Hard Drive-based MP3 Players Test

Reviews on Hard Drive-based MP3 Players

"Oakley Split Thump sunglasses and music player"

Published on: 6/2008

On test: Oakley Split Thump

High tech sunglasses that look good and sound good too? → More

"Wi-Fi-friendly MP4 player"

Issue: 1/2008

On test: Archos 605 Wi-Fi

Archos has made feature-heavy multimedia portables for some years now, and it has upped the ante again here - and in some style. → More

"Personal media players"

Computing Made Easy
Issue: 119

On test: iubi S30, Apple iPod Classic (80GB), Archos 605 Wi-Fi, Cowon iAudio D2 (8 GB)

PMPs or 'personal media players' are the perfect companion for those with a mobile lifestyle. They are typically defined by their ability to store and playback movies and music. This is a minimum requirement and many contemporary models include features such as widescreen, touchscreen and Wi-Fi. This is alongside more practical features, such as storage capacity, navigation and physical size. → More

"Archos 605 Wifi portable video player"

Published on: 11/2007

On test: Archos 605 Wi-Fi

Portable video players have evolved from early, clunky models into much more attractive devices for those who want to be entertained on the move. In addition to being smaller, lighter and cheaper, the larger screens make them much more attractive, and the Archos 605 is a good example of the trend. → More

Hard Drive-based MP3 Players

Portable MP3 players based on flash memory are usually only available in sizes up to 4GB, to get higher capacity players manufacturers need to turn to hard disc technology. These use highly miniaturised versions of the hard disk drives used in home computers and can reach capacities of 80GB and larger.

Flash players have no moving parts and as such can achieve both smaller sizes and longer battery lives, hard disk-based players on the other hand, compensate for the more power-hungry technology with larger sizes. This may sound like a drawback but it also allows for larger screens, a boon when you consider the support for photo and video that many devices now regularly include.

Hard disk players are however, still small enough to be slipped into a jacket or shirt pocket and light enough so that they will not be noticed by the user.

While flash players are perfect for use while jogging and other sports, hard disk players are the perfect way to share your music collection and can, with the addition of some suitably loud speakers, act as a portable jukebox both at home and in the open air. There are many speaker systems available, especially for the iPod brand of player, and many have the option of running on batteries.

Depending on storage capacity, hard disk-based players can range in price from one to two hundred pounds.

This category contains tests on MP3 Portable Hard Disk Player, MP3 Portable Hard Disk Players.