Portable MP3 Players (Hard Drive or Flash Memory)

Usually utilising 'flash' memory technology or a miniature hard disk, MP3 players are like miniature hard disks with an MP3 playing capability. These devices are also known as DAPs: digital audio players. Plugging into your PC's USB slot, they extract the music onto a miniature hard disk or memory card, and play it back via headphones or specially-made speakers. These can also be plugged into your car using an MP3-to-tape adapter or an FM transmitter (more on these gadgets may be found in Portable MP3 Player Accessories).

The majority of players use an LCD display or screen - only the very cheapest ones use a purely button-led control system. The LCD display models support directory-driven MP3 storage, ID3 tags, and all the other features that you'd expect.

Memory cards are interchangeable and tend to be quite small in both physical size and data capacity; hard drives are equally as diminutive in dimension but larger in terms of file storage capability. However, they usually can't be interchanged freely as flash memory cards can be. Flash drives can store up to 16GB of data, whereas HDD players have higher capacities currently ranging up to 160GB.

The hard drives or flash memory cards can also be used to store data, handy if you want to take a large file from work or school to your home PC. Some also feature such additions as digital cameras or voice recorders - at an added price, of course. Many machines now also contain additional features, such as calendars, address book, radios and alarm clocks.