The iRiver PMP120 (£399 inc. VAT) is a stylish and feature-packed piece of kit for making the most of any plane, train or bus journey. Its Linux-based operating system is both PC and Mac-compatible and supports a wide range of video formats, including AVI, MPEG4, DivX and XviD. Bundled Media Converter software reformats WMV and other video files for optimal playback.

The PMP120 has a tasteful black, charcoal and silver body, in contrast to the unusual champagne-coloured finish of its 40GB PMP140 sibling (£449 inc. VAT). The 3.5-inch display plays video at a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps. It’s bright and clear, with reasonable visibility in bright sunlight. Considering the PMP120's feature set, its weight of 280g is quite decent. While it won't fit into your pocket, it will easily fit into a briefcase or handbag. A foldout support bar on the back of the device acts as a stand so you can prop it up on a tabletop. You also get a sturdy carry case in the box.

SOUND JUDGEMENT

The PMP120 is no slouch when it comes to audio features. The sound quality is excellent, enhanced by the Sennheiser-branded bud headphones capable of a wide frequency response. Also, the built-in speaker is not overly tinny, despite its size. If you want to give your eyes a rest, you can tune into the integrated FM radio or listen to MP3, WMA, ASF and WAV files. A built-in microphone lets you record anything in your environment. The company has also included a music/radio alarm clock, which means you don't have to pack one in your suitcase.

The biggest drawback of the iRiver PMP120 is its convoluted user interface. Menu navigation is not as intuitive as it should be and it takes a while to find your way around the different modes and control buttons. However, dedicated help and home buttons go some way towards remedying the situation. The company is quoting a battery life of up to five hours of video or ten hours of audio, and the rechargeable battery is replaceable. When we rigorously tested the PMP120 with the screen at full brightness and the volume cranked, the battery provided four hours of video playback at the higher resolution setting of 640 x 480 pixels.

Video, audio and image files are transferred from your computer to the player's 20GB hard drive using the USB 2.0 port, and music can be recorded directly from the audio source using the line-in port. If you're on the road, a USB-on-the-go port connects to peripherals such as a digital camera for downloading shots straightaway; JPEG and bitmap fi le formats are supported. Finally, an NTSC/PAL TV-out port gives you the option of showing videos and slideshows on the big screen with reasonable picture quality, no matter which continent you happen to be on.

One of the PMP120s biggest rivals is the Windows-based Creative Zen Portable Media Centre (£370 inc. VAT) with a 20GB hard drive. The Creative Zen has a slightly bigger 3.8-inch screen and a more straightforward user interface, but a boxier design and no support for Mac computers. On the other hand, multimedia enthusiasts with the patience to navigate the menus of the iRiver PMP120 will find it a well-built device with plenty of useful features. Its attractive design and impressive functionality will make iRiver a force to be reckoned with in the portable media player arena.

RATING 7
PRICE £340/£399 (EX/INC. VAT)
VIDEO FORMATS AVI ASF, MPEG4, DivX, WMV, and Xvid files
AUDIO FORMATS MP3,WMA, ASF and WAV files
FEATURES USB-to-go, Audio line-in, TV-out
MEMORY 20GB hard drive
SCREEN 3.5-inch 26K colour display
WEIGHT 280g
DIMENSIONS 139 x 84 x 32mm
CONTACT
www.iriver.com/eu