Digital Home Advisor

• Types of Portable Media Players
• Generic hard disk PMPs (non-Media Centre)
• Solid state/flash memory PMPs
• Portable Media Centres
• Alternatives
• The big issues
• Other considerations

Alternatives

Do you own a Palm or Pocket PC handheld or even a top-range mobile phone? If so, you may already own some form of portable media player. Check the features of your device -- you may be surprised!

Sony's PSP also has the ability to play movies (sold on its UMD disc format), photos and music, but now tech-savvy Sony PlayStation Portable owners have found ways to run OGG and MOD music files, XviD movies and even homebrew games and applications.

Even some watches, memo recorders and digital cameras now let you watch your favourite videos or view photos while on the road.

Mini notebooks: There are also palm/hand top computers -- a sort of cross between a notebook, PDA and sometimes, Tablet PC. Hand top computers are of an in-between size that have no problems running Windows XP or Vista and are equipped with a built-in hard disk, Wi-Fi, USB functionality and sometimes, touch screens.