying when and where you like. So which is the Freddie Flintoff of these great all-rounders? We tested seven top products to find out.

Verdict

These clever products mark a giant leap forward for in-car entertainment. The sheer range of features on offer is amazing, and they do it all for the same price as a portable DVD player.

The Archos AV500 is perfect for beginners – it’s so easy to use and offers crystal-clear recordings and sounds. A close second is the Mustek media player; it may lack the build quality of the Archos system, but it’s a bargain. In third is the ubiquitous iPod, which has the best user interface and superb sound.

Top 3

1. Archos AV500
2. Mustek PVR-H140
3. Apple iPod

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