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Portable media players (PMPs), also called personal video players (PVPs), are the big brothers of MP3 players with video capabilities thrown in. You may also come across the term Personal Media Center (PMC), which are players built around Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system.

PMPs, like many larger MP3 players, are based on mini hard disk drive technology and usually start at around 20GB. They allow you to watch movies, view photos and play music files. A good model will support MPEG-2 and 4, WMV and DivX movie formats, as well as MP3, WAV, ASF and WMA audio files. Some can also receive and record FM radio and voice.

They come in a variety of sizes, with screens ranging from just over 2in to around 4in. The most common screen size is around 2.5–3in. Thanks largely to the screen and the mini hard drives, PMPs weigh a bit more than, say, an Ipod, but at 150–300g they’re not going to be too heavy to carry around. Many of the features on
these devices are similar, from screen size to hard disks and supported formats. What sets them apart is weight, screen resolution, movie playback quality and battery life.

Test them out, if possible, or check out the reviews before splashing out.

Recommended Portable Media Players:

Archos AV400
A great alternative to Microsoft-based models, offering more features than the competition
Check prices >

Archos Gmini 400
A scaled-down version of the AV400, it’s portable, with great battery life and an array of features
Check prices >

Digital Cube I-Station
A 20GB model with an FM tuner and mp3 recorder, it also supports a wide range of video formats
Read review >

Hauppauge PVMP
The PVMP offers a large 7in widescreen display, perfect for watching movies

MSI Megaview 566
A lightweight media player that will happily record from a video source
Read review >

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See also:

Buyers' Guide: Smartphones

Get the lowdown on the different types of smartphone available  15 Feb 2006

Buyers' Guide: Notebooks

We guide you through the things to consider when buying a notebook  15 Feb 2006

Buyers' Guide: Desktop PCs

There's a lot to consider when buying a desktop PC, but don't despair - PCW is here to guide you through the key decisions  15 Feb 2006

Buyers Guide: Digital Cameras

Deciding which digital camera best suits your needs can be a nightmare. How many megapixels and what zoom should you go for? Fear not, PCW is here to help  15 Feb 2006

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